For years, John Bennett biked to his job at Savannah State University across the 52nd Street bridge over Truman Parkway. He told the Savannah Morning News the crossing was "terrifying." The road leading up to the bridge had narrow shoulders, and the ride was not pleasant.
That bridge now has a protected bike lane. On Monday morning, July 6, 2026, the City of Savannah cut the ribbon on Truman Linear Park Trail Phase 2B. That opened 7 continuous miles of trail from near Daffin Park to Lake Mayer. Bennett is an assistant professor of public administration at SSU. He also co-founded the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, now Bike Walk Savannah. He summed up the new connection simply: "If you were trying to design a trail to get me from home to campus, this would pretty much be it."
The bridge lane finished the route itself. The things that make a trail easy to use, like water, repair stations and signs pointing you to the next entrance, are still being planned. If you live near either end, the trail works well this fall once you know where to park, where to cross and what to bring. The city is also asking for public input on what comes next.
The Missing Piece Was a Single Bridge
The trail came together in pieces over about five years. The last piece to open happened to be the hardest to bike.
| Segment | Endpoints | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Police Memorial Trail | Kerry Street at Bee Road to 52nd Street | Reopened November 2021 after closing in 2016 for repairs |
| Lake Mayer section | Lake Mayer to DeRenne Avenue, a little over 3 miles | Ribbon-cutting November 2020 |
| Phase 2B | 52nd Street to DeRenne Avenue, including the 52nd Street bridge lane | Broke ground July 2024, ribbon-cutting July 2026 |
Phase names aren't consistent. Over the years, the city and Friends of Tide to Town have each used different labels for these sections, so the endpoints are the more reliable way to keep track.
The Friends of Tide to Town trail page still describes the Truman section as "more than 5 miles" from 52nd Street to Lake Mayer. The 7-mile figure from July covers the full continuous run from near Daffin Park. Use 7 miles if you're planning a full trip.
Bennett's commute shows why the bridge mattered. "It's really about connections," he said. "There's a tremendous recreational appeal, but this part of the trail really adds to that activity piece and shows people this is transportational as well." About 100 people came to the July ribbon-cutting, and several of them arrived by bike.
Where to Park and Where to Cross
The trail has many entrances, but only a few have parking. That matters if you're driving in with a bike rack or meeting a friend. Friends of Tide to Town lists three parking trailheads along the Truman section.
| Parking trailhead | Location | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Daffin Park Dog Park | North end, near the Police Memorial Trail connection | Starting from Midtown and heading south |
| Scarborough Sports Complex | Corner of Skidaway Road and Bona Bella Avenue | Starting in the middle and riding either way |
| Lake Mayer Park | Northwest corner of the park | Starting from the south end |
The Police Memorial Trail adds two more parking spots, at Kerry Street and Dixie Avenue and at Daffin Park near Herty Pines Dog Park.
If you're on foot or already on your bike, the walk-in and ride-in access points are:
- 52nd Street at Bee Road
- 52nd Street at Oakland Drive
- Reuben Clark Drive near Jenkins High School
- DeRenne Avenue at Reuben Clark Drive
- Scarborough Athletic Complex
- Eisenhower Drive near the Truman Parkway
- Sallie Mood Drive
- Lake Mayer
The trail crosses some of the busiest roads on the south side. At four of those crossings, there are pedestrian-activated signals you push to stop traffic. They're at 52nd Street at Oakland Drive, Delesseps Avenue, DeRenne Avenue, and Eisenhower Drive at Sallie Mood Drive. If you're riding with kids, plan your route around these four signals.
Most of the trail is a concrete multi-use path, with timber boardwalks and bridges in places. It's ADA accessible and has lighting for nighttime use, security cameras and emergency call boxes. The lighting helps in late fall, when it gets dark before many people finish work.
What the City Hasn't Built Yet
At the July ribbon-cutting, City Manager Jay Melder said the city is "moving towards" adding amenities where the trail is already finished. He named bike repair stations and water stations as options being explored. He also described possible wayfinding signs pointing to trail entrances, parks along the path and other Tide to Town segments.
"Those are going to be the pieces that come as we are laying down the infrastructure and making decisions about where the trails are going to be able to connect," Melder said.
That was the status as of July. Until those amenities are in place, here's what that means for a trip on the trail:
- Bring your own water. The July report described water stations as still being explored, not installed.
- Carry a basic repair kit. Repair stations were in the same exploratory stage.
- Know your exit before you go. Wayfinding signs to entrances and nearby parks were still a possibility, not a finished feature.
- Plan your stops around Lake Mayer. Chatham County lists Lake Mayer Park at 1850 East Montgomery Crossroads, with restrooms, a playground and a paved 1.4-mile walking and jogging path.
For coffee off the trail, Pour Boy Coffee at 6608 Waters Ave. is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and closed Sunday. On the Skidaway Road side, Auspicious Baking Co. at 7360 Skidaway Road has cafe seating and a coffee menu. It's open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Neither one is right on the trail, so check the map before you plan a stop.
Two Fall Dates on the Calendar
The next phase is being decided now. Bike Walk Savannah is promoting a Tide to Town "Bike Bistro" on Tuesday, October 20, at 6 p.m. The event invites the public to "order from the menu of options for the next phase," and the listing says, "The City requests your presence at the table." The listing on Bike Walk Savannah's events page doesn't give a venue, so check the event flyer or the organization's updates before you go.
Some of the next segments are already named. A phase along Middleground Road, from Georgia Southern University's Armstrong Campus to Montgomery Cross Road, is in design. Two more are in planning. One is a Heritage Trail on the west side connecting the Canal District to downtown. The other runs along Montgomery Cross Road from Lake Mayer to Abercorn Street. The Montgomery Cross Road extension would carry the south end of the Truman trail past Lake Mayer.
The full Tide to Town plan calls for a core loop of more than 30 miles across every district of Savannah. It would connect more than 60 neighborhoods, 30 schools and three hospitals with off-road shared-use paths and protected bike lanes. The 7 miles that opened in July are one piece of that loop.
If you'd rather try the trail with a group, Bike Walk Savannah's November Cycle Social is Thursday, November 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. Riders meet at Scarborough Sports Complex and ride north on the Truman Linear Park Trail. The ride is free, family-friendly and open to the public. Organizers ask riders to bring a helmet, a bike and water. Weather cancellations are posted on Facebook about an hour before the ride. Leaving from Scarborough at 6 p.m. in late November means riding north toward the 52nd Street bridge as it gets dark, and that stretch is lit.
Many people ask me how close a home is to the Truman trail or another Tide to Town segment, and I enjoy answering those questions. If you'd like to talk through which parts of Savannah connect to the trail today and which are waiting on the next phase, Lachandra Bodison can walk you through it. Schedule a free consultation and we'll start with the map.
