Overall, Athens County has nearly 1,000 miles of paved and gravel roads to explore and is a welcoming community for new cyclists. One of the more popular routes is the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, a paved bike trail that is more than 22 miles long. The bikeway borders the entirety of Ohio University’s Athens campus to the north and is the main artery for student cyclists.
Crowl says that OHIO’s membership with the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway Advisory Committee is a large reason for the University’s bike-friendliness.
“Ohio University’s membership on the Bikeway Committee provides a direct connection to the region’s most passionate and involved bicyclists,” he said. “Through the committee the University is officially connected to the entities who manage the bikeway: Athens County, the City of Athens, Hocking College and the City of Nelsonville.”
Crowl went on to say that these connections also help Ohio University ensure that the bikeway continues to be a safe and convenient means of transportation, on and off campus, and that the University continues to play a role in the biking culture in southeast Ohio, including the development of the Baileys Trail System, a popular mountain biking destination.
Lennon says the bike friendly designation is already building community confidence for those choosing to bike at OHIO and in Athens.
“The new bridge on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway connecting to Chauncey and the Baileys Trail System is a great example of infrastructure that supports cyclists and demonstrates what future improvements could look like,” he said. “My hope is that it encourages continued investment in making Athens an even better, safer place to ride”