2 replies to this topic

[Bryon]

Hello Everyone,

  This is my first post here. I have a question that I don't know where else or who else to ask. So, here I am!

  I am looking to temporarily (1 year max) relocate from the Riverbend to somewhere that is hopefully more bike friendly. The River Road from Alton to Grafton is nice but wind shear in spring/fall and sunlight/heat during summer is a bit too much for me as are the lack of bike related amenities at either end or even in the middle of the trail. In general, Alton is not unfriendly for bikes but other than the River Road it does not have alot, at least to my knowledge, to offer that is "everyday friendly". Places that interest me so far, in Iliinois, are Peoria and Quincy. The old streets and roads around Quincy seem very bike friendly, as well as many of the newer parts (built in the last 30 years or so). Peoria has a nice trail leading north of town but I have no idea if the inner city area is very accommodating. In Missouri... I have no idea as I have not ridden there much at all. The Augusta area is beautiful but seems overly expensive and unless one resides in St. Peter's or Chesterfield could be too far out of reach for daily riding. South toward St. Genevieve or Cape Girardeau are beautiful but again I have no clue about how bike friendly they are.

  In short, I am looking for a place where one can find a modest rental in the $500-$600/mo range for a small home in/around a city that is laid out as nearly as possible to a biker's idea of paradise. Well paved and wide streets, good access to trails that don't require off road tires are my top priorities. Beyond that I would like for area businesses to be accommodating (restaurants/businesses with bike racks and/or outdoor drive-ups/tables etc). Web-design and part-time woodworking are what I do so good ISP options and at the very least a big-box hardware/lumber retailer are also factors in the final decision. Crime, demographics, schools, culture, history... not very important to me as I'm not looking to set roots but rather just hang out for a year or so using a bike as my main means of transportation

   Any tips, pointers, advice or suggestions no matter how trivial would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[skibum77]

What about Edwardsville?  For an integrated trail system, I don't know that there's anything better than the MCT Trail network within a few hundred mile radius of St. Louis.  Most of the trails are paved, the retail along the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon city line is more built up than when I moved across the river 11 years ago (so you don't have to go to Fairview all the time), and one of the trails runs right through most of that (though I do realize that there aren't any good exits from the trail real close to highway 159).  If I could live there and not have a 45 mile commute to work, I would.  I still think it's awesome that I can leave my parents' house in Collinsville, hop on my bike and ride as far as the edge of Wood River or Granite City and the most traffic I'd have to worry about is about a half mile on 159 to cross over 55/70.

[DirtRoadRunner]

Try a college town. Off-hand recommendations would be Columbia, MO, and possibly Carbondale, IL and even Springfield, MO.  You'll find plenty of small to mid-sized (10,000 - 150,000 population) towns around the Midwest that have great cycling, but I don't think you'll find anything really geared towards cyclists (meaning, ample bike racks, drivers who expect to see cyclists on the road, etc) outside of a college town.

Or, have you considered simply moving to the city of St. Louis?  New bike lanes are being added all of the time, many buisnesses are becoming cycle-friendly, and I see people out either commuting or recreationally riding all of the time.  We have Grant's Trail (not in the city but I ride to it from my apartment in the city) and the Riverfront Trail (which few people use, my personal favorite).  You should be able to find a small apartment for $500-600.