I biked the 202 Parkway Trail — here’s what it’s like

I’ll be honest: the 202 Parkway Trail in Pennsylvania’s Bucks and Montgomery counties is never going to win any beauty awards. That said, it blazes an almost stress-free path through suburban sprawl. That’s worth a lot.

I picked up this 8 1/2-mile trail at the trailhead at its northern end on the outskirts of Doylestown, a pretty town and the final stop on a Septa train line from Philadelphia. On the plus side: A wide asphalted pathway. Regular mile markers, generally every half mile (often at 1/4 and 3/4 of a mile, for some reason.)

The negative: You’re practically next to U.S. 202, a busy, often 4-lane road, just separated by a wide strip of grass and no shade. You won’t escape the traffic noise, though at one point you just tune it out.

And what’s the alternative? Many of the roads I’ve driven in Bucks County are narrow, with no shoulder. Either they wind, so fast-moving drivers don’t have great visibility, or they’re straight, so those same drivers feel they can go even faster.

The 202 Parkway Trail is rolling, though heading south there is a net elevation gain. Or put it this way: it felt easier going north, though you still had some steeper (but short) climbs. Maybe it’s used as a commuter route, but on a warm and sunny Friday afternoon between Christmas and New Year’s, most of the riders I saw looked like they wanted a workout. I’d have been pushing the pace, too, had I been on my road bike instead of a Bike Friday Tikit.

The trail changes from one side of 202 to the other three times at traffic lights and once with a cloverleaf underpass. Drivers generally obeyed when I had the walk signal and held back — except by Costco on the way back. Do they somehow not see you at the corner on their near left before they make a left turn? Or the walk sign and countdown clock on their far left? I was patient…

Just south of Costco Drive is a spur to LA Fitness and, behind it, a few restaurants and even a hotel. And right after the underpass is the back of a shopping center that includes a Giant supermarket. So you have some easy-to-access food options if you get hungry.

The trail ends where U.S. 202 meets Welsh Drive in North Wales.

The 202 Parkway Trail is part of Greater Philadelphia’s Circuit Trails network, and one day it might be part of a route to the Schuylkill River Trail. I did see this sign for Norristown (on the Schuylkill and Chester Valley trails) 8 miles away — but using what roads?

The 202 does connect to the Bradford Dam Trail, a 5-mile route that I’d explore the next time I’m in the area. It also links to the Neshaminy Creek Trail, but only a small part of that vision has been completed. Perhaps one day the still-developing Power Line Trail will connect as well.

Another Montgomery County adventure: I discover the Perkiomen Trail.