Texas - Need help transversing San Antonio

Am looking for some web sites, references, etc. for the San Antonio area. Last October, I left from San Diego on the Southern Tier route. Due to twisting my knee while off the bike, I had to abandon the trip in Del Rio. At the end of this September, I am returning to Del Rio and will be completing my cross country trek. My plan is to leave Del Rio on US 90, go thru San Antonio and pick up I10 for about 100 miles, and then head to La Grange and get back on the Southern Tier route at Navasota, TX. My logic for this plan is to avoid as much riding on chip seal roads as is possible. I am credit card touring, so I am only carrying about 25 lbs. I commuted in downtown LA many, many years ago, so city traffic is not frightening, I know to be very respectful.

Riding on US90 will not be a problem from Del Rio, but as I approach San Antonio, US 90 becomes a major highway. What exit should I take and what bike friendly roads/streets are recommended to get my posterior in one piece across the city?

Is there a club with bike maps on their web site that I have missed? Does the city have a cross city bike route?

Would it make sense to just ride the 1604 Loop and go south around the entire city?

Any and all help/assistance is appreciated!!!!

Get on 1604 south (directly off of 90),and ride it around to I 10 East, towards Houston or wherever. Takes you around the city, about 50-60 miles.

I don't know about San Antone, but I had to work directly with my city government to get cross-city bike routes for Allen, TX. Without a major "Bicycling as Transportation" movement in any Texas city except Austin and Houston, I think you're going to be hard pressed. Maybe someone from San Antone will be along in a minute. In the meantime, this should top the thread back to the top...

Honestly, berger, was it REALLY that hard to find routes to cross Allen by bike?

Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio I can see being difficult, but...

I think the OP is asking about "a plan" and not "a signed, endorsed route"

Sorry I can't help ya bud, but I would say don't take 1604 on the North side, lots of construction last time I was down there and it's an area with lots of recent growth... maybe the southern route would be better?

ok I looked at the google a bit.

90 has a frontage road that looks pretty good, all the way to Kelly AFB / SW 36th St.
from there you could head downtown for a little touristing, using Castroville Rd. / Guadalupe

Heading East out of downtown, you could use Houston / Rosa Parks to get to 10/90. In fact, Houston becomes a nice little highway going out of town, looks decent on the streetview.


I really prefer to avoid roads like 1604 and 90, would personally rather zig-zag around on smaller roads instead. But if you just want to cover miles in a straight line, I see the benefit.

If you want to go into San Antonio, the route Creaky posted is probably not bad, although I know nothing about Castroville Road. The MS150 takes Houston Street out of the downtown/SBC center area, so it is probably good. If you want to skip around SA, 1604 on the south side is the way to go.

You might try googling the MS150/Bike MS Ride to the River and look at their route. They are leaving from downtown and going out to Seguin before turning north up to New Braunfels. Seguin is on I-10, so you might just want to follow their route to get to I-10 east of town if you end up going into downtown.

Wow! Cross country through SA! Cool!

I used to live there right off of HWY 90 so I'm familiar with the roads.

You're right. HWY 90 will get busy as you get into SA. Continuing down HWY 90 is only a few miles and you in no more danger than you've already experienced on the road up to this point. I would still tell you to keep going on HWY90 until you get to the OLD HWY 90 intersection and take OLD HWY 90 through SA via Commerce Street. (Too good to pass up seeing downtown/riverwalk!!) On your way out of SA, you can leave Commerce Street to East Houston Street which will safely (relatively) take you out of town and you can get back on I10 towards your next big stop.

Honestly, berger, was it REALLY that hard to find routes to cross Allen by bike?

Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio I can see being difficult, but...

For me? No, I commute 3000+ miles a year.

It's for the other 85,000 Allenites who have bikes hanging in their garages and drive the SUV 1/2 mile to Max's Donut shop. I tell the kids the donuts taste better when you have to work for 'em...:love:

My plan is to leave Del Rio on US 90, go thru San Antonio and pick up I10 for about 100 miles, and then head to La Grange and get back on the Southern Tier route at Navasota, TX.

The Southern Tier route from Del Rio to La Grange passes through the Texas Hill Country, renowned for the last half century as one of the finest bicycle touring areas in the USA. Depending on what one is seeking to get out of their tour, of course, this section is arguably the best part of the whole Southern Tier route.

The by-pass you're proposing by-and-large skirts the southern edge of the Hill Country and will be much flatter, much straigher, much less scenic and have infinitely more automobile traffic. You gotta follow your own guiding star, but if it were me, I'd just run a little wider, more supple tires at a little lower pressure and enjoy the ride.

HTH,
tcs

"You can be up in the mountains,
Or down where the sea breezes blow,
But you'll still be in Texas,
The most beautiful place that I know." - Governor "Pappy" O'Daniel