Texas Bicycling News April 19th 2022
Editorial: Fix deadly bike crossing
www.expressnews.com
The recent headline called a Salado Creek Greenway crossing at Loop 410 “tricky,” but “tragic” and “deadly” offer better descriptions.
The city’s greenway trail network offers cyclists and pedestrians refuge from cars and trucks, but this crossing on the Northeast Side near the Los Patios retail and dining complex goes counter to that important mission. Cyclists and pedestrians must cross the Loop 410 access road, where cars and trucks are often moving at or near 70 mph. …
TxDOT projects target Fannin County, Van Alstyne
TxDOT | www.heralddemocrat.com
… Multi-use path in Van Alstyne
Texas Department of Transportation officials announced that work to construct a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle path in Van Alstyne in Grayson County is set to begin April 20.
The contractor, The Fain Group of Fort Worth, Texas, was granted 93 working days, weather permitting, to complete this project valued at more than $662,000. The anticipated completion date for this project is September 2022, officials said.
The contractor will construct a bicycle and pedestrian trail on Newport Drive, from Partin Elementary School to State Highway 5 and along SH 5 from Newport Drive to Forrest Moore Park. The work includes light earthwork grading, drainage, sidewalks, regulatory signage, pavement markings and some landscape architecture amenities, official said. …
Video: More safe, walkable streets for pedestrians and cyclists coming to Westchase District
Anavid Reyes | www.click2houston.com
HOUSTON – Making the Westchase District neighborhood more walkable and safer for cyclists is the main goal for the rebuilding of Walnut Bend Lane.
This area is heavily traveled by not only cars, but walkers and bikers too.
“We got wider sidewalks, we got pedestrian lighting for added safety at night, which is a huge feature here in Houston. And of course, we have an on-street bike lane which we don’t see a lot of here in Houston,” said Ricky Gonzalez, team leader for Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.
Gonzalez expressed how proud he was of these major improvements coming to Walnut Bend Lane, not only because it’ll improve mobility for drivers, but these improvements also promote multimodal …
Man on bike hospitalized after being hit by car in Edinburg
by: Nathaniel Puente | www.valleycentral.com
EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Police are investigating an accident where a vehicle struck a man on an electric bicycle.
According to a release, officers were called to the area of 2600 South Business 281 for a crash involving a vehicle and an electric bicycle around 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
At the scene, officers located a 42-year-old man lying on the side of the road near a gray Ford Explorer with damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle. The man was transported to a …
Around the Bend
By Bill Cound | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 5. Layover day: Rio Poquito
Thursday April 14, 2022, 19 miles (31 km) – Total so far: 236 miles (380 km) Posted via email Mon Apr 18 13:14:01 2022 PDT
Today was a layover day, so most everyone slept in for a few extra minutes. That made preparing the day’s breakfast and lunch a little more relaxed for Theresa and me. We left together on the tail end of the pack for the lazy ride to Santa Elena Canyon. We could see the enormous gash in the stone cliff from the time we left the campground for the the 8 mile ride to the base of the canyon. The river is but a …
Day 6. Cottonwood to Rancho Topanga Campground
Friday April 15, 2022, 51 miles (82 km) – Total so far: 287 miles (462 km) Posted via email Mon Apr 18 14:23:01 2022 PDT
I left early with two other riders this morning for the 15-mile climb to the top of the hill. Everyone else hitched a ride in the van to avoid the steepest part of the climb. I love departing shortly before sunrise to maximize time spent in the cool morning air. On top of that, a full palate of desert colors was on ever-changing display as the sun sneaked up over the horizon. The ride to the top turned out to be easier than anticipated, largely due to …
Day 7. Rancho Topanga to Presidio: Riding upriver along the Rio Grande
Saturday April 16, 2022, 58 miles (93 km) – Total so far: 345 miles (555 km) Posted via email Mon Apr 18 15:09:01 2022 PDT
We watched the sun rise color the eastern sky at the same time the full moon was setting to the west. The campsite is far more pleasing at this time of day. The view is incredible when you’re not trying to survive the harsh mid day.
The first 30 miles of today’s ride was the best I’ve had all week. After a short downhill ride under the rising sun, we rejoined the Rio Grande in the town of Lajitas and entered the Big Bend Ranch State Park. The canyon through which the river passes west of Lajitas is an ever-changing display of textures and colors. Hard rock walls morph into soft, worn limestone. Dark passages open to hills streaked with layers of white rock. The only …
Day 8. Presidio to Marfa: By the numbers
Sunday April 17, 2022, 59 miles (95 km) – Total so far: 404 miles (650 km) Posted via email Mon Apr 18 15:49:01 2022 PDT
Presidio elevation 2,582 ft. Marfa elevation 4,685 ft. Distance: 59 Miles Wind 17-23 MPH NE Maximum temperature: 85 degrees Climb: 3,648 ft. (Garmin) Descent: 1,840 ft. (Garmin)
The numbers tell the story. Today was a utilitarian ride, meant simply to get us from one place to another. There was nothing particularly remarkable about our surroundings. Parched ranch lands, mountain shadows in the distance and a few rocky formations along the way. Heavy traffic on the busy highway distracted us from what otherwise may have been a more peaceful, if still challenging, ride.
The first 19 miles was almost all uphill. The road had recently been resurfaced with the …
Day 9. Marfa to Fort Davis: The home stretch
Monday April 18, 2022, 22 miles (35 km) – Total so far: 426 miles (686 km) Posted via email Mon Apr 18 16:00:01 2022 PDT
Just a short hop today from Marfa to Ft. Davis. Everyone hit the road early after a grab and go breakfast. After unpacking the van and trailer, it was time to say goodbye to the great group of people with whom we shared our adventure in Big Bend. It was fun to spend time with folks with similar passions. And equally rewarding to experience the diversity of backgrounds, ages and interests of our teammates.
Visiting Big Bend on bicycles was a good choice. We saw all …
Coast to Coast via the Southern Tier – Spring 2022
By Fletch Dobbs | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 40 – Lake Conroe to Shepherd
Monday April 18, 2022, 48 miles (77 km) – Total so far: 1,795 miles (2,889 km) Today marks the end of Texas Hill Country. We hit the last of the rollers on our way to Shepherd this morning on a short, sweet, 48 mile ride. Tomorrows ride looks like 68 miles with only 800 or so feet of ascent. I think my wish for flatness has been granted!
Day 41 – Shepherd to Silsbee
Tuesday April 19, 2022, 61 miles (98 km) – Total so far: 1,856 miles (2,987 km) Well, my wish for flatness was granted, but at a cost. Headwind! Today’s ride was virtually entirely flat. Less than 900 feet of ascent on over sixty miles. The wind? That’s a different story. All day, square on in the face. It probably isn’t blowing all that hard. I’ll guess 8-12mph somewhere. But battling that when your bike has the frontal profile of a spinnaker? Not fun. And, oh the joy, it seemed to shift direction at …
Southern Tier Bicycle Tour – March 22, 2022 – ?
By cjlaskey | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 28 : Kerrville, Texas to Vanderpool, Texas
Monday April 18, 2022, 52 miles (84 km) – Total so far: 1,666 miles (2,681 km) Up before the sun at the KOA campground I pulled all of my gear and tent into the recreation room to pack for the day. After leaving I stopped at Whataburger in Ingram for a hearty breakfast as Don went forward. The ride today was partly along the Guadalupe River which was calming and mostly flat under the overcast morning sky. The air was cool also which made for perfect riding. There were several climbs but nothing …
Video: Texas car shop faces criticism after video appears to show owner ‘rolling coal’ on cyclist
By James Hartley | www.star-telegram.com
Members of a Facebook group dedicated to cycling in North Texas are calling for a boycott of a vehicle customization business in Van Alstyne after a video posted to the social media platform showed a man rev his engine as he passed a cyclist to blow billows of exhaust smoke toward a cyclist.
Kevin Soucie, the owner of Turn 5 Fabrication, posted the video that appears to show a driver pass the cyclist, who was riding on the side of the road, in the Facebook community group McKinney Uncensored.
The video showed a red pickup truck pass the cyclist as the man driving records, pointing the …
Artists Selected for Installation on Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake this May
City of Austin | www.austintexas.gov
Three local artists have been selected to create a floating wetland installation on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake this spring as part of the Trail’s Arts + Culture Plan. In conjunction with community engagement led by Public City and in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Art in Public Places, and The Trail Foundation, the Common Waters installation will explore themes of community, creativity, environment, and collaboration. It will incorporate artistic components as well as serve an ecological function.
The artists were chosen from a total of 37 submissions by a selection committee consisting of community leaders, arts leaders, and Trail stakeholders. Each artist will be compensated $5,000 for the project. The artists – …
Georgetown Trails Foundation – Dig Day – 4.24.2022
By Zander | austinmountainbiking.com
Dig Day – 10 am – trailhead west of Tractor Supply in Georgetown. Use the Tractor Supply lot or drive down on the west side of it to our entrance.
GTF owns this property and we will be focused on finishing a new section of trail, general clean up and, if time allows, scouting new trails.
All are welcome, just show up, sign the waiver and have some fun! Bring tools and water or use ours, we will have plenty. This is part of our approved masterplan to add 20+ miles of singletrack in GTX, we can use the help and look forward to having some fun.
For more info follow our instagram page @gtxtrails or message me here.
Thursday Night Social Ride – April 21st 2022 from socialcyclingaustin
Thank you COA for making the 4th street/I35 access road corner a one-way. from BikingATX
Taco Tuesday
Nate Eguia | strava.com
Urban South+
Nate Eguia | strava.com
first time at COTA bike night!
Monica Merced | strava.com
Defensive Cycling Group Etiquette 4162022
Veloharmony | www.youtube.com
Narrated group ride cycling with tips for improving your cycling through drafting, pre-ride preparation and post ride recovery. Prologue: 00:00 Route Map: 00:24 Warming up with the group before Fishcreek: 01:47 Fishcreek Blvd – The open Road: 05:57 McCaleb Road after letting WCC go: 20:54 Crossing Lake Conroe westbound on FM 1097 in Conroe, Texas: 25:09 Heading West on FM 1097 toward the Sam Houston National Forest: 33:39 Heading north on Mt. Pleasant Road in the Forest: 42:30
Texas Biking from Twitter
TNXC Knob Hills Beginner podium: 1. Juan Torres 2. Juan Carlos Torres Aguilar 3. Daniel Mcelrath https://t.co/Pbfx1DtDL6
— The Spinistry (@Spinistry) April 20, 2022
TNXC Knob Hills Intermediate 1. Carlos Torres 2. Steve Sullivan 3. Oscar Luviano https://t.co/gRf4YnL2l6
— The Spinistry (@Spinistry) April 20, 2022
TNXC Knob Hills Advanced 1. Joey Pratt 2. Ben Hokamp 3. Elliot Minick https://t.co/dgwhMKOd4D
— The Spinistry (@Spinistry) April 20, 2022
This map shows the current closures: https://t.co/eyJmq0TWFf pic.twitter.com/JYvW67b5c0
— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) April 19, 2022
Drop by Lamar & Bagby this Friday between 8 and 10 a.m. We'll be there with @JuiceLand handing out refreshments to all who are celebrating #NoCarEarthDay by walking, biking and using public transit. pic.twitter.com/qZCS4GTeNN
— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) April 19, 2022
Downtown Austin Parks Bike Tour this Saturday 4/23 at 10am for #CelebrateTrailsDay! Meet in East Austin and ride the @RedLineParkway together to downtown. Free bikes from @atxyellowbike for those who need one.
— Red Line Parkway Initiative (@RedLineParkway) April 19, 2022
Register: https://t.co/0HHaJPG8Bl
@railstotrails @DowntownATXInfo
Turbo die while riding? It's a bummer, but you can STILL RIDE! And don't forget we have 60+ stations, so another one is never too far away to RIDE, RETURN, REPEAT with a fresh e-bike. ?????????? #tuesdaytip #fwbikesharing #ebike #bikeshare #bcycle #ridemore pic.twitter.com/6R6lngwWcA
— Fort Worth Bike Sharing (@fwbikesharing) April 19, 2022
Ride alert! ????????????????????????????????????
— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) April 19, 2022
Friday 4/22, we're riding with @salliealcorn in celebration of #NoCarEarthDay. Meet at 2:15 PM @ River Oaks Park.
Saturday 4/23, we're riding with @AdrianGarciaHTX and @METROHouston. Meet at 8 AM @ Tranquility Park. https://t.co/Z1XeNoGEee
It's #Tuesday! You know what that means. ???? Check out Tuesday Bike Nights at @COTA! ??????? It's a fun meet-up to train, build camaraderie and share the news about the 2022 Mamma Jamma Ride in September. ????https://t.co/rC0gXygUPD pic.twitter.com/RtglRDiCPj
— TX Mamma Jamma Ride (@MammaJammaRide) April 19, 2022
There’s a bit of a pucker factor getting across I-35 on MLK with a 4 yr old, 14mo old in mom’s buddy seat, Grammy and me. That rail seems low and the sidewalk narrow when a big truck goes by. #ATX #VisionZero pic.twitter.com/BXFPAudLYp
— Martin Russell ????????????? (@russell_dallas) April 19, 2022
Just posted a photo @ Trek Bicycle Mission -Bike Masters https://t.co/FDzrIEGZ02
— Trek Bicycle Mission (Bike Masters) (@thebikemasters) April 19, 2022
Bike On: Since 2020, Westchase District has added more than 1 mile of new bicycle lanes including South bound on Walnut Bend Lane to Westpark Dr. from Westheimer. #bikehouston pic.twitter.com/Rtu2ilO0v1
— Westchase District (@westchasehou) April 19, 2022
New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
New Event Tour de Southern Walnut Creek Trail – Austin, TX April 19, 2022 at 08:00AM https://t.co/1MmMEuePfI
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) April 19, 2022
New Event Houston Bicycle Club CHAPPELL HILL WEST – Chappell Hill, TX https://t.co/eO43JBohBj
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) April 19, 2022
This will be the classic ride up to Independence (store there) and back on quiet back roads except for a short stretch on Blue Bell Rd in Brenham as a connect… https://t.co/yug4p8hgAI
New Event Houston Bicycle Club URBAN EXPLORATION RIDE – Houston, TX https://t.co/QL5BWrgyDV
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) April 19, 2022
We should have a nice day for riding with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the high 70's to low 80's. Come join us for a ride through some of Hou… https://t.co/W9dAMM17s4
New Event Campus Sustainability Bike Tour – Richardson, TX REGISTER HERE: https://t.co/MDrSJ8QNUF
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) April 19, 2022
Join the Office of Sustainability for a bike tour of campus sustainability! You will need to provide your own helmet, bike, and water for this event.
Mo… https://t.co/3FuQiHCCaa