In Athens, the biking scene is lively during this time of year with students zipping down the roads to get to class alongside commuters on their way to work. Bobcats and locals have many options in terms of bike paths and bike racks, but should be aware of road regulations as well as vehicles and pedestrians.
Many students may prefer to feel a breeze while flying down a hill, passing those on the sidewalk without two wheels. Maddie Clemens, a senior studying interior architecture, has biked casually for most of her life, and said she enjoys the feeling of being active while on the way to class.
Biking to class isn’t always Clemens’ preferred mode of transportation, as she chooses to walk when wearing a specific outfit or when she wants to walk and talk with friends.
“Athens is definitely bike friendly, which has allowed me to bike more,” Clemens said. “If I went to school on a campus that wasn’t so friendly to biking, I wouldn’t do it; I’d probably just walk everywhere.”
PeopleForBikes rated Athens number six in the state, and number 319 in the United States in 2026 for the quality of the bike network. Their annual rankings are based on safe speeds, protected bike lanes, reallocated space, intersection treatments, network connection and trusted data.
Some people enjoy using the trails around the Athens area to enjoy a long ride surrounded by lush greenery. Calvin Schnaidt is a senior studying marketing and finance, and began the semester commuting to his classes for the first time.
“I just wanted a faster mode of transportation, and I picked up mountain biking this past summer,” Schnaidt said.
The most enjoyable part about biking for Schnaidt is the speed at which he gets to his classes.
“When I’m walking to class, I leave 15 minutes before class starts,” Schnaidt said. “Now, I’m usually leaving at five because I can sleep in a little longer.”
Schnaidt said he tried some trails at Strouds Run State Park, as well as Baileys Trail System.
The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is a 21-mile trail stretching from Nelsonville to Athens. The path crosses through OU’s campus, giving students a direct route to locations on East State Street. Clemens said she wouldn’t take the road on East State Street, but the bike path makes sense.
“It’s really nice because if you don’t have a car, you can just bike to Walmart, or bike to Kroger,” Clemens said.
The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway is not only helpful for students without a vehicle, but for John Lefelhocz, owner of Cycle Path Bicycle Shop on 104 W. Union St., the Hockhocking Bikeway is a picturesque, smooth ride. To enjoy that side of the path, one must bike toward Nelsonville.
“When you go that way, you get out into the country, and it’s really shaded,” Lefelhocz said. “It’s like you’ve just left the city.”
Lefelhocz has biked for more than 50 years and loves the “freedom” of using his bike. While an Athens ride can be enjoyable, one still must take precautions for everyone on the road and sidewalks. Lefelhocz said people, especially students, should be wearing helmets.
“For students, they’re spending a lot of money on their brains; you want to protect that,” Lefelhocz said. “You want to protect your investment.”
According to the 2023 study, Effectiveness of bicycle helmets and injury prevention by Carlson Moses Büth, Natalia Barbour and Mohamed Abdel‑Aty, helmets were found to have reduced head injuries by 60%, brain injuries by 58% and facial injuries by 4%. They also found fatal injuries to decrease by 73% if a cyclist is wearing a helmet.
Lefelhocz said Athens bikers are welcome to bike on the sidewalk, excluding designated marked sidewalks uptown. If one prefers to bike on the road, stay to the side of the road. Although, under Section 2511.55, Ohio law allows bikers to avoid hazards and swerve around objects in the road.
“If you’re riding on the road, you should ride as if you’re a vehicle,” Lefelhocz said. “You still have to stop at stop signs, you still have to stop for pedestrians and crosswalks, you have stoplights.”
For those who wish to bike at night, Lefelhocz advised people to avoid being “ninja bikers,” by wearing lights while it’s dark or dim outside.
“You have to remember you’re not visible at night,” Lefelhocz said.
For Schnaidt, the hills are the only downside for him while biking on the streets, noting the bike paths Athens has to offer as well as the “biker friendly” drivers.
For those interested in biking on trails near campus and Athens, check out the Baileys Trail System map and online trail descriptions, along with Strouds State Run’s website for more mountain bike trails.
