What’s more enticing than a connected network of trails, offering a safe haven for people on two wheels or two feet?
The City of Orlando has not only executed planning and constructing a network of bicycle trails for its residents, it is also paving the way for a cultural shift. A cultural shift that values its residents by building the infrastructure allowing them to enjoy its surrounding natural environment safely and conveniently.
Currently, there are five main trails within the City of Orlando that comprise over 40 miles: Cady Way, Lake Underhill, Orlando Southeast, Orlando Urban and the Shingle Creek Trail. In October of 2017, the City of Orlando announced plans to add an 8.25-mile “Downtown Connector Trail” or “Orlando Bicycle Beltway,” to fill a major gap in the Orlando Urban Trail network. With help from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and MetroPlan Orlando (MPO), the city’s plans are underway.
A recent Tweet sparked a renewed excitement among Orlando residents. The proposed trail is entering its design and construction process with completion aimed for early 2021. Where is the gap? The Downtown Connector Trail will run along Anderson Street from Lake Underhill to the Central Business District, thereby connecting downtown Orlando to the Fashion Square Mall/Colonial area and looping back along the surrounding neighborhoods. This segment of expansion will provide many local residents, recreational cyclists and Downtown commuters another safe and healthy mode of transportation.
