Along the Water
by Robert Leone, 2010


Los Gatos Creek bike path, San Jose, CA. Photo by Gina Morey
Many locally popular separated bicycle facilites, bike paths, multiple use paths and other paved or improved resources are along watercourses, riverbeds, adjacent to creeks, or alongside lakes or oceans. Standout examples include the SART, San Diego County's "Bay Shore Bikeway" wending through five cities (thanks to some on-road riding sections), and the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

For many recreational, athletic, commuting, and touring cyclists, bicycle paths and multiple use paths near the water tend towards many positive features.

Unfortunately, along with the many positive features of waterway, watercourse, and waterfront bike paths come some demerits. Ironically, many of these negative features arise from the same roots as their positive features.