Bicycle Austin forum

AustinNative

Member

From: Brentwood

Registered: 2014-07-24

Posts: 5

Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

Tomorrow morning i am going to test out a route to ride to work.  I live in Brentwood and plan on catching the Crestview station metro rail to Howard station, then biking through Wells Branch to Louis Henna, crossing I35 and to Dell.

My question is should i ride on the frontage of 1325 or pick Bratton Lane?

Last edited by AustinNative (2014-07-24 12:10:20)

tomwald

Moderator

From: 78722

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 290

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

I made a similar trip last Thursday at about 8:30am from Howard Station to the Baca Center in downtown Round Rock. (I almost posted here to ask a similar question to yours.)

I took FM 1325. The traffic was so light that it was easy for every car to move to the next lane over (on the five-lane road), and no one harassed me on my trip. It was a fairly pleasant ride, considering the motor traffic speeds. I wasn't expecting that at all. It may be that FM 1325 is now exceptionally over-built after MoPac was connected to SH 45. I wore a reflective vest with flashing lights, and had a pair of rear panniers.

(From Howard Station: Howard Lane, FM 1325 (MoPac frontage road), Hesters Crossing Road, Mays St.)

That said, motor traffic may be considerably worse even 45 minutes earlier, or Bratton Lane could be that much more pleasant.

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,466

Website

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

Welcome back, Tom!

rickb

Member

Registered: 2008-09-09

Posts: 23

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

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.

AustinNative

Member

From: Brentwood

Registered: 2014-07-24

Posts: 5

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

While the traffic was not terrible, it was a little unnerving as cars zipped by at 50 mph in the lane right next to me.  Additionally, on both sides of 1325 there are stretches with no shoulder. 

I think I'm going to try the Bratton route next time, even though there is a seriously bad blind curve on that road.

RedFalcon

Member

Registered: 2013-10-10

Posts: 233

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

That section of Bratton with the blind curves is under construction right now.  It would be nice to think they were widening the road to include a shoulder, but I'm sure they are just resurfacing.   I came south through there last night. The construction crew had one lane shut down and had traffic alternate directions.  It was actually nicer to ride this way.

AustinNative

Member

From: Brentwood

Registered: 2014-07-24

Posts: 5

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

I've been using the Bratton Lane route 3 times a week for 3 weeks now.  Yep - I saw what looks to be a widening situation -- they have cut the brush way back and fenced it off.  I see a worker there often, but I am usually riding as quickly as I can to get through that spot.  I have been happy with how many people cross into the oncoming lane as they pass me.

AustinNative

Member

From: Brentwood

Registered: 2014-07-24

Posts: 5

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

BTW... there are usually around 16 bikes on the train headed south out of Howard station (well a bunch get on at Kramer) but it is nice to see so many bikes on the train.

RedFalcon

Member

Registered: 2013-10-10

Posts: 233

Re: Howard Station to Dell Round Rock

Does anyone know if Bratton Lane was ever widened?  The company I work for is moving to a new location in La Frontera this summer.  I am very unhappy about this since the routes from home to La Frontera are pretty cycle/pedestrian unfriendly in places.  I have been playing around on mapmyride mapping out options.  (I live near Parmer and Mopac intersection.)   

Also, does anyone know when Grand Avenue Parkway will be completed?  There are two gaps just west of Bratton that, when completed, could make for a much easier ride.  The problem isn't always a lack of rideable/walkable roads, its that they don't always connect.  Its all of the gaps in connectivity that make it so hard to get around certain areas.