[SDCBC] Inland Rail Trail Update

[Philip Erdelsky]

Before riding on the Sprinter yesterday (March 13), I rode the
completed portion of the Inland Rail Trail through San Marcos
and Escondido, something that I had previously done in December 2006.

This section is now complete, except for one tiny part next
to Barham Dr. which is still unpaved.

It's 6.66 miles long, according to my bicycle odometer. (Don't draw
any supernatural conclusions from that. My odometer is only about
90% accurate.)

Except for the pavement markings, most of the path resembles a
sidewalk along the south side of Mission Rd., and it used as such
by the locals. I saw as many pedestrians as bicyclists on the path.

The only part that really looks and feels like a separated bike path
is 1.79-mile part between Valpreda Rd. and Rancheros Dr. It's farther
from Mission Rd. and far enough below it so you can't see the road
from the path, or vice-versa. The Sprinter doesn't use this part --
it detours to CSUSM on a new spur. The path crosses the railroad
three times in this section on bike/ped grade crossings with signs
and signals, but no gates.

Mission Rd. retains its bike lanes, and serious bicyclists will want
to keep using it. However, one flaw, which I first noticed in 2006,
has still not been corrected. Where Mission Rd. passes under Highway 78,
signs direct eastbound cyclists in the bike lane right into a patch
of soft earth under the overpass. You'd be well advised to use the
path in that area.

Photographs:

      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irtsign.jpg  snazzy trail sign
      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irt2.jpg
      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irt3.jpg
      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irt4.jpg
      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irt5.jpg
      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irt6.jpg
      http://www.efgh.com/bike/irt7.jpg

A detailed description is included in

      http://www.efgh.com/bike/redroute.htm

-- Philip Erdelsky