NEWS

What are Indy’s busiest trails?

John Tuohy
john.tuohy@indystar.com
A rollerblader crosses the White River while exercising on the Monon Trail near Westfield Boulevard in April 2014. The Monon Trail at 67th Street is Indianapolis' most-traveled greenway with an estimated 471,018 annual users.

The Monon Trail in Broad Ripple is still the most traveled greenway in Indianapolis, but the Cultural Trail is rapidly growing in popularity.

Researchers at Indiana University used electronic sensors to count traffic on all the city’s trails for a study on the Cultural Trail.

It found the Monon remains king, but some other hot spots showed surprising popularity.

Here are the rankings and the estimated annual users.

1. Monon Trail at 67th Street, 471,018.

This is in the heart of Broad Ripple near the Indianapolis Art Center and just north of bars and restaurants.

Rebecca Shindel waits to cross North Street at Alabama Street on a Pacers Bikeshare bicycle in June 2014. The Cultural Trail at Alabama Street ranks second among Indianapolis greenways with an estimated 214,829 annual users.

2. Cultural Trail, Alabama Street, 214,829.

This stretch connects commercial Massachusetts Avenue with the City-County Building and City Market, so users here include not only people on leisure time but those going to work.

"The Tent" is a public sculpture on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail near White River State Park. The Cultural Trail at the Eiteljorg Museum ranks third among most-traveled greenways in Indianapolis with an estimated 210,769 annual users, and the trail at IUPUI ranks fourth with an estimated 164,892 annual users.

3. The Cultural Trail at the Eiteljorg Museum, 210,769.

Heavy use here shows that people are using the trail as a vital link from Downtown to get to the museums at White River State Park.

4. Cultural Trail at IUPUI, 164,892.

Students are using the trail to go from Downtown or near Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus housing to their classes. Heaviest traffic is Monday to Thursday.

5. Monon Trail, 10th Street, 134,605.

This is the southern entrance to the Monon Trail, but it also connects it to the Cultural Trail at Massachusetts Avenue. Use has risen dramatically since the Cultural Trail was built.

Other trail use:

• Eagle Creek Trail at Reed Road, 51,581.

This multipronged trail system features wooded footpaths and paved bike routes at Eagle Creek Reservoir.

Butler University freshman Melanie Knapp jogs along the Central Canal Tow Path at Michigan Road in October 2003. This trail has an estimated 48,696 annual users.

• Central Canal Tow Path at Butler University, 48,696.

This trail of ground limestone along the canal features turtles, ducks, Canada geese and blue heron and is still a hidden gem for Northsiders.

• Fall Creek Trail at Bosart, 42,189.

This is another low-profile path with a lot of nature going for it. One can ride a bicycle for 6 miles without having to stop at a cross street.

• White River Trail, Michigan Avenue bridge, 37,947.

This 7-mile path hugs the river starting at 38th Street and continuing south past Riverside Memorial Park to Raymond Street on the Southside.

• Pleasant Run Trail at Garfield Park, 25,826.

The 7-mile trail connects several historic Southeastside and Eastside parks and neighborhoods.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-6418. Follow him on Twitter: @john_tuohy.