Recreational Multi-Use Bike Path
Bike Path Details
- Details
- Published on Friday, 06 March 2009 00:00
- Written by Heather Fisher
Red Rock Canyon Bike Path Planning Details
- In most places, the path will be paved like a road, but with red or brown colored pavement to blend in with the background.
- Lower places that go through washes will be made out of concrete to be stronger for flash floods.
- The path will be on the outside of the curve of 159, away from the city and toward the cliffs.
- It will start at Desert Foothills Drive in Summerlin and end at the detention basin on SR 160.
- The bike path will go through two tunnels. One tunnel will go under the road through the wash between Calico Basin and the Red Rock Canyon visitor's center entrance, and the other tunnel will go under the road throuh the wash between the Gypsum mine and Avery Street.
- The path will be approximately 1/4 mile from the road.
- It will follow the general path of SR 159, but will not be as straight as the road.
- It will follow the natural curves and contours of the land.
- It will be built around hills and in many places, out of sight of the road to provide a more natural experience, with the exception of one two-mile section between the entrance and exit of the scenic loop where it will be adjacent to the road. This had to be done because of the extreme topography of the area. The wash was too deep and the grades too steep to put the path anywhere besides the road. It will be next to the road, but separated by about a foot.
- It will look like a miniature colored road with two small lanes, each one 5 feet wide, for travel in opposite directions, separated by a dotted yellow line in the middle.
- We chose a colored asphalt (pavement) surface because it was better than hard-packed granite for bicyclists and strollers and better than concrete for runners.
- There will be trailheads with parking areas and facilities at the ends of the path and along the way.
- Both ends of the bike path will have a five-mile loop path in addition to the extended path so people can do shorter rides around the loops if they don't want to do the longer route.
- The natural desert landscape will be preserved along the trail and matched at the trailheads with additional native species of trees and plants.
- A budget will be set ulp for maintenance of the path with a special path-sized street sweelper.
- Most of the path will be ADA accessible. And all parking and trailheads will be ADA compliant.
- the path will have gradual grades where possible and switchbacks to lessen the grade where the land would otherwise be steeper. This means, instead of going straight up a hill, the path will go around it or go back and forth over it in a wide zigzag.
- the path is not designed for fast road bikers or teams/group rides. The bike lanes on the road were designed for this purpose and will not be affected or taken away when the bike path is built. Competitive cyclists will be encouraged to stay on the bike lane adjacent the road, except for when they want to share a leisurely 15 mph on the path with other users.
Red Rock Bike Path
- Details
- Published on Friday, 06 March 2009 00:00
- Written by Heather Fisher
Red Rock Canyon Multi-Use Recreational Bike Path
Out of all the solutions we pursue for Red Rock, the bike path is the safest and most fun. It is opens up a new way for many to enjoy a safe, scenic, and non-polluting experience. I expect it will bring more famillies out to exercise and enjoy the outdoors and provide a pleasant, non-polluting way to experience the canyon. It will also serve to channel and consolidate hikers and pullouts, improving the environmental integrity of the canyon all along the road.
Bob Taylor and Jed Botsford have been managing the project at BLM. We have had many public planning and scoping meetings. The design contractor is a company out of Colorado who designs bike paths around the nation. The public planning stages are completed, the corridors determined, and the environmental analysis is underway. Hopefully that will be done in time to apply for funding from SNPLMA funds created by U.S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign who have been involved with the process from the start.
Final Bike Path Planning Mtg
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 07 January 2009 00:00
- Written by Heather Fisher
The final public meeting for the Red Rock Canyon bike path is Thursday, January 8, 2009!
Please COME, CALL, OR EMAIL your support!
Come: Thursday, January 8, 2009
Presentations at 12:15 and 6:00 p.m.
Open house from 12 to 8:00 p.m.
BLM Offices, 4701 N Torrey Pines Dr , Las Vegas , NV 89130, Directions
Call: Jed Botsford, 702-515-5000
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Let the BLM know what user group you represent (cyclist, runner, etc.) and cc: me so I can send you maps and news about it.
I hope you can at least call the BLM or send an email of support. The path will add a safe recreational opportunity for runners, bikers, families, and everyone who would like to see Red Rock Canyon. It is designed to run the length of the canyon, from Summerlin to 160. Planning for the path is nearing completion. It has come a long way and we are very excited about it, provided we can get enough support and funding to build it. Public comments from the first two meetings were considered when developing the proposed trail alignment that will be presented at this final meeting. It is important that all the user groups are well represented at this final meeting, as public comments will be considered for the path's environment assessment, use and alignment. I hope we will each do our part to make this path a reality.
Link: Today’s RJ article
Don’t forget to come, call, or email your support! Hope to see you there!
Heather Fisher
Scenic Southern Nevada
702-875-4803
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Review Journal Article about Red Rock Bike Path
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 08 January 2009 00:00
- Written by Heather Fisher
Las Vegas Review Journal
Keith Rogers
January 8, 2009
Plans Released for 30 Mile Bicycle Trail Near Red Rock
Initial Bike Path Planning Mtg.
- Details
- Published on Monday, 11 August 2008 00:00
- Written by Heather Fisher
We are excited about the prospect of adding a world class, safe and scenic, recreational path to Red Rock Canyon for families, recreational bikers, runners, walkers, etc. Please come support this effort and offer your comments.
This could be a really good thing for Las Vegas, bringing us quality such as is seen in other world class cycling and recreational destinations like Aspen, Vail, Boulder, Phoenix, Anchorage and more. There are two meeting times to choose from, or you can stop by anytime from 12 to 8 for an open house with maps and comment forms.
Red Rock Canyon Bike Path Public Hearing
August 12, 2008, BLM Offices
Presentations at 12:15 and 6:00pm
Open house 12-8pm
4701 North Torrey Pines, Las Vegas
Directions and info: 515-5000