Although Phase II (”Central”) of the Midtown Greenway has been open for some time, the “official” opening of the connection with Phase I (”West”) was a few weeks ago. There’s still construction going on at Chicago Ave, but you can travel the Greenway all the way from the Kenilworth/Southwest LRT trail hookup (which is where I usually get on it) all the way to Hiawatha.

I rollerbladed the distance on Saturday. There’s something to be said for the smoothness of the newer part of the trail. And it was an adventure of sorts for me, since I’ve only ever gotten on the Greenway on the west end and thus gotten as far as that soccer field with the giant Kix logo, only to be confronted with our friends, the bright orange construction paraphernilia. Actually, the majority of the central section is pretty green-looking, down there in the trench. I saw a guy picking berries out of the bushes. You don’t have the scenery of Uptown (such as it is), but you don’t have the scary industrial emptiness that you find when you hit Hiawatha.

It concerns me that there’s next to no traffic control at 5th Ave. There’s barely even a sign. If you don’t already know the trail’s there, you won’t really see it. It’s not a super high traffic area, but it still makes me nervous seeing cars whiz by as I approach. I know enough, as a not-so-skilled rollerblader, to throw myself on the ground. But kids on bikes are a lot more vulnerable.

It was pretty crowded on Saturday morning. It was awfully nice out, since Friday’s storms dissipated the oppressive heat. I will take this opportunity to remind folks that walking or stopping your bikes three and four abreast while paying no attention to the other folks on the trail is annoying as fuck rude not good trail etiquette. Also, a simple “on your left,” even if there’s plenty of room to pass, would be much appreciated, just so I know you’re there and so you don’t get caught in my sudden urge to double axel scare the bejeezus out of me.

That trails like the Greenway exist is one of the things I really like about the Twin Cities. It’s kind of like the subway in that knowing how to get around town via the trail system is different from getting around town in a car. The Midtown Greenway Coalition’s development plans are really interesting. I like that the Coalition is heavily involved with the various neighborhood committees and, in theory, the plans are focused on neighborhood development.

Now if only I had a bike….

Related posts:

1. Midtown Greenway Phase III Construction
2. The Midtown Greenway is complete
3. You take the high road, I’ll take the low road…
4. Greenway Assault and Coalition’s Response
5. A Dearth of Bike Parking