Getting around on bike doesn’t always require sharing the road with traffic. Eighteen trails (at least) in the St. Louis area can get bicyclists to and fro without worries of rumbling trucks and distracted drivers.

A new website by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy allows you to find trails in your city by entering your zip code, city or state. Nearly half of the more than 1,500 rail trails across the country have been mapped. This amounts to 11,000 miles of off-road bike routes. Some of these connect to on-road bike routes. The site does not include trails in parks — just trails along old rail lines.   

Before you click to the website, pay attention to this tip. Spell out “Saint” when searching for trails in St. Louis, St. Charles, etc.  OK, now click here to go to the site.