Cal Park Tunnel and Washcycle Wikispace

I was reading the Rails to Trail magazine in which they mentioned the Cal Park Hill Tunnel. This is a former two track freight rail tunnel that is being rebuilt as a single track light rail tunnel with an 11.5 foot wide MUT next to it.  It turns "a 20 minute hilly and dangerous bike ride between San Rafael and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal into a five minute, flat, grade separated ride." In addition to being very similar to the Purple Line/CCT configuration in Bethesda it also struck me that this might be the Longest Bike Commuter Tunnel in the United States.

I know some people find biking through a tunnel as unappealing, but I always think it's cool and a friend of mine and I want to try and bike some of the longest tunnels in the world. The problem is finding a list of such tunnels. There doesn't seem to be one.

Copenhagenize called the San Sebastian Tunnel the "Longest Bike Commuter Tunnel in the World" and I can't contradict that. But some have started calling that the longest bike tunnel in the world and that is patently incorrect.

As near as I can tell, the longest bike tunnel in the world is Snoqulmie Tunnel in Washington state. At 2.3 miles long it make San Sebastian look like an underpass. Still, I don't know of a definitive list.

So I've started one. Using wikispaces I created a page listing the "longest bike tunnels in the world" and seeded it with a few. If you'd like to try to add to it - because it is by no means definitive, you should be able to. That's the point.

I also added the two "Standard Responses" that I've done so far. I have not incorporated anyone's comments yet, but feel free to edit those as you see fit.

And, if you can think of any other way that a local bike wiki can be useful, again, go crazy. This may be useful or it could be like the Facebook page (which I can't figure out what to do with). We'll see.

Comments

[Michael H.]

The wiki could be interesting. There could be a list of area trails, including out-of-the-way trails that aren't mentioned on other sites. BikeWashington is a great site but it doesn't seem like anyone is updating it anymore.

As for the tunnels, I'm not a big fan of them. I guess if they provide a way around a dangerous section of trail, then it's good. But personally, I don't like riding in them too often. Once in a while is OK, for the novelty aspect.

I doubt I would ever go in search of finding the world's longest bike tunnels. I think they remind me of too many horror movies, and I'd prefer to ride on scenic above-ground trails instead.

[Michael H.]

Is there a permanent link to the wiki on the left-hand column?

[Steve]

The Snoqualmie Tunnel is currently closed indefinitely. There's a danger of rocks falling from the ceiling. Washington state currently doesn't have the money to repair it.