Reply to St. Charles to Kirkwood Bike Ride

My friend and I are driving to St. Louis this summer and taking the train from Kirkwood to Sedalia. Then we will ride back to St. Charles. Does anyone know a safe route to ride our bikes from St. Charles to the Kirkwood train station? We were also planning to park our car for about 5 days in Kirkwood, maybe a rental space? Does that sound reasonable?

Check out the Kirkwood page for some route suggestions between the Katy Trail and Kirkwood.

My wife and I followed the route below (mentioned elsewhere in the forum) with a twist toward the beginning:

From the Page Bridge and Creve Coeur Park Connector Trail, take the following roads:
SE on Marine Ave.
Straight on Westport Plaza Dr.
Straight on Craig Rd.
Left on Olive Blvd.
Right on Mosley Rd.
Left on Ladue Rd.
Right on Spoede Rd.
Right on Clayton Rd.
Left on Geyer Rd.
Left on Argonne Rd.

Our variation was suggested elsewhere online, where you avoid the "infamously" steep, narrow, windy Marine Avenue up from the park. The suggested alternative had us go south on Creve Coeur Mill Road away from the park, then turning left onto Amiot Drive. Amiot will take you more gradually and safely up to the top of the ridge where you will meet up with Marine Avenue.

However, there's a problem. When this alternative was mentioned to us, it did say you would turn off Creve Coeur Mill into a parking lot, pass over or under a cable barrier and then ride up Amiot. It did NOT mention that the parking lot is for an apartment complex with multiple signs discouraging cyclists from using it as access to Amiot. The parking lot is essentially the road end of Amiot blocked off with a cable. Take away the cable and there's no reason cars (or bikes) couldn't go right through. I certainly can't recommend using that route given the situation. On the other hand, it is "better", in many respects, than going up the hill on Marine Avenue.

By the way, the route from Marine Avenue to Kirkwood Amtrak is very good for urban riding. A little up and down at times, but nothing as hard as getting up the hill from the river at the start. Plus, you go by some VERY nice homes.

Living in Kirkwood we see cars parked at the Amtrak station daily. They have a parking lot just for the station. Also, across the street from the station is a parking garage which always has plenty of parking. That I know of there are no posted signs not allowing extended parking at either place. Unfortunately, if you are wanting to ride to the end/start in St. Charles you will have to back track to the Page bridge to get a safe route back to Kirkwood unless you can find a ride accross the brige in St. Charles. The posted Route 4 is probably the best option they have listed with Marine being the only problem and other roads are good to ride.