Bicycle Austin forum

owlman

Member

Registered: 2011-12-16

Posts: 142

City of Austin Bicycle Map 2017 update

While I disagree with some of the comfort level rankings I love that the city puts this map together, and I recommend it to visitors or new riders around town.

pdf here: https://austintexas.gov/bicycle 

Comparing to the 2016 map you can see new big projects in the past year (Mopac bridges, shared-use path near Bergstrom, etc) a few other new trails & lanes around town.

They set up a map feedback tool a few months ago and I think they actually read the comments, because a small route I marked made it into the new map!

RedFalcon

Member

Registered: 2013-10-10

Posts: 233

Re: City of Austin Bicycle Map 2017 update

Unfortunately, a couple of the suggestions I made did not make it onto the new map.  In case you have to go to Round Rock by bike, you no longer have to risk the death curves on Bratton Lane north of Wells Branch.  You can take Cadoz Drive north all the way from Shoreline to Grand Avenue Parkway (the part due northish).  From there take Grand Avenue west to Quickhill Road (FM172) across FM 1325 and that puts you in La Frontera.  OR, you can also take Grand Avenue from Crissom to a new road, Pearson.  Then slog through about 20' of mud to join Bratton north of the death curves and on to Michaelangelo.

The map indicates FM1325 as an option to get to Round Rock.  I think that is a terrible idea.  I can't believe they didn't just leave that grayed out.  High speed, no shoulder, no one is expecting to see a cyclist.

owlman

Member

Registered: 2011-12-16

Posts: 142

Re: City of Austin Bicycle Map 2017 update

Yeah, I've have complained about the S Mopac frontage roads between 290 and William Cannon being marked as "Low Comfort".

It doesn't make sense to me why 290 frontage roads are grayed out as unacceptable, but Mopac gets marked two comfort levels higher, even though it's similarly terrible with no shoulder and even a higher speed limit.  Sharing a lane with freeway speed traffic should always be the lowest category in my opinion.

Last edited by owlman (2017-11-01 09:35:41)

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,466

Website

Re: City of Austin Bicycle Map 2017 update

Sharing a lane with freeway speed traffic should always be the lowest category in my opinion.

Absolutely!

Doesn't it feel awkward when you have to state the obvious?