Quote:
Originally Posted by tdawg
Was The Loop inspired by the Atlanta Beltline? They seem to be very similar projects/initiatives.
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I have no doubt that it was. I think the scale difference between the two projects will necessarily differentiate how they function though.
Atlanta's Beltline is 22 miles and the Loop Dallas is 50 miles. The Atlanta Beltline seems far more practical for actual bicycle commuting in addition to recreation, while the Loop Dallas--taken as a whole--is predominantly recreational. Certainly, trail segments within The Loop Dallas are already being used for commuting, but, as a singular contiguous circuit, it's not practical to live on one end of the circuit and commute to work or to the store entirely on bike to the trail's complete opposite. Whereas on a circuit that's 22 miles like Atlanta's that means you're never more than 11 miles from a given point on the trail. 11 miles can be done in about an hour or less, and the entire trail in 2 hours. Doing the entirety of the Loop Dallas for most people will take 4 to 5 hours.
Of course the Loop Dallas, like Atlanta's as well, does not exist in a vacuum. There are other trails that connect to it and there are light rail stops that can be used to supplement its function for commuting/getting around the city.
A closer approximation of the Beltline's length
can be cobbled together in Dallas using the Santa Fe Trail and this planned but unfunded off-street trail I've drawn in red below. The northern section of the Loop plus these two segments create a 24 mile loop that is almost entirely urban.
As a recreational trail though, that southern portion of the Loop is genuinely gorgeous. I've biked most of the trail segments individually and I'm excited for it to fully connect. Transitioning from the sense of total isolation within the Trinity Forest in the south, to the wide open sweeping skyline views between the river levees, then to the urban bustle of the Katy Trail will provide a really startling contrast.
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