Bicycle Austin forum

Tom, I'm suprised you thought traffic safe, at 8:30 AM.   I drive FM1325 to work near La Frontera every day at 7:30 AM and I would not ride a bike on it at that time.   I bike on Bratton Lane and it appears to be much safer. 
I occasionally see bicyclists and pedestrians along FM1325 heading southbound.  They are always trying to find whatever limited protection can be provided by an almost non-existent shoulder.

Regarding the difficulty with breaking glass on a car with a brick... I believe that aspect.  Windshields might be more strongly reinforced than the sides and rear.   But on those windows it is suprisingly easy to shatter them with a rock or even a spark plug, thrown with a strong arm.   
I had my rear window smashed in with a dead pumpkin on one Halloween.  Cost me $500.

I either liked or friended the Social Cycling Austin Facebook group (not sure what I did) and I get regular postings about the rides on my Facebook home page.  Sometimes with short notice though.

There was a study done on bike lanes and commuters.  See it at http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_ … 5157_1.pdf
I was a guinea pig,  along with several others, on some video tests as part of the study here in Austin.
You can read the press release with a synopsis at http://www.utexas.edu/news/2006/09/18/engineering/
Briefly, "By studying the interactions of drivers and bicyclists on Texas roads, transportation engineers at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered that having painted bike lanes on streets and roads helps both commuters stay in safer, more central positions in their respective lanes."

I also commented on the Mopac project.  I received this email back.  All I got was a statement that accomodation "will be considered"...not very significant. 
------------------------

Dear Mr. Byrnes,

Thank you for your kind comments regarding the MoPac Improvement Project web site. Pedestrian and Bicycle accommodation will definitely be considered at part of the study effort. Our Executive Director is a strong supporter of such facilities and we have included them on all of our other projects, even though there is no requirement to do so.  The key issues on MoPac will be funding challenges and potential right-of-way constraints. We are already talking to the City of Austin about the issue and will definitely be looking for opportunities to improve bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the corridor. If I can be of any additional assistance in this matter, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Steve J. Pustelnyk

Director of Communications

Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority

Yes, the route you describe is the most direct route.  It's the same as Austin Cycling Association's Old San Antonio Ride.  If you have access to the map, get it.
I would stay off FM 1626. Even on weekends it's not fun.  You can go through Akins High School grounds from South First to O.S.R.

There might be some commuter traffic on Old San Antonio Rd between FM1626 in south Austin and Buda, although if you're heading south you will likely be going against the heavier traffic flow. 
FM 2770 has shoulders along part of it.  There's some truck traffic and no shoulders near the cement plant(s). 
I don't know where Old Jack Hayes road is so I can't comment on that.
Old Stagecoach Road, CR 136, continues from FM2770 to Post Road and then into San Marcos. 

You could consider skipping routes to the west of I-35 to go east on more lightly-traveled county roads, although it's a longer distance.

I completely agree about full transparency on this.   Where did did you find the 25 to 50 million figure?  I haven't seen any such information in the Chronicle or Statesman.  The Chronicle states  "Leffingwell insists that no city cash will go into the facility. There have been limited discussions about some financial support...."
The investors are said to have already acquired the land and the construction funding through private sources.

True, there's other tradeoffs like some pollution and noise.  Well, that's a side effect of any large gathering.
It looks like this track is to be built somewhere around Hwy 290 and SH130.  While there's farmland out there, that land is not considered as environmentally sensitive as that over the aquifer.  Those roads would seem to facilitate easy public access to major events ---which may minimize the need to build more roads to the track with public funds.
It could be seen as providing an economic boost to east Austin and Manor.  The potential economic return to central Texas serves as a strong argument for at least some government support of the track.  Seems to me that's worthwhile.
I lived near the track at Watkins Glen at one point. The track provided a significant boost to the local economy and took up a relatively small portion of the natural environment.

..."When people would rather focus on a critic of the suboptimal compromise that this bike blvd represents..."
Not to detract from the main argument here, but Stu, I suggest that's not a correct conclusion.  The objections are to the plan of action.   Your past efforts on behalf of our community are very much appreciated!

Rick

Fixing a bent steel frame is possible but I recommend using someone who is experienced at frame repair/construction.  It will very likely need repainting afterwards.
Transferring parts to a new frame is quite practical.  I'm not sure how expensive the labor could be, probably below $200, but that's a guess.  You should replace the cables, and maybe the chain.
JensonUSA.com has 08-09 Surly Crosscheck frames for $420.

Sorry, but I can't conclude that changes that might make those streets more attractive to through motorists make a problem for bicyclists.  There's the "share the road" concept.   Bicyclists and motorized vehicles use those roads now and will continue to use them upon project completion.   Again, I fail to consider that a negative.

That's a nasty accident all right. 
While it shouldn't have happened, and I don't mean to infer the cyclist asked for it (not at all), but the I-35 access road between Parmer and Braker is quite unsafe for bicyclists.   It's been "improved" to enable faster traffic flow. Vehicle speeds are way too high at 55+, it's narrow, and there's no curb lane.  I used to ride that stretch 10 years ago, but not anymore.