SW Charlotte

Route Uptown to Carmel Rd / SW Charlotte (Aug 04):
5th street
R onto Davidson to its end
L onto 2nd, past acquatic center, to its end
R onto McDowell to its end at Morehead
shallow L, that is, NOT a 90 degree L onto Morehead, onto Dilworth East. Enjoy the shade.
L onto Carling, R -L zigzag onto Charlotte Dr and Lattimore, cross Kenilworth and Scott Ave
R onto Floral, which turns left and changes into Clayton
R onto Clayton and through Freedom Park. Right now there's some construction over the creek - there's a little sign directing you thru the bushes and into the park. Watch the geese, and exit to
L onto Princeton
R onto Sterling
cross Selwyn - I cross on foot usually. This is the hardest crossing.
L onto Roswell and pass in front of Myers Park Country Club.
R onto Queens Rd E going downhill
R onto Chilton
R onto Sharon - here is the first place I get onto a sidewalk.
at light of Sharon and Wendover, get across to the other side of Sharon. It's harder to cross farther ahead. I usually go into the left turn lane and then just wiggle across the grassed island. You may have to wait on the island - the right-turn green arrow turns just as you get across.
up the hill and L onto Ferncliff
1st R onto Seward to its end at
R onto Foxcroft
cross Sharon Ln. This is also a hard crossing, or at least it takes patience. Careful of impatient drivers stealing your right of way and turning L in front of you.
Continue straight on Foxcroft, downhill. Enjoy the shade.
L onto Sedley and pass in front of Foxcroft Swim and Raquet Club to its end
R onto Arborway until its end.
L onto Fairview. Here I usually get onto the sidewalk instead of crossing Fairview and proceed to the light at Fairview / Carmel where it's easier to cross.
R onto Carmel. I ride the road here, but the sidewalk is fine in this part: few hidden entrances. Careful of kids in cars coming out of CCDS, though.
I get back onto the sidewalk at Carmel / Colony, where it goes to 2 lanes and people get impatient. No hidden entrances since its the new sidewalk.
After Gleneagles, either cross to the left sidewalk or ride the road. Avoid right sidewalk: lots of hidden entrances. I've rarely seen cars pulling out, but there's no need to flirt with danger. On the road, folks may honk, but it's 4 lanes so they can get around you and generally keep their cool. On the left sidewalk, be careful crossing each road since many will have people doing u-turns and they're hard to see.
Good luck - probably see you out there. I've been doing it for 3 years while there's light (I quit when the time changes in the fall) and have never had an incident worse than someone honking or high school kids yelling at me. That's not fun, but not dangerous either: at least they saw you !! I ride hard and it takes me 50 minutes, though I was over an hour until I got in shape and used to the route.