One step forward two steps back.

    Despite the optimistic development I noted in my last post, Our local trail system, the KRVT, has been struggling with a dilemma the  past couple of years.  Part of the system was finished on both the west and east end with no route to connect the two parts in the middle of the city.  Obviously there is a lot of real estate to consider and a bit of controversy.  There is a side street which intersects with the west leg and seems a perfect candidate.  Most of it could be made a bike boulevard with a side path added at the west end where there is more auto traffic.   A sign could be installed to direct cyclists to another safe route to the shops and restaurants downtown. That would have provided a straight one mile connection that avoided all the congestion and traffic downtown. 

Whoever is in charge thought it better to take a route they believed would bring cyclists into the retail area.    They made a grand announcement and had a ribbon cutting to celebrate it's completion so I thought I should take an honest look at the accomplishment.  

The new connection begins by crossing Westnedge Ave,  

to access an off street, expanded sidewalk/trail 

where I immediately waited to cross Business Loop I-94 to continue  the "sidewalk/trail"

which winds around between some parking lots and 

crosses the southbound leg of Westnedge called Park St.

After crossing Park St. the "trail" winds again

 around some parking lots and between two office buildings.

before reaching a "crossing" in the middle of the block at Rose St

where we can wait in a median between streams of traffic.

From there it winds between the Museum and Community College campuses 

into the attractively landscaped sidewalk behind

before going back to the street  which leads the trail 

 

through the middle of the local festival site, 

which makes the trail unusable during an event.

From there we wait to ride back across Business Loop I-94

to reach another protected lane 

adjacent to Business Loop I-94,

across a rail crossing and past Bell's Brewery 

to turn further south on another protected bike lane

and leading to a route 

which squeezes between several parking lots

across another rail siding

between ware houses before

finally reaching the other east ward trail head.

Of course you notice all the retail exposure this accomplished.  There were two bars.

As a somewhat experienced cycle tourist, I have learned to depend upon marked routes and trails to help navigate strange communities safely.  This trail system is part of a network advertised and promoted to guide cyclists safely across the state from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.  After riding the new connection exposing the "better" part of Kalamazoo authorities wanted to showcase, I wonder how this made sense to anybody.