Texas - get your voice heard in fort worth

Hello,
Just wanted to pass this along. Maybe if enough of us send it in we could get better more efficent bike routes, maybe even bike lanes!. For me there is no real decent route from my house to my office. It is an ok route but it could be better. ok enough from me here is the link. Print it and fax it!

http://www.fortworthgov.org/uploadedFiles/Transportation_and_Public_Works/About_Us/Divisions/Transportation_Planning_and_Development/BicyclingQuestionnaireFinal2007Sm.pdf


Thanks all!

Thanks Toughyreader. our situation in Fort Worth has been in the forefront of my mind for the last several months. I didn't know about this questionnaire.

A question: Would any of our Fort Worth like to get together sometime for fun, but also to discuss what's going on in our city regarding planning for bike lanes, accommodations, etc. Not sure where it would lead, but we have more cyclists than ever and eventually, the demand will be such that things will have to change. At worst, we could get together for a good burger or something and meet the other FW BF members.

Anyone?

Count me in!

You been to Dutch's (http://www.star-telegram.com/134/story/159863.html) yet? I heard it was great! Of course, there's always Fuzzy's Taco Shop.

Ideas? And a good time possibly next week? I could do lunch during the week, and with advance planning I could do dinner. (have to coordinate with the boss/my wife)

Next week would be good. Dinner would be better for me as I don't leave the office for lunch. Either of those places would be great. Not on monday that is bank day. Any day after that.
let me know. PM my for email and phone #.

I'm interested and work near Fuzzy's (TCU). I had a group of students tackle this issue for a group project. Fort Worth actually has quite a bit of funds dedicated to bike infrastructure, but does not seem to be using it all.

Sweet sounds. Great. Middle of the week is good for me for dinner.

I'm leaving for vacation, but would love a meet-up or ride anytime when I get back!

I'm leaving for vacation, but would love a meet-up or ride anytime when I get back!
let us know when you get back! This could be a good thing!

Let me recommend hooking up at Panther City Bicycles. Bernie and Jason the owners are practical cyclists, and there's a keg of Rahr on the showroom floor.

I'm in for a meeting, by the way.

Sounds like we are getting quite a group. Should be fun. I would be very interested to learn more about these funds that are set aside for biking improvements.

I need to visit with my wife, but I am thinking next Tuesday or Thursday after work for a burger at Dutch's (directly across the street from TCU). What day works best for everyone?

Once time is decided, I'll send a pm with my number to everyone and in turn get yours.

Ryan

Sounds like we are getting quite a group. Should be fun. I would be very interested to learn more about these funds that are set aside for biking improvements.

I need to visit with my wife, but I am thinking next Tuesday or Thursday after work for a burger at Dutch's (directly across the street from TCU). What day works best for everyone?

Once time is decided, I'll send a pm with my number to everyone and in turn get yours.

Ryan


I am down for thurday! I get off at 5 30 i figure it will take me around 15 mins or less to get there on my bike.

Let me recommend hooking up at Panther City Bicycles. Bernie and Jason the owners are practical cyclists, and there's a keg of Rahr on the showroom floor.

I'm in for a meeting, by the way.


I will be talking to them on saturday. I will metion this meeting.

Ah, Dutch's, the new John's Grill! Very good food, but a bit pricey. Whether Panther City or Dutch's, I will try to make it, but it may be tough. Would love to get together for a ride sometime, though.

I am saying next thursday around 5:45 or 6:00. I am down with Dutch's or Fuzzy's. Just let me know.

OK guys, this week is running away from me very quickly, and I will be in Oklahoma over the weekend, could we set a concrete time for 6:00pm on Thursday, July 26th (next Thursday) @ Dutch's? Maybe aikigreg could join us as well at that time.

Also, for those interested, I think I may take a quick 20 miles after our dinner, finding a route around TCU.

I am down for it just keep me posted!

OK guys, this week is running away from me very quickly, and I will be in Oklahoma over the weekend, could we set a concrete time for 6:00pm on Thursday, July 26th (next Thursday) @ Dutch's? Maybe aikigreg could join us as well at that time.

Also, for those interested, I think I may take a quick 20 miles after our dinner, finding a route around TCU.

Do work and/or live around TCU? See this route (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1134531) posted by Truman in another thread: a fun little spin in the area (I tried portions of it over the weekend and today on my commute).

Thanks for the route. I have ridden several parts of that route and it is a beautiful ride. I live and work on the border of Fort Worth and Arlington, by Cooks Ln. and I-30, but I like to 'play' in that area. I ride the trinity trails often. I think I'll give that route a shot next Thursday. Thanks!

On a separate note, the reason I can't do dinner this Thurs is because several guys are meeting at my house to ride a 42 mile route, most of it on a concrete trail. If anyone is interested in joining us for part of the ride, you could meet us at my house (6:00pm) or at Villiage Creek Park (6:15pm), which is about 2 miles from my house, and is located just south of Eastchase and I-30.

PM me if you are interested.

I live at Precinct Line and Trinity Blvd. Where is the closest entry point for the Trinity Trail?

http://www.trinitytrails.org/

http://www.trinitytrails.org/

Thanks

Sure, sorry I didn't say more in the post. I was in a hurry. You can go South on Precinct Line, and turn Rt. when it dead ends into Randol Mill. Then follow Randol Mill West over 820, and there will be a park a ways down on your right.

You can catch the trailhead there, and other than a short jaunt on a couple of roads by Beach St., you can join up with the Trinity Trails there.

Also, if you don't want to veer onto the road for a short ways, check out Gateway Park. Not sure where it is, but a friend of mine told me that is where he was able to get on the Trinity Trails from this area 820 & I-30. I am assuming that is the link from the Randol Mill park trail. Let me know if you find anything out.

Yeah, you can get into Gateway park from the backside off Randol Mill and get to the TT that way. Gateway Park is about to be expanded all the way to Oakland Blvd., and my club FWMBA is going to be building some 'beginnermediate' MTB trails in there.

How I'd go - Trinity Blvd to Handley Ederville to Randol Mill then left a left into the park. Right now some of the low water crossings make getting to the other side of the Trinity a bit more difficult, but you can generally do it at a road overpass in several locations these days.

Quite a few homeless camped along the trail section between Beach St and I35E, too, but they've never been a problem - just a visual shock if you happen to catch them at their morning ablutions.

Hey Bung, are you one of the brave Trinity Blvd. bike commuters I see from time to time?

FYI, about the Gateway park thing...my buddy who goes there went yesterday and parked his car at the church, and began his ride. When he got back, his car had been broken in to, and they stole his radio, cooler, and other things.

So, may not be the best place to leave your car. Interestingly enough, he had left his wallet under the seat, and it was still there.

Gateway is a bit ghetto, as far as that kinda thing.

What church? The big one by the freeway that used to be a bowling alley?
Gateway's been a place to go for random same-sex encounters for quite awhile. Unfortunately, it's settled between a couple of different neighborhoods that have declined pretty far in the past 20 years - although there's evidence that at least one of them are back on the upswing - and it's also fairly close to the Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission, et cetera, so there are definite risk factors around. I consider it bad form to park where someone watching might be able to guess that I'm going to be gone for awhile. I don't think I'd consider parking in that church lot under normal circumstances. A better idea might be to park in Trinity Park and ride TO Gateway.

Fortunately, the City of Ft Worth is trying to get Gateway cleaned up and let it be the 'flagship' park for their city park system - hence the current dog park and the expansion I mentioned and the planned skate park and MTB trail. Please tell your friend to become vocal in his support for cleaning up the place.

OK guys, I'm in for tomorrow night. Does 5:30-5:45 still work for everyone? I think I'll have my riding gear with me in order to ride a quick 20 or 25 miles after dinner with the route someone had recommended earlier in this thread. I'll probably have a couple of guys meeting us as well. It will be a very relaxed paced ride as I will be riding the Goatneck 100K on Sat.

Let me know if you're in, and I'll bring some extra copies of the form the OP posted. I look forward to learning more about what is going on for biking in FW.

If I don't hear back from you guys, I'll PM you.

Ryan

What church? The big one by the freeway that used to be a bowling alley?
Gateway's been a place to go for random same-sex encounters for quite awhile. Unfortunately, it's settled between a couple of different neighborhoods that have declined pretty far in the past 20 years - although there's evidence that at least one of them are back on the upswing - and it's also fairly close to the Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission, et cetera, so there are definite risk factors around. I consider it bad form to park where someone watching might be able to guess that I'm going to be gone for awhile. I don't think I'd consider parking in that church lot under normal circumstances. A better idea might be to park in Trinity Park and ride TO Gateway.

Fortunately, the City of Ft Worth is trying to get Gateway cleaned up and let it be the 'flagship' park for their city park system - hence the current dog park and the expansion I mentioned and the planned skate park and MTB trail. Please tell your friend to become vocal in his support for cleaning up the place.


I'm not actually sure what church he parked at. All he said was that he parked at the church to go to Gateway park because 4 other cars were parked there, and he thought it would be safer. All 4 cars were broken into. Crazy.

I will let him know and make a note of your post. Thanks. I think that with the Trinity Uptown Project, we have the momentum to push for some nice new trails, and some connections to existing trails.

I'm hoping they'll finally push to connect the TT with River Legacy, and then Dallas. How cool would an off-road route all the way to Dallas be?

Hey Bung, are you one of the brave Trinity Blvd. bike commuters I see from time to time?

I'm not but my brother is. He recently dumped his bike on the way to the office at Riverbend. He ended up with a broken collarbone and rib.

OK guys, I'm in for tomorrow night. Does 5:30-5:45 still work for everyone? I think I'll have my riding gear with me in order to ride a quick 20 or 25 miles after dinner with the route someone had recommended earlier in this thread. I'll probably have a couple of guys meeting us as well. It will be a very relaxed paced ride as I will be riding the Goatneck 100K on Sat.

Let me know if you're in, and I'll bring some extra copies of the form the OP posted. I look forward to learning more about what is going on for biking in FW.

If I don't hear back from you guys, I'll PM you.

Ryan

Hey guys, I am cancelling this for tonight because of no response. I will be riding with some guys from my house. If you want to ride in an hour, pm me and I'll give you details, otherwise, let me know if there is interest and I'll try to reschedule for next week.

Ryan

I'm not but my brother is. He recently dumped his bike on the way to the office at Riverbend. He ended up with a broken collarbone and rib.


Ouch. What's he ride? I pass a few of them while I'm on the TRE.

From what I have heard, Fort Worth sat on some federal funds and did not use them. So the funds got taken back. So as of now there are no funds for this thing. Which is a let down. I will say this, in my 3 weeks of commuting this far I have only had one negative response from drivers. I hope this continues.

Hey I'm a new Ft Worth commuter/cyclist... any news with this? I don't exactly think Ft Worth completely biker friendly, but so far I've been able to find alternative routes that seem to work just fine (for me anyways, since I haven't tried cycling in other cities). Plus, I've really had no problem with motorists giving me a hard time... which is nice. Maybe it's my size.

Anyways, bike lanes would be great!

Riding in Funkytown is heaven, compared to riding East of SH 360. Count yer blessings.

Riding in Funkytown is heaven, compared to riding East of SH 360. Count yer blessings.

I'd have to agree... from what I've been reading about other ppl's experiences in other cities, I'd have to say that FW is pretty nice to ride in when it comes to the motorists and whatnot.. for the most part. There are quite a few streets I wouldn't take unless my life depended on it, but there's always ways around so I'm not complaining. Only problem I really have is morning commutes to TCC South during the rush... a lot of impatient morons running late to work driving too fast and weaving in and out of lanes just to get around that slow driver. I wonder what they'd do to that poor, slow cyclist..

But I guess it's pretty much like that everywhere.. unless you happen to be lucky enough to live in one of those bike-friendly cities

Hey everyone -- take a moment to fill out the survey on this website: http://www.fortworthgov.org/tpw/ .