Community Developments

With cooler mornings, less humidity, and the slow but inevitable yellowing of the autumn foliage, now is a great time to be outside in the Roanoke Valley. Tree-lined neighborhood roads become riots of color. The mountains surrounding us are covered in undulating mounds of red, yellow, and orange. On the commute home from work, you might even catch a whiff of wood burning from a neighbor’s fireplace.  We are blessed to have an abundance of natural beauty here in this part of Virginia, but if we’re not careful it can slip by into the clutch of winter all too fast!

To make the best of this gorgeous season, consider taking your commute outside this fall. Enjoy a leisurely bike ride to work on a crisp, cool morning, or walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner with the family instead of driving.  Even taking the bus is a good way to get outside for a walk in your community – with the added benefit of letting someone else do the driving while you continue to enjoy the view.

Here are some ideas if you are unsure how to get started:
• Make a Safe Bike Route request. This can be for a safe way to ride to work, or an easy route to a nearby grocery store or restaurant if you want to bike for non-commute trips. Requesting a route is free, and we'll let you know of low-traffic roads, greenways, and other safe connections to get you there by bike.

• Find your closest bus stop with Google Transit. Walking to the bus stop is an easy way to get outside and enjoy your neighborhood. Plus, you get the benefit of letting someone else do the driving once you're on the bus.

• Park-and-Bike or Park-and-Walk. If you live too far from work for biking or walking to be an option, consider a park-and-bike or park-and-walk.  In many cases, you can load your bike on your car, driving to a greenway or nearby park, and ride the rest of the way in. Park-and-bike or park-and-walk lets you get in some fresh air and exercise without entirely having to leave your car behind.

Regardless of the option you're looking for, RIDE Solutions can help you find the right route and offer helpful advice to make your outdoor commute an easy one. Visit us at ridesolutions.org/contact and let us know where you are, where you want to go, and how you want to get there.  We’ll let you know the safest, easiest way to get where you’re going.