5 MILES OF BLISS...WAIT

Yesterday as I was laying around reading our city newspaper, I came across an article about a new 5 mile bike path. "This path was first brought to reality by Oldmill Office Park bike commuters who needed a safe way around the congested freeway intersection". What?! I'm an Oldmill Office Park commuter! I must commute right past it. I've always know about the first section of the path (underneath the freeway), but I just can't believe I have missed an additional 5 miles! So naturally after reading the whole article,  I set my alarm extra early and prepared to take a small detour and find this extra 5 miles. Jake did inform me it existed .

I wake up nice and early, hop on my bike and I'm off. It's cold, but I ride the 4 miles, go under the freeway, and there it is! Looks like a walking path. I've seen it before, but never thought to veer off my normal route. I ride for about 2 minutes to an intersection, cross the street, connect to the bike path on the other side of the street. The path takes you right behind the retail and before you know it...

What a beautiful pond! Within the article they mention the pond and how in the next few years they would like to add picnic tables, benches, a beach front (yes a beach front), outdoor showers, and a dock for fishing and swimming.

This bridge looked practically brand new. Crossing the bridge puts you on the path around the pond. Very nice. Besides that you ride right up alongside the residential. Also within the article it mentions how there is already a petition from the residents to put up a nice big sound wall. Hmm... sounds about right.

This was probably my favorite section of the path. The river on one side and nice big trees on the other. There was also benches randomly along the path (if you look hard enough you can see one in the photo).

As I'm enjoying the scenery, I look up and realize the path is taking me right out to the main street. What! I've only been on this "5 mile bike path" for 1 mile! I stop where the path intersects the street, I look around for an adjoining path. Nothing. Oh wait, the path continues along the road. This isn't a bike path anymore, it's a bike lane! Well, it was fun for the 1 mile. I turn around and zip back down the path, and make my way to work.

I definitely enjoyed the 1 mile of bike path. It was all brand new, and seemed like it was done with a lot of thought. I really wish Salt Lake would get on the bike band wagon, and spend some money on more bike paths. I truly believe if there was more bike paths, it would encourage more people to get on a bike and be able to feel safe and enjoy their ride. So thank you Holladay/Cottonwood Heights, for taking a step in the right direction, even if it is only 1 mile.