Rio Hondo bicycle path: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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{{Short description|Cycling route in California, USA}}

The '''Rio Hondo bicycle path''' is a Class 1 [[bicycle path]] that parallels the [[Rio Hondo (California)|Rio Hondo]] through [[Los Angeles County]]. The North end of the path begins at the [[Peck Road Water Conservation Park]], about 1/2 mile South of Live Oak Avenue (which becomes Myrtle Avenue just North of Live Oak Avenue as it enters [[Monrovia, California]]) on Peck Road, on the West side of the street. Even on weekends, the path is only sparsely populated by [[bicyclists]] and [[pedestrian]]s. The trail is mostly level.

{{Infobox cycling path

| name = Rio

Hondo Bike Path

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| photo = File:Rio Hondo Bike Path.jpg

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| caption = Between El Monte Airport and Rosemead Blvd

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| length_mi = 1.6

| location = [[Los Angeles County]]

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| use = Active transportation, road biking, walking, dogs on leash

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| difficulty = Easy

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| surface = asphalt

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[[File:Rio Hondo at Rosemead.jpg|thumb|Rio Hondo bike path at Rosemead Blvd]]

One highlight of the trail is a section that parallels the runway at the [[El Monte Airport]], where it is possible to watch planes take off and land.

The '''Rio Hondo Bike Path''' is a [[bicycle path]] that parallels the [[Rio Hondo (California)|Rio Hondo]] (creek) through the [[San Gabriel Valley]], in eastern [[Los Angeles County]], California.<ref name="bikepath">[http://www.labikepaths.com/RioHondo.html L.A. Bikepaths-R.Hondo] . accessed 6.16.2012</ref> The path is gently graded, and has sections with more greenery and mature trees than other bicycle paths in the area.<ref name="bikepath"/> ''Rio Hondo'' means ''deep river'' in Spanish.<ref name="cottrell">{{cite book

|last=Cottrell

|first=Wayne D.

|date=2015

|title=Best bike rides Los Angeles: the greatest recreational rides in the metro area

|location=Helena, Mont.

|publisher=Falcon Guides

|pages= 250–257

|isbn=978-1-4930-0384-6

}}</ref>

The proximity of the Rio Hondo Bike Path to the central regional transit hub at the [[El Monte Station]], including the MetroLink [[J Line (Los Angeles Metro)|J Line]], makes it one of the most accessible routes to access a variety of bike paths and local parks.

The bike trail also passes by the radio controlled model airplane field at the [[Whittier Narrows]] Recreation Area, also an interesting stop for aviation buffs.

==Route==

Yet another wonderful feature of this path is its connection, through the back side of Whittier Narrows Recreation Area along a very rural stream bed, to the [[San Gabriel River bicycle path]]. As noted below, the proximity of the Rio Hondo Bike Path to the massive El Monte Bus Station makes it one of easiest ways access a variety of local bike paths without the extensive use of car drop-offs and pick-ups.

The northern start of the Rio Hondo Bike Path is at the [[Peck Road Water Conservation Park]] in the southern [[Monrovia, California|Monrovia]] area.<ref name="bikepath"/>

From there, the southbound path follows along a rural stream bed through the [[Whittier Narrows Recreation Area]]. One can connect to the [[San Gabriel River bicycle path]] via the Legg Lake bicycle path here.<ref name="bikepath"/> The Rio Hondo bike path continues south and joins [[Los Angeles River bicycle path]] at the [[confluence]] of the Rio Hondo and [[Los Angeles River]] in [[South Gate, California|South Gate]]. The L.A. River bike path continues to downtown [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], ending by the Pacific Ocean.<ref name="bikepath"/>

==Entry Points / Parking==

*Peck Road Water Conservation Park in southern Arcadia has ample parking.

*[[Whittier Narrows]] Recreation Area corner of Loma Ave and Rush Street in El Monte, with ample parking.

*[[El Monte Bus Station (LACMTA station)]] on the lower level island for passenger route changes.

==Maintenance==

==Current condition==

There is some debris on the trail around areas where path-side parks are being built. The trail is in good repair, there are some cracks that have been filled with [[tar]] are slightly raised. There are also some metal plates across the trail that can give cyclists a jolt.

==Future plans==

There seem to be several path side parks being built along the trail. Lashbrook Park in El Monte is one of these new additions.

==Combining bus and bike travel==

One of the best features of the Rio Hondo Bike Path is its proximity to the massive El Monte Bus Station near the corner of Valley Blvd and Santa Anita Avenue. If you are taking your bike on a bus to start or finish your trip, you will find that many buses operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) have a rack in front of the bus that can accommodate two bicycles (free of charge). See the "Riding Metro" link below for more information on bus routes and bicycle racks. As noted below, there is an entrance to the Rio Hondo bike path right across the driveway from the island where passengers wait to change to new bus lines. NOTE: There is also a "secret" dedicated entrance ramp to the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) carpool lane also from this passenger island.

==Avoiding current construction==

In addition to simply getting you to the Rio Hondo bike path, there are at least two major MTA bus routes that would let you skip some of the current construction detour. MTA Route 70 runs every day from downtown Los Angeles near Union Station (the regional commuter train hub) to the El Monte Bus Station along Garvey Avenue in El Monte, so it would be wise to simply get off at Garvey and Lee Street and go south to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Similarly, you would need to get off at El Monte Bus Station to go north to see the adjacent El Monte Airport and Peck Road Water Conservation Park (only about 1-1/2 miles farther north). Alternatively, the MTA Route 287 that runs north-south from downtown Sierra Madre, along Santa Anita Ave through Arcadia, into the El Monte Bus Station. It then makes its way to Garvey, travels west along Garvey, eventually going to Montebello Town Center Mall. Therefore, one could disembark at Garvey Ave and Lee Street to get to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Note, however, that this segment of service between El Monte Bus Station and Montebello Town Center Mall does not run on Sundays. Similarly, although the Route 287 map shows it travels by the intersection of nearby Walnut Grove Avenue and Rush street, in fact there is a large golf course that interrupts part of Rush Street. One really must get off at Garvey and go south on Lee to get to Rush Street and back to the Rio Hondo bike path at the entrance to Whittier Narrows.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Rio Hondo bicycle path}}

*http://www.labikepaths.com/RioHondo.html

*[http://labikepaths.com/bike-paths/rio-hondo/ Bike Paths — Rio Hondo bicycle path]

*http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/default.htm

{{Los Angeles bike paths}}

{{coord|34.02503|-118.08350|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-CA|display=title}}

[[Category:Los Angeles bike paths]]▼

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rio Hondo Bicycle Path}}

[[Category:Bike paths in Los Angeles]]

[[Category:San Gabriel Valley]]

▲[[Category:Parks in Los Angeles bikeCounty, pathsCalifornia]]