Silver Comet Trail -- Cobb County -- Atlanta, GA

The Silver Comet Trail is limited to non-motorized vehicles. Only the police are allowed to use motorized vehicles on the trail, and you will see them sometimes using a golf cart. Some sections even allow horses. This section of the trail appears remote even though it is located in the middle of a suburban community. It was built on top of an old rail road line that stretches from Atlanta to Birmingham. In this video we start at a tunnel around mile marker 3 and we travel toward mile marker 2. Watch as we ride over a rail road trussel bridge that stretches over a valley with a country road and creek below. Then we go under an old wooden bridge, past an old grist mill on the right, and through a bridge that stretches over the East-West Connector highway. I should like to one day take a day trip one-way on the trail from Smyrna to Alabama with a bunch of friends.

I find the trail to be a safe place, but then I am a big guy. Some sections of the trail as far out as Paulding County, which I frequent, have video surveillance. The sections closer to town run adjacent to major thoroughfares, or backup to subdivisions. Property along the trail is more valuable now that it is complete.

I recommend that you always carry a bottle of water and a mobile phone with you when you are on the trail. The camera phone is always your best defense anywhere you go, because the bad guys cannot out run the radio waves. I have yet to find a section of the trail without signal for my mobile phone. You can also carry mace or a small pocket knife, if you feel the need for additional safety.

visit http://www.pathfoundation.org/index.cfm?event=showSilverComet for more information.

These videos were taken by my son just after it rained. So there were not very many people on the trail that day. Normally, during the daytime in good weather there is almost always people around when I ride on the trail in Cobb and Paulding County.

I think Charlotte Fairchild is a bit freaked out by the Murder on the Silver Comet Trail. Google it and you will find her. There is a mix of blacks and white low lifes that are in her neck of the woods. They have been leaving dead animal parts in coolers and burned out vehicles along the trail, trying to scare people. I am not going to scare people into thinking that they need to carry a gun on this trail.

The mobile phone, other people and speed are your best weapons. I could easily outrun anyone on foot while on my bicycle, or call for assistance, if I saw anyone who needed help.

The Silver Comet should be like any other park in the day time. You would never fear being assaulted lets say at the River Park during the day with all the other people there. Every place is safer when there are people around carrying their mobile phones,

I have never even been pan handled on the Silver Comet trail, which is more than I can say about any of the public parks in Atlanta. In fact, I am rarely approached on the trail. It could stand to be a much friendlier place. It is way out in suburbia and the country. Riding the Freedom Trail downtown from the Carter Library is much more dangerous place than the Silver Comet, or riding on the street for that matter. People riding their bicycles on the street get hit all the time. Many are victims of hit and run drivers.

If you really are afraid, there is a 1 mile section in Pauling County near Hiram that is under constant video surveillance. Start at the Hiram station and go West. You will see the video cameras after about a half mile. This section is patrolled almost constantly. Now why do you think that is?

But lets be real people. We should be able to police public lands ourselves. When the country was founded every citizen was required to serve in the militia. The sheriff was there to organize the posse. You have a right and a duty to arrest and detain thugs who break the law. A thick pull tie is all you need for handcuffs. View it as an opportunity to be a hero and be written up in the newspaper.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Nature
• Silver
• Comet
• Trail
• bicycle
• jogging
• walking
• skating
• trail

[dickenz07]

Not to be rude but the silver comet trail is not limited to just bikers and joggers, the first portion of trail has a trail that runs along the side for horses. The trails only rule on vehicles/transportation, is that you cant have engine powered vehicles. Ive seen unicycles, skates, recumbants, and other variations. Also The trail runs from Smyrna to the state line, then Chief Ladiga trail takes over to Birmingham.

[TheAwakenedOne]

Thanks for the comment. I was a being bit short sighted. The description was updated.

[WeedwackerWoW]

@pauledunn ya me too!

[pauledunn]

I know exactly where you are! I've been to that part of the trail so many times.

[chad174670]

@dickenz07 unicycles, lol

[FertilePrayers]

Hey, thanks for mentioning me. I don't feel too freaked out since I am on the Trail 2 or 3 times a week. I don't go alone. I think being alone invites being a target. I would like to see a memorial ride of bikers on the trail for Jenny Ewing. Come Jam with an acoustic instrument from 10 to noon on Sat.'s & Sun.'s! Near the Red caboose where the benches are.

[boxxxedrebels]

i used to drive under that path everyday to my "home at the time" in Mabelton...lovely vid.

[Electricblue707]

I was born and raised there. I rode the Silver Commet Trail a lot with my friends before I moved to Ohio. We used to park near the Floyd Rd section and bought a bike from that bike shop there. We sometimes went over the East West Connector, over Cooper Lake Rd. I've ridden all the way up to that tunnel towards 92 many times. Great video...reminds me of home. When I was a kid in the 70s I remember it when it was just a RR track.