Triangle Day School

Next up for the Summer Camp Smart Commute Challenge is Triangle Day School (TDS), which offers summer camps for students ages four to fifteen. Eight weeks of camps run with various activities such as nature-based adventures, arts projects, STEM activities, literacy exploration, cooking & baking, and sports.

Located on Neal Rd. in northwest Durham, the lack of safe biking infrastructure makes it challenging to reach TDS on two wheels, especially with a kid. Luckily, a GoDurham bus route serves the American Village neighborhood just south of the railroad tracks and that same route goes right past Old West Durham! The closest bus stop to TDS is at Constitution Dr near Neal Rd. With some extra planning, time, and determination, TDS can be accessed from the 11B bus route, and the whole bus network, if you transfer at the Durham bus station.

Google Maps route from Old West Durham to Triangle Day School on the GoDurham 11B bus.

The 8 min, 0.4 mi walk from the bus stop is mostly sidewalk, but has a sidewalk gap near the railroad tracks.

Looking north up Neal Rd. from south of the railroad tracks — Looking west on Neal Rd. from east of the railroad tracks.

Looking north up Neal Rd. after the railroad tracks — Looking west on Neal Rd. from west of the railroad tracks.

The downside is that while Google Maps estimates just a 9-minute drive from my house, the one-way bus trip will take 30 minutes. To then get to work from TDS on the next bus, it will take another 30 minutes to reach my office at Duke. This is infeasible for most people, even with some working/reading on the bus using the free wifi. And while I’m considering it an adventure, it is a sobering reminder of the transportation challenges that many face on a daily basis.

Google Maps route from Triangle Day School to the Engineering Campus of Duke University on the GoDurham 11B bus.

July 16, 2024July 16, 2024

Museum of Life and Science

This week I’ll be biking my kid to the Museum of Life and Science for my Summer Camp Smart Commute Challenge. I’ve ridden to that location previously, both for a summer camp and just visiting the museum. It is readily accessible from Durham bike trails including the Ellerbee Creek Trail from Downtown Durham or the South Ellerbee Creek Trail from Watts Hillandale Neighborhood. See this old, but relevant map.

I’ll probably take W Knox St. east from Old West Durham and then pick up the Ellerbee Creek Trail through Northgate Park, as shown here.

July 1, 2024July 1, 2024

Camp Riverlea

Camp Riverlea is a summer day camp in the Durham, NC area for children entering grades K – 7th. Camp Riverlea was founded in 1971 and continues to be a summer camp tradition for Durham children. At the time of writing, Camp Riverlea offers bus transportation, included in tuition, from three stops in Durham:

Hillandale Rd.
This bus stop is located at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 1737 Hillandale Rd., Durham, NC 27705. The stop is at the back of the church parking lot.
Duke (Crest St Park)
The Duke bus stop is located at Crest Street Park, off Erwin and Fulton (which turns into Hillandale road). The park is near the VA and DCRI. If it’s raining, there is a pavilion for cover.
Forest Hills
The Forest Hills Bus Stop is located in a gravel parking lot on East Forest Hills Boulevard, near the intersection with University Drive and behind the tennis courts.

Camp Smart Commute Challenge

As part of the Summer Camp Smart Commute Challenge, I will be biking my kid to the Hillandale Rd. bus stop. There are two viable paths to reach St. Luke’s from the Watts Hillandale / Old West Durham neighborhoods. If you cut through some private property from Arrowhead Drive you can get past the playground entrance to the parking lot where the Camp Riverlea but picks up. Normally I wouldn’t recommend trespassing, but the goat trails on the side of Hillandale aren’t a very good option either as they would require biking in the middle of the lane and delaying car traffic or walking along the paths in the shoulder and private property.

Indian Trail looking east across Hillandale Rd., near the golf course.

Hillandale looking South from St. Luke's — Hillandale looking South from St. Luke’s

Wooden footbridge from Arrowhead to St. Luke's near the kids' playground. This is private property so take heed. — Wooden footbridge from Arrowhead to St. Luke’s near the kids’ playground. This is private property so take heed.

There is a project to add a bike lane and multiuse path to Hillandale but your guess is as good as mine as to when that will be complete. Check out DCHC MPO Durham Project U-4726HN – it was started 9/29/2015 and now has an estimated completion in 2026 (11+ years!).