All aboard !
Music City Star rail tickets will be available for purchase next week. Monday, September 18th will be the first day of service. I am definitely riding it to work on day one, and will use it often depending on my work schedule.
One thing I neglected to mention the other day is that we can take our bikes on the train. The official site for Music City Star states an area on each car is set aside for bicycles provided they don't interfere with handicapped needs. I could walk the half-mile distance from home/work to the stations, but why walk when you can ride?
The only bummer to all this is that the rail only operates Monday through Friday. You won't be able to ride an early weekend train from downtown to Lebanon to ride a long endurance training ride into Watertown and back. However, once the rail is operational the plan is to offer service on special event weekends downtown. Think about all those Titans games, fireworks display, music events, etc. that the rail service could accommodate on the weekend.
The long-term plans for rail service in Middle Tennessee is exciting. I can only hope I live long enough to enjoy the benefits of taking a trip in every direction out of Nashville. I envision a special bike ride originating in Nashville on the Star by taking a large group 30 miles out, riding a long loop back into town, and getting back into our cars in downtown Nashville. Now that would be a charity bike ride you'd remember!
The Star is already making practice runs throughout the scheduled loop. Those of us who live along the rail have been hearing the train's horn often these last few days. I've noticed a few traffic jams in the Donelson area near McGavock High School. McGavock Pike is heavily congested in the early AM and early PM hours because of all the students and busses, so the train will make that a little worse.
I hate their luck because I'll be waving from the window of the train!
One thing I neglected to mention the other day is that we can take our bikes on the train. The official site for Music City Star states an area on each car is set aside for bicycles provided they don't interfere with handicapped needs. I could walk the half-mile distance from home/work to the stations, but why walk when you can ride?
The only bummer to all this is that the rail only operates Monday through Friday. You won't be able to ride an early weekend train from downtown to Lebanon to ride a long endurance training ride into Watertown and back. However, once the rail is operational the plan is to offer service on special event weekends downtown. Think about all those Titans games, fireworks display, music events, etc. that the rail service could accommodate on the weekend.
The long-term plans for rail service in Middle Tennessee is exciting. I can only hope I live long enough to enjoy the benefits of taking a trip in every direction out of Nashville. I envision a special bike ride originating in Nashville on the Star by taking a large group 30 miles out, riding a long loop back into town, and getting back into our cars in downtown Nashville. Now that would be a charity bike ride you'd remember!
The Star is already making practice runs throughout the scheduled loop. Those of us who live along the rail have been hearing the train's horn often these last few days. I've noticed a few traffic jams in the Donelson area near McGavock High School. McGavock Pike is heavily congested in the early AM and early PM hours because of all the students and busses, so the train will make that a little worse.
I hate their luck because I'll be waving from the window of the train!
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 8/31/2006 08:51:00 AM
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