wellness
Cycling Routes Safe for Families and Beginners Draw Crowds to Lakeview Parks
Protected paths through Cedar Grove Park and along Maple Lane now give new riders and parents with children flat, low-traffic options this summer.
How we reported this
Lakeview Parks Department added eight miles of protected bike lanes this spring that connect Cedar Grove Park to the Riverside District along Maple Lane.
Residents have turned to these routes in growing numbers after the Lakeview Wellness Initiative launched its summer outdoor series on June 1.
The new lanes stay separate from car traffic on Oak Street and River Road, where daily vehicle counts exceed 4,200. City data shows the additions close a gap that previously forced families onto busier stretches near Hilltop Gardens.
Routes Through Cedar Grove and Maple Lane
Cedar Grove Park on Oak Street offers a 2.3-mile loop with gentle grades under 3 percent and benches every quarter mile. Families start at the west entrance near the playground and circle the central pond before returning on the same path.
The Maple Lane Trail runs 3.1 miles from the park gate to the Lakeview Bike Co-op at 412 River Road. The surface is smooth asphalt finished in 2025, and the route crosses only two residential intersections with raised crossings.
The Lakeview Family Cycling Program runs free Saturday sessions at 9 a.m. from the co-op through Labor Day, supplying helmets and basic route maps. Participants must register online at least 48 hours ahead.
Numbers and Next Steps
Program records list 312 riders in the first four sessions of July, up from 189 in the same period last year. Bike rentals at the co-op cost $8 for two hours or $22 for a full day, with child seats available for an extra $5.
City traffic counts from May recorded 1,150 family groups using the new lanes on weekends, compared with 680 the previous May. The Lakeview Parks website posts updated maps and real-time closure notices for construction on River Road.
Anyone new to the routes can download the free Lakeview Trails app or stop by the co-op desk for printed turn sheets. Riders with existing medical conditions should check with a local physician before starting longer outings.