Paths Well-Traveled
When I began biking to substitute teaching jobs last October I was still new to Chico and I did not yet have a grasp of the best ways to navigate the city on pedal power. Assignments at Pleasant Valley High School were the worst, as all-too-often I found myself risking life and limb on East Avenue or Esplanade.
Thankfully, I have since discovered there are better ways, and I have been impressed with the convenience afforded by navigating Chico's bike paths. Though I enjoy a creekside cruise through Bidwell Park as much as the next Chicoan, here are three of my favorite routes based on their more utilitarian merits:
Little Chico Creek After a quiet ride east up Humboldt Avenue past Cafe Coda and the Square Deal Mattress Factory (there is great blackberry picking in the park across the street), the actual bike path starts at the end of Humboldt where it makes a left turn and becomes Clover Street. After ducking beneath Highway 99, the path runs along Little Chico Creek out to Bruce Road. This route allows one to avoid the intersection at Humboldt, Highway 99, and 9th Street, and provides access to the police station and doctor's offices on Humboldt Avenue, Marsh Junior High, residences off of Forest Avenue south of Humboldt Avenue, and the future Merriam Park community.
11th Ave & Esplanade to the Airport I have been told that this path follows an old railroad line. Though I haven't made it all the way out to the airport yet, I have been using this route extensively to head out to the North Valley Plaza for banking, food shopping, and movies. Conveniently located along the way are Grilla Bites and the Chico Sports Club.
Holly Ave at Lindo Channel to Mission Ranch Boulevard This lovely 1/2 mile stretch isn't on the BCAG Chico Bike Map yet, but it is a good route especially for folks living in the vicinity of Holly Avenue and Lindo Channel. It feels like a slice of Bidwell Park, with a handsome grove of massivevalley oaks and sycamores draped with wild grape vines. And for a bonus, the path drops you off on Mission Ranch Blvd behind Raley's and Orchard Supply Hardware, providing access to those and neighboring businesses without having to flirt with disaster on East Ave or Esplanade.