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. People who have been exclusively motorists and others see the roadways and experience them in ways very different from long distance cyclists. For one matter, what motorists can run over and completely Miss and totally not even notice, can be a constant hindrance to cyclists. A bump they do not feel can go right up through your wrists and arms and into your shoulders. That's only one thing and they are completely unaware of anything like that. I have often said to myself, if the people in vehicles motor vehicles experienced slams constantly to their wheels in the same proportion that a cyclist experiences, they would be screaming all the way to Tallahassee and screaming all the way to Washington. Sometimes, when the cyclists will not use the path, it is because it is a minefield and an obstacle course. People who have been exclusively motorists are not aware of that.They just built it and then neglected it.
That happens so much. I wish governments would factor in maintenance costs when deciding whether to build something or not. While I am glad they built some bike infrastructure, if it is not maintained, then riders won't use it and then locals will go "See, the !@#$ bikers don't use their path! Why should we build more paths?"
That said, I do enjoy that a lot (relatively) of Florida's roads have a bike lane. Much more than compared to many states.
IIRC, there are no sidewalks between Navarre and Mary Ester (town between Navarre and Destin). In Mary Ester, I rode back roads and that was fine. Again, by riding off US-98, the ride is a lot better.east of Destin I took the first road North the causeway road across the water to get on 20 at that point. I have had some really consistent following wins on this trip wind on this trip. I have already come 93 mi today and that is largely because of a powerful following wind. I don't really remember Navarre and destined that well. There were some towns where it was Old Town style with narrow roads, no bike lane, and rough sidewalks strewn with debris. There was a so-called Greenway bike path running parallel along highway 27. It was as much a hindrance as a help and the side light on the road was a much better way to go. The so-called bike path Greenway had many potholes, cracks, crevices, large bumps were Roots grew up under the path and pushed upwards. Parts of it had limbs and cones and berries and branches and logs from The deadfall from the trees around it. They just built it and then neglected it.
Here is what I rode: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41446033
As mentioned earlier, the only stretch that was not overly enjoyable was between Navarre and Mary Ester as there is a TON of traffic.Other than that, it was fine or acceptable.
I rode Hwy 98 a few years back going west to east. I picked it up in Pensacola and rode it to Perry on my way to St. Augustine. I really enjoyed the ride. The only section I disliked was between Navarre and Destin. It didn’t have much of a shoulder in the towns and they were doing construction so parts had no shoulder. Really heavy traffic. Other than in the cities the was usually a wide shoulder and very little traffic. I did take hwy 319 through Sopchoppy. Almost no traffic. There is a nice bike trail from Wakulla to the St. Marks historic railroad state trail that will take you into Tallahassee. Would definitely ride it again.yes Navarre and Destin where any semblance of a bicycle path disappeared and debris troon sidewalks began. It was slow going in that area.