Bike rides with kids in Fort Collins
These 8 rides in Fort Collins, Colorado, never cross a busy road without a traffic light. They run 1.1 to 7.1 miles, about 11 minutes to 1 hour 11 minutes at a child's pace of 6 mph, and 5 of them pass a public playground. Four ride a short stretch of busy street and one runs on a sidewalk beside traffic; each ride says where.
CSU (the Oval) to Old Town Square
A 1.1-mile ride from CSU (the Oval), about 11 minutes at 6 mph, 30% on trails and paths, all paved, with 39 feet of climbing. At mile 1.0 it rides about 70 feet on Remington Street. Restrooms at mile 0.9; no drinking water mapped on the way.
CSU (the Oval) to Rolland Moore Park
A 2.7-mile ride from CSU (the Oval), about 27 minutes at 6 mph, 93% on trails and paths, almost all paved, with 125 feet of climbing. A playground at mile 2.7 (Rolland Moore Park). Restrooms at miles 2.4 and 2.6; drinking water at miles 2.4 and 2.6.
CSU (the Oval) to Foothills Mall
A 2.8-mile ride from CSU (the Oval), about 28 minutes at 6 mph, 73% on trails and paths, almost all paved, with 82 feet of climbing. OpenStreetMap shows no restrooms or drinking water on the way: bring what you need.
Harmony Library to Fossil Creek Park
A 2.9-mile ride from Harmony Library, about 29 minutes at 6 mph, 64% on trails and paths, all paved, with 52 feet of climbing. It starts with 0.9 mi on the sidewalk along West Harmony Road, beside traffic with driveways and side streets: go slowly there. A playground at the end (Fossil Creek Park). Restrooms at miles 2.7 and 2.8; drinking water at mile 2.8.
Foothills Mall to Old Town Square
A 3.7-mile ride from Foothills Mall, about 37 minutes at 6 mph, 42% on trails and paths, all paved, with 148 feet of climbing. At mile 3.7 it rides about 70 feet on Remington Street. Restrooms at mile 3.6; drinking water at mile 1.7.
New Belgium and the Poudre River Trail
A 4.8-mile loop from New Belgium Brewing, about 48 minutes at 6 mph, 70% on trails and paths, 88% paved, with 194 feet of climbing. At mile 4.8 it rides about 330 feet on Buckingham Street. Playgrounds at mile 0.3 (Buckingham Park), mile 0.8 (Old Fort Collins Heritage Park) and mile 2.5 (Soft Gold Park). Restrooms at miles 0.3 and 2.5; drinking water at miles 0.3 and 2.5. The nearest parking lot is about 500 feet from the start.
Fossil Creek Trail loop
A 5.3-mile loop from Fossil Creek Park, about 53 minutes at 6 mph, 85% on trails and paths, all paved, with 203 feet of climbing. A playground at mile 5.1 (Fossil Creek Park). Restrooms at miles 0.2 and 5.0; drinking water at miles 0.2, 5.0 and 5.1. The nearest parking lot is about 650 feet from the start.
Rolland Moore and the Spring Creek Trail
A 7.1-mile loop from Rolland Moore Park, about 1 hour 11 minutes at 6 mph, 68% on trails and paths, almost all paved, with 299 feet of climbing. At mile 6.7 it rides about 160 feet on Rolland Moore Drive. A playground at mile 0.1 (Rolland Moore Park). Restrooms at miles 0.1 and 0.3; drinking water at miles 0.1, 0.3 and 2.2. The nearest parking lot is about 400 feet from the start.
How we picked these
Every ride here never crosses a busy road without a traffic light and has no painted bike lane beside fast traffic. None rides more than about 500 feet on a busy street, and where one does, its line says where: walk those bits with little ones. Busy roads are fast or multi-lane traffic with no bike lane, from OpenStreetMap and Trazo's traffic-stress rating. Times are at a child's pace of 6 mph. Playgrounds, restrooms and water are public ones in OpenStreetMap within about 200 feet of the ride; a playground in the park where a ride starts or ends counts within about 500 feet. Playgrounds on school or daycare grounds are left out.
Guidance only; verify safety yourself, and stay close to young riders at every crossing, even with a light. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.