Raleigh Builds Safe Cycling Routes for Families and Beginners

Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources opened two additional miles of paved path along the Crabtree Creek Greenway this spring, creating a continuous seven-mile loop between Shelley Lake and the North Hills neighborhood that stays entirely off major roads.

City data show a 34 percent rise in family bike trips on Raleigh greenways between 2024 and 2025, a trend local recreation staff link to parents seeking short, shaded rides that fit between school drop-off and dinner. The new segments include wider shoulders and lower curb cuts at every crossing, changes the department made after reviewing incident reports from the previous two seasons.

Routes that stay flat and shaded

The Crabtree Creek Greenway runs behind the North Ridge Country Club and passes the Lake Crabtree dam spillway before linking to the larger Capital Area Greenway network. Families can start at the free parking lot at 4200 Wake Forest Road and ride the full seven miles without leaving the path. Restrooms and water fountains sit at the 2.5-mile mark near the Shelley Lake boathouse, which also rents single-speed cruisers for $8 an hour on weekends.

Farther west, the Reedy Creek Trail inside William B. Umstead State Park offers a separate three-mile out-and-back on the Raleigh side of the park boundary. The trailhead parking area at 8801 Glenwood Avenue stays open until 8 p.m. during summer months, and the surface stays mostly level with only one short hill near the old mill pond. Rangers close the gate at dusk, so riders must finish before 7:45 p.m.

Numbers that shape summer plans

Raleigh counted 312,000 greenway visits in the first six months of 2026, according to the department’s mid-year report released July 2. Average group size on weekends reached 3.4 people, the highest figure since tracking began in 2019. The city added 18 new bike racks along the Crabtree route in May at a cost of $4,200, funded through a local tourism grant.

Beginners can join the free “First Pedal” group rides that leave the Lake Johnson boathouse at 9 a.m. every Saturday through August 30. Each session covers two miles at a walking pace with volunteer leaders from the Raleigh Bicycle Club. Helmets are required, and the city supplies loaner helmets for children under 12 who arrive without one.

Check the city website for real-time trail conditions before heading out, especially after heavy rain, and carry water even on short loops. The greenways remain open daily from dawn to dusk with no entry fee.