Gravel biking has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and for good reason! Many people find gravel riding to be a peaceful and enjoyable way to get out on their bike, without the stress of busier paved roads. Gravel roads offer a biking experience that is typically quiet, closer to nature, and free from the stress of heavy car traffic, and they’re great places to ride in communities that don’t yet have dedicated bicycle infrastructure. Gravel can even be a viable commuting option in some places, and serve as a draw for outdoor recreation tourism. These are some of the many reasons why more and more bicyclists are opting off the beaten path, and why more communities should embrace gravel riding.
We’re committed to increasing the accessibility of safe, enjoyable bicycling for everyone, and in that spirit, we’ve launched a new initiative to promote gravel bicycling in Georgia. Starting with a pilot project to catalog and promote gravel in Greene County, we plan to expand the effort statewide. Gravel riding is already well established in Greene County, where local cyclist Lisa Baynes regularly leads group rides on the area’s gravel roads. In describing her personal love of gravel riding, she explains that "gravel riding has always been an authentic and unhurried way for me to enjoy the outdoors." Baynes has also seen the benefits of gravel riding in the broader community, saying that "many people are drawn to quiet country roads with minimal traffic, and creating a cycling community around this has been helpful for our rural area. It not only provides cyclists with safer routes but also helps attract visitors who explore our community, fostering a sense of connection and, hopefully, driving some economic growth as well." Indeed, Baynes’ gravel rides draw both locals and tourists, with some participants traveling from out of state to take part. Promoting gravel roads as viable bike routes can be an effective and low-cost economic development tool, particularly for rural areas. We already know that bicycling has a significant economic impact in Georgia, and promoting gravel riding is just one more way to reap the positive benefits of cycling in our state.
Our website now features a selection of Greene County’s gravel routes, with photographs, descriptions, and links to ridewithgps.com directions. We invite you to explore and let us know your feedback. What additional gravel routes in Georgia should we include on our website as we build out this feature? Let us know at planning@georgiabikes.org!
