Will there be diversity later on? It could be a monotonous chain of mixed-use developments (and the requisite accommodations to commerce). How many teams of designers are engaged? Will the developers and their preferred architects vary?

NE Beltline: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4535784 – 4.3 miles from Dekalb Avenue (near Krog Tunnel), past Piedmont Park, to the Sweetwater Brewery. The southern 2.5 miles are being paved right now (as this post says), so avoid this during regular working hours, lest you get dirty looks from construction workers. You have to duck through a fence where the path crosses the new access road into Piedmont Park. The hole is hard to find, but trust me, it’s there. The final 3/4 mile still has abandoned railroad tracks, so it’s kind of rough. You end up crossing I85 through a tunnel, then it’s an easy ride over to Armour drive for a beer at Sweetwater!

SW Beltline: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4535771 – 3.2 miles from Adair park to Washington park. This section is amazing! Really interesting tunnels and not a single at-grade road crossing the whole way. Access at Allene and Catherine. Rough in spots, so a mountain bike or very sturdy hybrid is a must! Trail suddenly ends just north of Washington Park.

SE Beltline: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4535795 – 5 miles from Reynoldstown (near the Krog tunnel) to Adair Park. The final four miles still has active rail line, but according to a recent CL story, only 2-3 trains a week use it. I’ve never seen one. You’re also technically trespassing on this section, but there’s really no one around to complain. The tracks make it very rough, so it’s the least enjoyable section to ride. However, very cool tunnels under Hank Aaron and the 75/85, and a couple neat elevated trestles also.

NE Beltline: very active rail. Never attempted. However, you can get into the Bellwood Quarry grounds and view the Quarry from an elevated platform: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4535812 – 3.3 miles from Washington Park to the Quarry. The section on Grove Park is closed to traffic and has a very cool, post-apocalyptic feel (kudzu growing up unused streetlights, fire hydrants, etc.!) The beltline people have built a nice elevated deck that allows you to see down into the quarry. It’s kind of surreal – a really deep hole with aqua blue water at the botton – and an absolute must-see.

There you go. As I’ve been exploring these sections, I’ve thought it such a shame that so few people know about this. Now everyone has weekend plans!

(btw: longest comment in history?)