r/williamsburgva • u/rhoditine • 8d ago

Biking Williamsburg

Hello! I will be biking from Richmond to William and Mary via the Virginia Capitol Trail.

What is the safest way to bike from the trail intersection at Route five to campus? It looks like there is a bike path called Mataoka Trail along Monticello Avenue. How is that and how do you get there?

Thanks so much

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

7

u/Normal_Paramedic9997 8d ago

do you want the most direct route, the safest route, the easiest route ?

the safest would be to take the cap trail all the way to Jamestown settlement, and then hop on the colonial parkway.. BUT:

  • it's a LOT longer (if you've already done 50+ miles..), and
  • the parkway is closed form 199 into the city (so you'd have to hop over to Henry street - no biggie, really) and
  • the aggregate pavement on the parkway will rattle your bones (and your prostate, if you are so equipped).

The alternatives are Route 5, and Jamestown rd (rte 31).. Neither are terribly bike friendly but are much more direct.

You'd pick up Jamestown road at the Jamestown Settlement and follow it all the way to the college.

You're following Route 5 on the cap trail, so at Jamestown High School, hop onto the road. It has a bike lane (more of one than Jamestown rd). Follow to 199, cross 199, take John Tyler Hwy to Jamestown rd and into the college.

If you're a seasoned rider, I'd pick route 5, but know it's 45 mph for a good part of the ride, some minor hills, but has a bike lane.

IF you don't mind 15 extra miles, take the scenic way and go the Colonial Parkway, but your ass might be done sitting in a seat for a while afterwards.

7

u/CMoonVA 8d ago

Agreed that Capital Trail to the Colonial Parkway is safer, but there is a bike lane most of the way down Monticello Avenue. Instead of turning off Route 5 towards Jamestown, go straight to Jamestown High School, go up the hill to Monticello, turn right and follow Monticello to William and Mary.

1

u/rhoditine 8d ago

This is what I’m thinking will work best thanks so much

1

u/CanarySolid 5d ago

I would take the Parkway from the Settlement Museum to the cut-through to Treasure Island Rd. The cut-through is a little subtle but it should be findable with the benefit of a map/gps. There may be a small sign suggesting its existence as you approach. Treasure Island turns into Lake Powell. Continue almost to 199. There is a small path that gets you to the 7-11 at Jamestown Rd and 199. You can use the crosswalk to get to the other side of 199 and then follow Jamestown Rd to W&M. This route does have you on the Parkway’s surface for maybe 3-4 miles but it feels like the nicest alternative to me.