BIKE: Metric Blvd.?

[Byrnes, Rick]

I take Thermal Drive, and Metric from Howard to Parmer, when I bike commute
to work.  Thermal Drive is decent to ride on.  Goes by an elementary school
with a speed zone.    Metric Blvd recently got painted bike lines from
Howard Lane down to Parmer.  It's safe to ride.  The Austin city bike map
probably hasn't been updated for it yet.  
If you ride north through the Metric/Howard/Thermal intersection during the
afternoon rush hours,  northbound traffic often backs up at that
intersection and you have to get into the center lane to go straight
through. 
But I don't recall if Metric below Parmer got the stripes.   That portion of
Metric has a good number of commuter vehicles using it, so without bike
lanes I would consider it a bit rough.   You'll need to ride defensively.  

Joel Sumner wrote:

I find Metric ok between Parmer and Kramer.  Metric from Kramer to Rutland
is not much fun.  Heading South is ok because it is downhill.  
North is uphill, the wide (or very wide) shoulder is not there, road is much
bumpier.  Instead, you might cut through the office park West of Metric (off
of Boyer)

dlhughes001 wrote:

>I'm new in town, will be living in Wells Branch, working on Rutland right
off Burnet Rd. Looking at Yahoo maps, I see that a possible bike route to
work would be, from W.B. Pkwy, Thermal Dr. (which turns into Metric at
Howard), all the way down to Rutland. The city's bike map declares this road
to be for experienced urban cyclists only. I have some city-riding
experience from Houston, so it can't be any worse.
> 
>Any of you who ride that road, what's your take on it? Would it be a good
way to get from Wells Branch to Rutland/Burnet Rd.? Is there a better way?
> 
>Dave Hughes