Burlington, Vermont and its Bikeway - 2000

 

All Photographs Copyright © 2007 by Robert E Pence

 

Burlington seen from the Lake Champlain Ferry Valcour

 

 

University of Vermont

 

 

 

Congregational Church

 

 

Church Street is pedestrian-only for about three blocks, lined with shops and restaurants and sidewalk cafes. The crowd is

mixed; a lot of college students, but a fair number of middle-aged folks and seniors and, of course, tourists. Mainstream

retailers are mixed in among the specialty shops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Beach Campground was one of the best campgrounds I visited. It's run by the city of Burlington, and

overlooks Lake Champlain. A path leads directly to the beach and connects with Burlington's bike path. It's a

no-hills, no-traffic 2.5 mile cruise to downtown.

 

 

North Beach Campground has a good beach, with shallows going 'way out.

 

 

Winooski River, north of Burlington

 

 

 

Burlington's bike path reaches about 14 miles along former Rutland Railroad right of

way, including the causeway across Mallett's Bay. The path is well maintained and

well utilized.

 

 

In 2000, trail users crossed the Winooski River via bike ferry ($1.00). In 2004, a new bridge closed this gap in the trail.

 

 

Lake Champlain beach north of the Winooski River

 

 

 

 

 

The causeway across Mallett's Bay, built at the beginning of the 20th century by the Rutland and Canada Railroad, was in use

until 1960. It was built by Italian laborers with huge marble blocks, some measuring six feet on a side.

 

 

A gap about three miles out on the causeway remains to be closed by a bike ferry;

demonstration ferries have operated on selected weekends as recently as August 2007.

Trail promoters hope eventually to open the trail all the way to Canada. The black road

bike is mine; despite the advice of the "experts" it is possible to ride skinny tires

on gravel. You just have to pay attention.

 

 

 

The sailboarder was really moving until he came into a dead spot in the lee of the causeway.

 

:)

I really love Burlington, easily one of the best cities its size in the country.

Any hope of a fixed span?

I haven't read or heard anything about it, lately.

 

Edit:

Check this link for more current info on the <a href="http://trailfinder.info/trail.php?id=1">Burlington Bike Path:</a>

 

Flooding in 2011 did severe damage to the causeway and significant erosion damage to other parts of the path, and closed portions of it until repairs are completed. Links on the "Local Motion" site take you to more information about the bridge over the Winooski River, photos of flood damage to the causeway, and plans for a permanent bike ferry over the cut at Mallett's Bay.

 

I really love Burlington, easily one of the best cities its size in the country.

 

True. Its so impressive how many urban amenities a city of its size has. Most cities the size of Cleveland could only dream of having a pedestrian mall on Burlington's scale