A couple of vehicles are parked on the side of Bryant Drive at Bryant Way. (6-27-2026)
In Albany, the best county road for a bike ride close to town is Bryant Drive.
It’s easy to get to, has great pavement, adequate bike lanes, and only light traffic (at least in my experience). And this road takes you past some of the large-scale farming that goes on within minutes of the city limits.
I take that route now and then, as I did Saturday evening, June 27, pushed along by the brisk breeze from the west. I you want, click the video and come along with me.
You might have noticed a couple of vehicles parked by the side of the road near the corner of Bryant Way.
That’s the spot where you have to leave your rig if you want to visit Bowers Rock State Park. Why? Because State Parks and Recreation over the years has failed to provide a place to park at the entrance or inside the state-owned park.
As you noticed if you watched, our ride ended at the top of the Third Avenue bridge, which leads up from Bryant Park to Vine Street and the historic city water treatment and hydropower plant.
Ten years ago, I did a report on the Third Avenue bridge. The state bridge engineer had found that the bridge’s substructure was in “critical condition,” and city officials said something about maybe seeking a state grant in 2017 to either repair or replace the bridge.
A memo to the city council at the time pointed out that if the bridge failed, the only way to reach Bryant Park from town was via Queen Avenue, Riverside Drive, Bryant Drive and finally Bryant Way, a 5-mile detour.
If anybody is concerned about this now, 10 years later, I haven’t heard about it. But nothing was done about the bridge then, or in the decade since.
I any case, I don’t worry about the bridge substructure when I ride my bike up the steep grade from the entrance of the park. Instead, I take care to avoid the deep potholes and, pedaling hard, try not to run out of breath. (hh)
Postscript: On Tuesday I learned that the problems with the Third Avenue bridge have not been forgotten, as my story implied. On July 8 the Albany City Council will be asked to approve a contract with ODOT for a $1.47 million engineering study on repairing or replacing the bridge. The city will be expected to contribute approximately $168,000 toward the study. The city contribution will come from the street capital and restoration part of the budget.
Bryant Drive was also a favorite training run for my distance team at WAHS, for all the same reasons. That is one place that has not changed in 50 years. Nice to see something remain the same.
Thanks, Hasso, for the “armchair” bike ride. Even heard birds cawing and noticed the wind rustling the branches of the “filbert” trees. And, didn’t even need to wear a bike helmet!! Enjoyed it.
I drive that road all the time. When I see a bicycle heading up the bridge I wait a minute or two at the bottom before driving up the bridge myself . This allows some time for slower moving bicycles to get to the top as there is no room to pass without entering the oncoming traffic lane. Worse, the blind corner at the top prevents any view of possible oncoming traffic, creating a dangerous passing situation on the bridge.. So having some patience is a virtue.
I remember back when the Timber Carnival was still held, one of the events was a 10K run that went out Bryant Drive. It was very nice.
Loved the ride but there were two things that I missed seeing. It has been several years since taking taking that drive but there was an old, unpainted barn on the west side shortly after where you started that was converted into a home and the Covered Bridge!!
Bryant Park, up until the early 1950’s was where the 4-H FFA fair was held.
Lots of fond memories.
Thanks for the ride down memory lane.
Also used to be an Boy Scout Eagles lodge at the bottom of the bridge on the park side. That old building is long gone. I went to quite a few meetings there over those years in the early 70s
I remember the barn that was converted into a home. I heard years ago that it was very nice on the inside.
Yes! The semi annual tailwind!
In my running days this was one my favorite long runs especially in the Fall. If I was in really good shape I would run through Bryant Park. Great times & great memories. Thank you very much Hasso for the memories.
As somebody who lived on Bryant Way for over 40 years, the state has a 30’ easement to their property which doesn’t give them parking rights; the covenant the city signed with the Bryant’s requires them to build and maintain the bridge (does anybody remember the old wooden bridge), but the cost of the study is ridiculous.
Nobody mentions that this stretch of road is officially dedicated to the author? Ride on, Hasso!