Cyclists on Lexington’s south end have a new route to the University of Kentucky through the Arboretum Woods. Officials hope the just-unveiled shared use path will help solve two perennial problems.
One of the oldest bike paths in Lexington takes cyclists using the Bellafonte route through the visitor area of the Arboretum, much to the consternation of the facility’s planners and staff.
"It's always been a point of concern," says UK parking and transportation director Lance Broeking. "The other option is Nicholasville Road, which really isn't an option when you think about commuting by bicycle."
And so planners finally charted a new course, connecting Shady Lane with University Court.
"We've been looking for a number of years, dating back to 1965 even but really in earnest since 2008 to 2011, to try to find a legitimate, permanent connection between the neighborhoods to the south of campus."
But the purpose is twofold. With drivers' parking options stretched thin at UK thanks to ongoing major construction projects, university officials see the path as one more avenue to alleviate traffic congestion and the overall demand for parking. The trail is only part of a broader campaign to encourage faculty, staff, and students to consider alternate forms of transportation. Last month, the school brokered a deal with Lextran to provide university riders with no-cost fares on all routes through the city.
