Texas Bicycling News Digest February 9th 2018

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Austin’s Most Popular Running & Biking Routes

TAYLOR TOBIN | www.neighborhoods.com


Strava, a tracking app designed to track the progress of runners and cyclists while providing a social network for their users, recently added a “heat map” functionality to its platform. This feature allows users to view the exercise patterns of people around the world, and if they zoom the map in on their own hometowns, they can discover the most well-trafficked running and biking trails in their immediate vicinity. We spent a bit of time with …

Audio: Garland-Based VBikes Isn’t Concerned About A Potential Future Of Bike-Share Regulation

By KRYSTINA MARTINEZ & RICK HOLTER | keranews.org


Friday’s the deadline the city of Dallas gave bike-share companies to clean up their acts. The Denton City Council is also considering putting some regulations in place. Six months ago, tens of thousands of rental-share bikes began filling North Texas streets and sidewalks. One of the first companies was Garland-based VBikes. …

In Texas, Bad Transportation Policy Is Killing Us

BY ALEX MACON | www.dmagazine.com


This morning we saw some fresh evidence that, if you are a pedestrian, this city is passively trying to make you inconvenienced, if not actively trying to kill you. Even without any sidewalk-blocking construction, walking in Dallas can be dangerous, something backed up by the data and plenty of personal anecdotes: Spend a week hoofing it from downtown to the Cedars during afternoon rush hour, and you’ll begin treating the desperate sprint across eastbound Griffin Street on Akard as a daily opportunity for prayer to whatever God you believe in.

So yes, further proof that Dallas could benefit from more infrastructure for walking and bicycling. Want some more? There’s …

‘We got more bikes than we got citizens’: Dallas’ bike-share crackdown cometh

Robert Wilonsky | www.dallasnews.com

Best thing about this job is you never know where the day will take you. Like Wednesday. One minute I’m tapping on the laptop in the media office at Dallas City Hall; the next I’m summoned to the conference room next to Dwaine Caraway’s office, into which the mayor pro tem had stuffed council member Tennell Atkins, the city’s transportation higher-ups, and managers from all …

Bid on University Avenue Pedestrian-bike Enhancement Phases I and II in El Paso

www.texasbids.net

Prebid: 02/13/18 10:00 AM
Solicitation Title: University Avenue Pedestrian-bike Enhancement Phases I and II
Owner Solic Number: CSB 724-1802-AMG
Status: bidding Report: 8414337
Country : United States State: TX County: El Paso
Location: El Paso
Scope: University avenue pedestrian-bike enhancement phases I and II
Notes: A pre-bid conference will be held on February 13, 2018 at 10:00 AM at 500 W. University Avenue, Kelly Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 301, El Paso, TX 79902.
Plans: From owner.
Owner Type: Public …

This weekend’s rides: Liberty Hill! Red Horn!

by Thomas | steinerranchcycling.com

Let’s try again…. Saturday we will take a nice ride up to Liberty Hill for some potato tacos and V-8 juice! The route is about 68 miles long and can be found here: https://www.strava.com/routes/4120994. After the ride we meet up at Lakeside for some discounted burgers and beer!

Sunday is our usual Coffee Shop ride to Red Horn. It is 50 miles and is at an endurance pace …

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Acorn Nut Frustration Bike Ride

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Frustration as I tried to start today’s ride. Attaching the PowerPod onto the outfront mount I dropped the tiny acorn nut that the bolt threads into. I felt it hit my shoe but where it went was the big question. The glasses I had on were my sunglasses with single vision prescription lenses which meant it was dark and I couldn’t see up close. I grabbed the whisk broom and swept under the shelves and around anything nearby. Moving the Stradalli outside I moved to another place under the shelves and wow! I found it. This took way longer than I wanted. I try to be very careful with this installation but today my hand hit the left brake lever which jarred the nut out of my fingers. A tighter grip next time and watch out for the brake lever.

Finally back on the Stradalli I rolled out the drive pressing the Elemnt start button at 12:20 pm but the PowerPod wouldn’t report any information to the Elemnt. As I rode I pressed the PowerPod start button several ways but nothing happened. On the greenbelt trail I stopped and tried several times. As I was standing there I heard “On your left” from behind and two guys on mountain bikes sped by. Back to the PowerPod it finally connected to the Elemnt and happily reported watts being exerted. I was happy too. It seems whenever I change bikes and from indoors to outdoors the PowerPod and Elemnt have issues. Hopefully the indoor workouts will diminish but not for a few more days.

Biking the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route I started seeing route marker signs in Walden for the Humble Lions Club Bike Ride tomorrow (Saturday). A few had fallen down for some reason. Also in Walden I waved at another cyclist who was standing in his garage at the Sprinters Drive and Cross Country across from the stop sign. He waved back. I don’t know if he was getting ready to ride or had finished.

Later at the Fairlake Drive and Old Atascocita Road intersection I caught up to the men putting out the route markers. I stopped to talk with them. We chatted about the 80% to 90% chance of rain Saturday morning around the start time and I told them about the fallen signs. The man with the hammer said TXDot required them to use signs with wood stakes when he asked about using stronger metal ones. I told him about the tape arrows that go on the road since the state wouldn’t let them paint arrows on the road either. He said they would look into the tape. I sad goodbye and headed to Huffman.

I overdressed for the ride. 64 degrees at the start and I was thought it would reach the 70 degree forecast so I loaded up on clothes: shorts, leg warmers, thermal long sleeve jersey, regular long sleeve jersey, wind breaker jacket, and full finger gloves. I wasn’t sweating for awhile but once I got to Walden I noticed how damp I was inside the jacket. I stuck with the wardrobe to the finish but when I took all of the layers off they were soaked. It was 72 at the 2:58 pm finish. I won’t complain, I have waiting for warmer weather. The wind was light at 4 mph from the southeast.

Probably no riding on Saturday with the rain likely. Sunday another cool front arrives and stays around through Monday. Tuesday looks like a bike ride kind of weather day.

Strava Ride Summary

SportTracks Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest February 8th 2018

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Consultants unveil ‘outside the box’ concepts for University Drive

By CAITLIN CLARK | www.theeagle.com


Ideas include pedestrian bridges, traffic underpasses, park space

Bridges, underpasses and even park space between the Texas A&M campus and Northgate are among the concepts that consultants have come up with to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety along University Drive.

The Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization’s policy board on Tuesday accepted the final report of the University Drive study by Half Associates, which was tasked with generating …

Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt – The OTHER Walnut Creek

CXAGENT | www.bikemojo.com

For anyone who hasn’t heard yet, there is a good chance of building official trail on the Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt near 183 and the YMCA at the east end of 51st. The City of Austin is involved and supportive. So much so that PARD has a web site – Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt Master Plan Initiative | AustinTexas.gov – The Official Website of the City of Austin Recognize that it has to go thru a major approval process by the City. It will take years before trails are official and open.

There is a group raising money to pay for the Master Plan that is required to develop that area. https://walnutcreekgreenbelt.kimbia.com/donate The goal has almost been reached so it won’t take much to put it over the top.

Additional info at – https://www.facebook.com/events/879614265552543/

Improvement project tackles eastside bikeways on Manor Road

By Carlos Garcia | spectrumlocalnews.com

AUSTIN, Texas – City staff presented their plans for mobility improvements along Manor Road and dozens of residents were all ears.

“I want what’s best for my property and my neighborhood and for the general community,” said resident Jonathan Van Ness.

The improvements are part of the 2016 mobility bond which has three …

Dallas dials back collection threat to rental bike companies

Matt Howerton | www.wfaa.com

DALLAS – Transportation officials with the City of Dallas said Thursday that crews won’t immediately start collecting stray rental bikes throughout the city at the end of the week.

In January, City Manager T.C. Broadnax sent a letter to LimeBike, Ofo, VBikes, Spin and Mobike telling the bike share companies to straighten up.

Broadnax asked the companies to clean up bikes blocking right of ways, sidewalks, trails, and …

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Texas Bicycling News Digest February 7th 2018

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Harris County officials work to increase access to green space, such as parks, trails in the Lake Houston area

By Bethany Knipp | communityimpact.com


Harris County’s focus on green space in 2018 will bring new parks and open spaces to the Lake Houston area, which county officials said could improve the quality of life in the area and assist in reducing flooding.

Harris County Precinct 2 is designing a 19-acre park in Atascocita that will break ground in the second quarter of 2018. Precinct 4 is working to acquire new tracts of land to provide connections between communities and parks and trails, county officials said. …

Dreaming of Spring? Consider the Easter Hill Country Tour!

www.wheelbrothers.com


Those of us in North-Central Texas have experienced a few nice days with chilly mornings and afternoons in the 70s this past week—in other words, the PERFECT riding weather! But if you’ve lived in Texas very long, you know the next winter blasts can alter our best-made bike plans and leave us dreaming of spring.

Well, while you’re dreaming…think big. Big hills. Big plans. …

Flashback: Dallasites have always found wacky uses for their bikes

Meredyth Grange | www.dallasnews.com

With the city’s mounting bike-share woes, residents continue to wonder if Dallas will transform into a more bike-friendly city. But no matter your thoughts on bike-shares or bike lanes, the fact remains that bikes themselves are a delightful invention with surprisingly fun uses. Using bikes as ornaments for trees and to add pizazz to Dallas ponds may be in vogue now, but back in the day, Dallasites found more even more clever ways to use them. …

Hell Yeah, I Rock a Helmet Mirror When I Ride!

CAITLIN GIDDINGS | www.bicycling.com


How former pro Tom Soladay learned to love the one piece of gear he never thought he’d wear

I was a professional bike racer for 10 years before I retired at the end of 2017, so I’ve done my share of long training rides. I’d been noticing that more and more drivers are paying attention to their phones instead of the road. And it feels like it’s getting worse. I’ve had side mirrors hit me, I’ve had cars slam the brakes right in front of me. My wife and I are expecting our first kid this March, so my priorities are shifting and I feel less inclined to take risks. Last year I stayed with a family in Austin, Texas, to train. The dad is in his 50s and …

250+ Complaints Filed Against Bike Share Companies in Dallas in One Month

www.nbcdfw.com


During the first 18 days of January, 263 complaints were filed against the five bike share companies in Dallas.

The complaints ranged from bikes being piled up on a sidewalk to bikes blocking handicap parking spots.

The complaints were either filed with the city in person, online or through the 311 app. …

San Marcos, Texas State University partnering to offer dockless bike sharing

By Marie Albiges | communityimpact.com


The city of San Marcos and Texas State University will issue a joint request for proposals to get at least one station-free bike sharing company to operate in the area.

During a work session Tuesday, City Council was briefed on the partnership, which would allow the company to operate dockless bikes around the city and on the university campus at no cost to the city or the university. …

City to dedicate trail in honor of Meg Jorn on Saturday

By RICK KELLEY | www.valleymorningstar.com


HARLINGEN — The City of Harlingen will dedicate its hiking/biking trail on 25th Street to the late Meg Jorn, the well-known architect and marathoner who was killed in a traffic accident in September.

The Meg Jorn Trail dedication will be held Saturday at 8 a.m. at 25th Street and Harrison Avenue. A 5K run/walk will follow the dedication ceremony and the unveiling of a monument to Jorn.

“She was a big-time runner, and she ran in several …

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