M
Mike Vermeulen
Guest
Does anyone know if bicycles can cross the Mississippi River at Memphis, Tennessee? My map shows two
bridges, one looks like I-55 and one like I-40. If not at Memphis, I assume US-49 at Helena south of
Memphis allows bicycles? Any ferry or other alternative?
I recently bicycled for a week from Fort Collins to Wichita, Kansas. A lot nice small Kansas towns
in middle of wheat harvest, though also hot temperatures. My trip report is here:
http://www.mvermeulen.com/wichita
On completion of my Wichita ride, I'm investigating the next week of a west to east crossing and
Memphis seems like a good destination as long as the bridges cooperate.
--mev, Mike Vermeulen
p.s. An obligatory bicycle tour bridge crossing experience... In 2001, I cycled the southern tier of
the USA. When crossing Louisiana, I saw a short cut that could take me from Opelousas to the St
Francisville ferry...via the small town of Melville.
On arrival at Melville I discovered the wide Afchafalaya River and a small ferry that only ran in
morning (5-8am) and late afternoon (4-9pm). Rather than either wait six hours for the 4pm ferry
or negate my short cut by backtracking, I spotted nearby railroad bridge with pedestrian walkway
and started walking across pushing my bicycle.
I passed a small guardhouse and was short distance further when someone came out of the
guardhouse and started yelling at me. Uh oh!?! Was I going to get kicked off the bridge. I
contemplated going on, but then turned to the person calling. He told me a train was coming
and invited me and bicycle into his guardhouse. I had a nice friendly conversation about
bicycle touring. The train came about 10 minutes later. After that, I went on my way and
continued the crossing.
If I hadn't stopped in the guardhouse, I would have likely been able to make the
crossing...though getting caught on the bridge with the train would have been pretty unnerving if
not fatal (not quite clear how much clearance I would have had).
bridges, one looks like I-55 and one like I-40. If not at Memphis, I assume US-49 at Helena south of
Memphis allows bicycles? Any ferry or other alternative?
I recently bicycled for a week from Fort Collins to Wichita, Kansas. A lot nice small Kansas towns
in middle of wheat harvest, though also hot temperatures. My trip report is here:
http://www.mvermeulen.com/wichita
On completion of my Wichita ride, I'm investigating the next week of a west to east crossing and
Memphis seems like a good destination as long as the bridges cooperate.
--mev, Mike Vermeulen
p.s. An obligatory bicycle tour bridge crossing experience... In 2001, I cycled the southern tier of
the USA. When crossing Louisiana, I saw a short cut that could take me from Opelousas to the St
Francisville ferry...via the small town of Melville.
On arrival at Melville I discovered the wide Afchafalaya River and a small ferry that only ran in
morning (5-8am) and late afternoon (4-9pm). Rather than either wait six hours for the 4pm ferry
or negate my short cut by backtracking, I spotted nearby railroad bridge with pedestrian walkway
and started walking across pushing my bicycle.
I passed a small guardhouse and was short distance further when someone came out of the
guardhouse and started yelling at me. Uh oh!?! Was I going to get kicked off the bridge. I
contemplated going on, but then turned to the person calling. He told me a train was coming
and invited me and bicycle into his guardhouse. I had a nice friendly conversation about
bicycle touring. The train came about 10 minutes later. After that, I went on my way and
continued the crossing.
If I hadn't stopped in the guardhouse, I would have likely been able to make the
crossing...though getting caught on the bridge with the train would have been pretty unnerving if
not fatal (not quite clear how much clearance I would have had).