Janesville
Located in south central Wisconsin, the city of Janesville has embraced the culture of bicycling. It has over 30 miles of paved bike paths that are well-used by residents and visitors. Some paths serve commuters, connecting neighborhoods to public parks and other parts of the city. The purpose of other trails is recreational. Some of Janesville’s trails provide access to scenic natural views, especially near the Rock River.
The city has established specific trail rules. Service dogs and wheelchairs are allowed to use city paths year-round. From May 15 to September 15, pets are not allowed in city parks or on trails. Cyclists should always ride single file and in a straight line. They are expected to yield to slower trail-users. When stopping, bicyclists and pedestrians are required to move to the side of the path. When passing, bicyclists should advance using an appropriate speed and give an audible warning. Always pass on the left.
The city of Janesville takes its name from Henry F. Janes. He was a woodsman from Virginia who came west around 1830. It was his intention to lay out a city on the Rock River that would become Janesville. Other settlers followeded him, beginning in 1835. That year, it was determined the new town would be named after Henry Janes himself.
Some of Janesville’s settlers came from New York’s burned-over district during the Second Great Awakening. This area was a main seat of social reform. Many who came to the area were suffragists and abolitionists. One reformer and influential member of the city was William Tallman. A supporter of the Republican Party, he convinced Abraham Lincoln to speak in Janesville in 1859. Tallman’s house is now a historical landmark, known locally as “the place where Abraham Lincoln slept.”
Route Descriptions