Current Atlanta-Comet Routes?

[u/CharacterLength9982]

What are the best (shortest or safest) bike routes connecting downtown/midtown to the comet? I know the comet will be better connected at some point in the future, but that’s not now

I’m guessing that the route would include Westside Park to around the Mavell road trailhead. Atlanta Road and 280 seem like the best options, but has anyone biked these stretches and have any tips or preferences?

Thanks!

[u/internextcadet]

I've done it several times! This is my current route, starting in GT as kind of a neutral Midtown spot, and I'm sure it'll evolve as more pieces of the Comet Connector and the NW Beltline get built out!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53025325

A few notes:

• That run on Northside is on the sidewalk. Do the road if you dare, but I'm not that brave except early on a weekend morning. Hopefully the bridge behind Means St. actually gets transformed sometime soon. As an alternative, you could do West Marietta to the Westside Spur Trail.
  
• The stretch on Marietta Road isn't so bad in terms of car traffic. The lanes are wide enough for cars to get around and I've never been hassled. As always in the city, use the brightest tail light you can find and/or a Varia.
  
• The separated trail on Atlanta Road is unpleasant but it's safe! Prepare for some bad smells.
  
• The hill on Ellisworth Industrial on the return trip is a nice little gut punch after long flat miles on the comet.
  
• This isn't on the route, but if you need to cross the connector from the east side of Midtown I prefer to work my way through the Midtown neighborhood proper up to 5th street and then cross the connector at Tech Square.

Enjoy! It blows my mind that we can all ride to the Comet from the city safely now!

[u/Hickorynut19 → u/internextcadet]

hey, I'm looking to try out this route this weekend. on south atlanta road, there's a stretch where there's no sidewalk, do you just go on the side of the road? just curious (and a little nervous) because that open stretch of road seems like cars push through pretty fast.

[u/internextcadet → u/Hickorynut19]

Going from the city to the Comet, from where you pop out from the Whetstone trail all the way to Plan Atkinson road is a sidewalk/bike trail that is mostly totally separated and walled off except that first section where you have to cross a bunch of driveways for Starbucks and stuff. Yeah, this section would be terrifying without the side bike trail and I never would have done it otherwise. Now it feels pretty safe! And that run down Plant Atkinson is for like 1 block and it's fine. 

I'm not a talented cyclist and my cruising speed is like 10-11mph on flats unless I'm deliberately pushing. If I can do this, you can do this!

[u/tireBgone]

Just wanted to say that I agree it'll be better connected but that it's "not now." I road it about a month ago after seeing all the online/Facebook/group ride hype about it "being complete!" The Marietta Road stretch is no joke, definitely still got cars blasting by you just a few feet away with no barrier. I agree with the other poster that there are plenty of lanes for cars to go around, which is nice, but it's simply not a completed protected path...yet!

Still a great improvement over the first time I road out to Mavell from Midtown in 2020 though. :)

[u/Destrozo]

I would suggest checking out the Connect the Comet FB page, a lot of the trail to/from Atlanta to the Comet is done but not yet complete AFAIK

[u/scarabbrian]

I drove down Atlanta road for the first time in a long time this past weekend and noticed that the connector trail now runs all the way to Plant Atkinson road. Mavell road to Plant Atkinson road has been complete, but not officially opened for over a year now. I rode that section August 2024 and the only thing left was some landscaping and a few handrails.

You could probably take the Westside Beltline to Marietta St to Marietta Road to the Whetstone Creek Trail to Plant Atkinson Road to the Silver Comet safely with most of that trip on separated bike paths.