From SE Corvallis to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and back again with my kids on our cargo bike! A round trip of 12 miles, this journey is one of the longest trips I make, yet it is also one of my favorites.
I love being separate from car traffic. Thanks to the paths alongside Highway 20, at the west end of SW Campus Way, and alongside 53rd St and Walnut Blvd south of the park, most of my trip is car free and carefree.
What else? The wildlife! We keep our eyes and ears peeled. Most recently, we stopped and watched two kestrels hunting. Their ability to hover at a standstill in windy weather is spectacular! When we stopped being distracted by the kestrels, we noticed a Great egret serenely standing in the distance.
One other thing – There are so many people using these paths, especially near OSU! There are ample opportunities to smile and wave at people, and I enjoy seeing people’s delight at noticing my two friendly (and often noisy!) kiddos in the bike.
Happy traveling!
Karen Smith
This is the inaugural story in a new series inspired by Bend Bikes. “Our Favorite Routes” will run intermittently as you, our readers, submit your favorite ways to get from place to place in Corvallis using active and sustainable transportation. You can send descriptions and photos of your favorite routes to share with all of us by email to safecorvallis@gmail.com.
SAFE Corvallis 
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