BIKE: need input re: crossing 183

[Kevin Corry]

Hi Phil,

On Tuesday 30 November 2004 9:14 am, Phil Hallmark wrote:
> I will soon move to Hunter's Chase, north of 183 near McNeil Rd. My
> office is in Riverplace, near 2222 & 620. So I must cross 183 on my way
> to/from 620. I have 2 options that I can see:
> 1) McNeil Rd.
> 2) Lake Creek Pkwy.
>
> I didn't list Anderson Mill Rd because I am not willing to ride it just
> south (actually west) of 183. The lanes are very narrow with no
> shoulders, and taking a whole lane during morning/evening rush would be
> too stressful for all involved. No need to go there if there are viable
> alternatives.
>
> Any input appreciated.
>
> Regards,
> Phil Hallmark
>
> P.S. The 4-5 mile stretch of northbound 620 from 2222 to Anderson Mill
> Rd is definitely faster on a bike than in a car during evening rush
> hour. I regularly pass well over a mile of stop-and-go traffic as I make
> my way north on the wide shoulder. My current 10 mile commute is almost
> the same in a car or on a bike. The car might be 10-15 minutes faster
> overall, depending on when I hit the traffic jam on 620.

If it were me, I'd probably choose to cross at McNeil. Since most of the 
west-bound traffic on McNeil is probably going to be turning onto south-bound 
183 in the morning, the right lane of McNeil should open up a bit once you 
get close to 183. Once you're past 183, the traffic should get pretty light. 
After that, I'd take a right on Four Iron Dr (second light after passing 
183). Then a left on Balcones Club Dr, a left on Cedar Crest Dr, and a right 
on Spicewood Pkwy. That street will eventually come out on Anderson Mill Rd 
quite a ways west of 183, which you could then take to 620. I don't think 
that section of Anderson Mill is too bad, but then again I may be braver than 
most (since I usually ride on Parmer and Metric to get to work everyday). If 
you want to completely avoid Anderson Mill, once you're on Spicewood Pkwy 
there may be a way to snake through the neighborhoods and come out on 620 
(using Boulder Ln), although it looks like it involves crossing a very short 
gap between two dead-end streets. I've never tried this route, so don't take 
my word on it.

Here's a link to a map of the area around Anderson Mill Rd and Spicewood Pkwy:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?zoomin=no&name=&ed=YC5RXep_0Toe1d7qdMG34a3PsTfXKDUk82InDXCdAxMS6RewD7Nz97Tp0QkGbzTnBUh1.E38c5s1d.dHdJFb0kD0Va81QV_gp5xSVMGs9A6KLdE_pfF84gE3l81Z&state=TX&csz=Austin%2C+TX+78750&ds=n&uzip=78750&mag=9&desc=&country=US&dma=635&cat=ent&resize=l&rezoom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0#mapcontent

Good luck!

-- 
Kevin Corry
kevincorry