Bicycle Austin forum

alltoothin

Member

Registered: 2009-07-06

Posts: 2

HWY 290 alternatives

Hi. I am moving to Austin in September. Originally I was planning on biking to my new job, but they are moving the office to Manor, 9 miles down HWY 290 from my place. Does anyone know any good routes to take to get to Manor from around Windsor Park besides HWY 290? I heard 290 is not a good place to take your bike.

carmilla222

Member

Registered: 2008-07-02

Posts: 4

Re: HWY 290 alternatives

You're right that 290 is not bike friendly.  There are wide shoulders, at least on some sections, but the traffic is very heavy and very fast.  I live in Windsor Park, and I know a few ways to get out towards Manor, which I'll list below.  But depending on where exactly you need to go, you will probably find biking out there to be full of problems, the main one being that most stuff in Manor is directly on or right off 290, and there aren't a lot of parallel roads.  At least, not yet.

Ways to go:
1. 51st St. east to 183; follow 183 on the shoulder north to Loyola; take Loyola east, it becomes Decker Lake Rd, continue east; take 973 (I think -- it's not labeled on google maps for some reason) north to downtown Manor/290.  It's a small country road with no shoulder, but I don't think there is too much traffic out there.

2. Neighborhood roads like Rogge Ln. can take you out to Manor Rd., which turns into Springdale; take Springdale north past 183 to Old Manor Rd; Old Manor can take you a good distance out, but probably not all the way to downtown Manor.

My husband and I have ridden these routes before -- although we haven't taken 973 all the way past the toll road 130.  Traffic is heavy during rush hour, and there aren't always bike lanes available, but if you are an experienced rider and keep your wits about you, you shouldn't have too much trouble using these roads.

Sam Placette

Member

Registered: 2009-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: HWY 290 alternatives

I also live in Windsor Park and ride around Manor. I've traveled the first route Carmilla suggested and can recommend it. You might consider taking neighborhood roads, rather than the shoulder of Highway 183, in order to reach Loyola.

alltoothin

Member

Registered: 2009-07-06

Posts: 2

Re: HWY 290 alternatives

Thank you for this advice. These are great routes, though obviously they might be much for me to do everyday. But they definitely beat 290.

mariposa

Member

Registered: 2008-12-22

Posts: 8

Re: HWY 290 alternatives

There's actually a wonderful route out to Manor that I like to ride for fun - it takes me about an hour from my house just east of downtown, and I bet you could make it there in 30-40 minutes from your house in Windsor Park on a good day.  Check google maps to pick your favorite route through the neighborhood from Berkman over to Loyola, then follow Loyola to Johnny Morris>>Daffan>>Decker>>Lindell>>Blue Bluff>>then Old Hwy 20 into downtown Manor.  This route avoids 973 (or is it 976?) trafficky roads and also manages to remain mostly direct.