Best route from RTP to MacGregor?

[esther-l]

I have driven down Davis Drive from RTP to 64, to get to the Melo Velo start point. Does anyone have a faster route?

I work near the intersection of Miami Blvd and Cornwallis. I work in the same bldg as David Cole, but I am not a 7-3 person like he is.

thanks, Esther

[RickF]

Esther,

A slightly shorter (but not by much) and less hilly route would be to take Miami Blvd to NC 54.
Continue straight on NC 54 to Cary Parkway.
Turn Right on Cary Parkway to Tarbert Drive
Turn Right on Tarbert Drive to Burnley Drive
Turn Left on Burnley Drive to Stonleigh Drive
Turn Left on Stonleigh Drive to Kettlebridge Drive
Turn Left on Kettlebridge Drive to Lake Pine Drive (wave as you pass my house)
Turn Right on Lake Pine Drive to Versailles Drive
Turn Left on Versailles Drive to Chalon Drive
Turn Right on Chalon Drive to US 64
Turn Left on US 64 to Edinburgh Drive.
Turn Right on Edinburg Drive to MacGregor Village.

This is 14.6 miles instead of 15.7, so it is not much better, but I think it is less hilly, and for much of it, less traffic. The part from Cary Parkway until US 64 is all signed bike paths.

If you did not follow my directions, here is a link to the route on maps.google:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=S+Miami+Blvd+%26+E+Cornwallis+Rd,+Durham,+NC&daddr=NW+Cary+Pkwy+%4035.789160,+-78.828910+to:Tarbert+Dr+%4035.754890,+-78.820820+to:US+Route+64+%26+Edinburgh+Dr,+Cary,+N C+27511&mrcr=2&mra=pr&dirflg=h&sll=35.751597,-78.810768&sspn=0.029604,0.055017&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1&pw=2

[esther-l]

thanks!
I am hoping to find a route that takes only 45 minutes to drive to ride start. It is frustrating to sit in traffic and take 1 hour to drive my car to a ride start.

There is a 'relaxed pace' ride group that does Wednesday evening rides closer to RTP - their relaxed pace is 15mph. Things like that make me continue to appreciate Slow Spokes!

I _did_ remember to grab a new tube this morning, to replace the one used to fix my flat tire Sunday.
Esther

[RickF]

thanks!
I am hoping to find a route that takes only 45 minutes to drive to ride start. It is frustrating to sit in traffic and take 1 hour to drive my car to a ride start.

There is a 'relaxed pace' ride group that does Wednesday evening rides closer to RTP - their relaxed pace is 15mph. Things like that make me continue to appreciate Slow Spokes!

I _did_ remember to grab a new tube this morning, to replace the one used to fix my flat tire Sunday.
Esther
Rides are getting faster as the season goes on. I helped lead the beginner ride from The Spin Cycle last night, and we went 15 mph. Of Course, other than the hill on Old Raleigh Road and on High House road, it is an easy route, but 15 mph is still fast for a beginners ride. We always try to go as fast as the slowest person can manage. Depending on who shows up, I have done that ride as slow as 12 mph and as fast a 16.5 mph.

I do not know if the Circle K Gas Station, corner of Leesville Rd and Hickory Grove Church Rd, is any closer to RTP than Cary is, but on Thursdays at 6:15 PM, Team GSK and Team Nortel sponsor a 16 mile ride at about 12 mph. Anyone can atend these rides. I have never done it, buI know the ride leaders. http://bikenct.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/Weekly_Team_Rides.doc?docID=22584

[RickF]

I am hoping to find a route that takes only 45 minutes to drive to ride start.
Esther,

I am a little slow on the uptake today. I though you were looking for a route to ride your bicycle from work to MacGregor village. If you are in the car, take Miami. Continue straight on NC 54 to Cary Parkway. Turn Right on Cary Parkway and stay on Cary Parkway to Lake Pine Drive. Turn right on Lake Pine Drive to US 64, Turn Left on US 64 to Edinburgh Drive. If US 64 is backed up, you can go straight across US 64 and turn Left on Old Raleigh Road and follow Old Raleigh Road to MacGregor Village. That is what I usually do. The stop lights on US 64 can get backed up in a hurry.

All of the other little turns in the other route were to get you out of traffic, cut a few corners, and avoid a big hill on Lake Pine Drive if you were on a bicycle. The speed limit on Cary Parkway, Lake Pine Drive, and US 64 is much higher than it is through the neighborhoods, and hills are not a problem in a car.

I work at the GSK campus on Cornwallis Road and live on Kettlebridge Drive. This is the way I go home when I drive. Interestingly, this is not the best way to go to work. For that, I take US 64 to NC 55, NC 55 to Alexander Drive, and Alexander Drive to Cornwallis Road. When I do not ride in the evenings, I walk to and from Lake Pine Plaza and take the bus. The bus uses the US 64 to NC 55 route, but makes a loop through NIEHS and EPA before getting to Alexander Drive. From Alexander Drive, it takes NC 54 to the TTA Transfer Center. From there I catch another bus that takes me to Cornwallis Road.

Traffic can be variable. If you leave by 4:30, it will take less than 40 minutes. If you leave at 5:15, it could take 60 minutes.

[Hammerhead]

I drive from T.W. Alexander Drive to the OMV ride.

I always take I40 to 55 through Apex, left onto 64 to MacGregor Village.

Takes me about 40 minutes.