Musical Geography Trivia Question of the Day

WITHOUT THE AID OF A SEARCH ENGINE:

If you want to ride, you gotta ride it like you're flyin'.

Three questions:

1) What is it?

2) What are two descriptions of it?

3) Where does it go?

Extra Credit:

Name three artists who sang about it.

UPDATE:

One week, no winner, so:

1) The Rock Island Line

2) It is a mighty good road; It is the road to ride

3) Down to New Orleans

Extra Credit:

It's been recorded by quite a few artists, but the more well-known would include Lead Belly, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, and the Brothers Four.

Any resemblace to a gospel tune is strictly coincidental.