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Madison County Trails get even better

On Tuesday, Madison County Transit announced that the latest edition of the MCT Trails system map is now available. I received a copy of the map and the press release today at home.

The map depicts more than 85 miles of bikeways that have been developed by MCT in Madison County, Ill., since the 1990s. The new map is larger and more detailed than previous editions and includes all of the newest trails and trail extensions.

MCT recently completed the Goshen Trail, which connects the Schoolhouse Trail at Illinois Route 162 with MCT Nature Trail in Edwardsville, and it will soon complete the extension of the Nickel Plate Trail from Glen Carbon to the MCT Nature Trail near Interstate 255 in Pontoon Beach. MCT also is extending the Glen Carbon Heritage Trail, which will take cyclists from Glen Carbon to Marine.

The additional features of the maps include:

• Individual trail descriptions that include lengths, surface type, scenery and nearby attractions.
• Detailed descriptions of the MCT Trails loops with distances and connections.
• Identification and addresses of designated MCT Trails Park & Bike lots throughout the region.
• Locations of public restrooms, water fountains, parks and roads adjacent to the trails.
• Information on how to use the bike racks on the front of all MCT fixed-route buses.

The most intriguing part of the map are the loops. There are seven loops ranging from the 10-mile Violet Loop (the Goshen, Heritage and Nickel Plate trails) to the 31.1-mile Red Loop (Nature, Nickel Plate, Heritage, Goshen and Schoolhouse trails).

The new maps will be available on MCT buses, at regional bike shops and chambers of commerce and MCT transfer stations. You also can request a map online at the MCT Trails Web site.

Happy trails!

Roger 0 comments 10:46 PM