BIKE: Metric Blvd.?

[Kevin Corry]

On Mon March 14 2005 10:08 am, 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?

Hi Dave,

I ride along parts of Metric almost every day. Taking Thermal isn't bad - it's 
just two lanes and pretty wide, so you shouldn't get too crowded. Then when 
it turns into Metric, there are fairly new bike lanes all the way down to 
Cedar Bend, where they just randomly end. Unfortunately, to get where you're 
going, you'll really need to continue down Metric past Cedar Bend and across 
the bridge at the bottom of that hill. Metric is four lanes divided and not 
very wide, so you really need to take the lane down that hill. Once you get 
past the small bridge, if the traffic is too much for you, there's a sidewalk 
that goes up the next hill on either side of the street.

Then, instead of continuing down Metric all the way to Rutland, I'd suggest 
turning left across Metric (you may have to wait awhile for a decent gap in 
traffic) onto Bittern Hollow, which is next to the big church at the top of 
the hill. Then turn left onto Parkfield Dr, which is a few streets after 
Gracy Farms. Parkfield will cross Braker and Kramer. Once past Kramer, you 
can go all the way down to Rutland, or alternatively snake you're way through 
the neighborhoods in that area and come out on Rutland at Quail Valley or 
Golden Meadow (see maps.yahoo.com for all the details). Then you can head 
back west on Rutland until you get to your office. I haven't ridden on 
Rutland in a while, but I don't remember it being very bad. All of this might 
be a little bit out of your way, but it probably beats riding on Metric, 
especially since you'll be riding up hill all the way to Braker.

Good luck!

-- 
Kevin Corry
kevincorry