Small in size, Connecticut is big on biking. More than 60 multi-use trails crisscross the state as part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan. In addition to ConnDOT, other state agencies that promote bicycling include the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Health. “Pathways through Connecticut” is an on-going program, with additional bike paths planned.

Rentals

Cyclists can travel light and rent equipment in the Constitution state. In addition to leading tours, the Bicycle Tour Company (bicycletours.com) has bikes and equipment for rent in Kent. The Bicycle Cellar (bicyclecellar.com/) in Simsbury is close to trails, with daily, weekly and monthly rentals available. On the southeastern shore, check out Mystic Bike Rentals, where the delivery area includes eastern Connecticut and parts of Rhode Island. Summertime bike rentals are available at Hammonasset Beach State Park (ct.gov). Bikes are restricted to park trails, roads and campgrounds; helmets are free.

The East Coast Greenway

Connecticut’s roads and trails are an important part of the route of the East Coast Greenway (greenway.org), an ambitious 3,000-mile bike path stretching from the Canadian border in Maine to Key West, Florida. At time of publication, a quarter of the state’s 196-mile trail was complete. Rail trails in the state’s eastern section that traverse woodlands and farms are among the most rural of the entire greenway. Routes under development link eastern paths to the Hartford area; some connections are complete, while others involve cycling on roads where caution is advised.

Statewide Bike Trails

Turn-by-turn directions are available online for eight Connecticut State Bicycle Routes (ctbikemap.org). At 26.7 miles, CTB #7 is the shortest trail, starting in Bristol and ending in New Haven. CTB #6 is the longest trail at 86.6 miles; it starts in the northeastern corner of the state and ends in the northwestern corner. Even-numbered routes run east/west, while odd-numbered routes run north/south. No signs or amenities were reported along the routes in 2009.

Capital Bicycling

In March 2010, the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance changed its name to Bike Walk Connecticut (bikewalkconnecticut.org). In addition to advocating for safer bike and pedestrian awareness from drivers, Bike Walk Connecticut promotes monthly “bike to work” days in Hartford with common Capital Region bike commuting routes displayed online. Showers and changing facilities for riders who need them are available on event days at the downtown Hartford YMCA. (ghymca.org) and the Taking Care Center (takingcarecenter.com).
October’s “Discover Hartford’s Parks” is not a race, but rather a 10-, 15-, 25- and 40-mile bike tour that begins and ends at Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford.

About the Author

Karen Sweeny-Justice is a writer living in Surprise, Ariz. Her work has appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine and "RubberStampMadness" magazine, as well as in newspapers around the United States. She also writes book reviews for "RT Book Reviews" magazine.

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