InTheRain

I may be taking a job in Dallas (right downtown.) I'm just wondering how bike commuting is in the area. I think I would like to live somewhere North of the city (Richardson, Plano, Frisco) and possibly commute part of the way and then catch the DART train (i think the redline from far north or the blue line from say the Richardson area) for the commute all the way into the city.

I live in the Puget Sound now. I have a 7 mile commute each way that is 90 % on a sparsely used MUP. Are there MUP's that run all the way into the city of Dallas?

Another area that I was considering was Hurst - between Ft. Worth and Dallas - seems like the Trinity line train goes through there. What do you guys think? Where is the best place to live for bike commuting... at least part of the way. It's actually going to be a big factor in my decision to accept or not accept the offer.

Doggus

I live in Allen, just north of Plano. I used to commute regularly to work in Richardson till I hurt my knee. The commute wasn't bad till I got near Highway 75. Traffic gets congested and is still fast moving. Texas cagers don't put up well with bikes on the roads. I primarily ride in groups because every time I go out alone some jackass either honks, yells at me, or pulls the real pu$$y move of stomping on the accelerator as they go by, just to make a point.


Our company is now moving to the High-5 interchange which will increase my commute from 14 miles one way to 28 miles. I was all set to ride to the Dart station in north Plano but then someone just told me this week - no bikes on the Dart rail during peak hours.

I will call DART and see if this is truly the case and get back with you. If your willing to cycle-rail, this area is a good place to live and work downtown.


As for trails - there really is none going to the downtown area that I know of. The only MUP I'm aware of runs from north at 635 and goes to White Rock Lake. From that point a lot of commuters take 'Meandering Way' further north to points in Plano.

*Edited to add*

I just read the DART rail page specific to bike commuters and they've rescinded the time constraints for on board bikes.

See here. I also see they have 'bike lockers' - 5 of them at the Parker Road Station. $45 for 1 year lease agreement. I must go investigate, I've never seen these lockers.

Now that that's cleared up...when are you moving here so I can have someone to ride with?

rule

Hmmm...you might get some better responses by posting your question here:

https://www.dorba.org/phpBB/viewforum...d3e9b5f41fd9af


Commutes in and out of downtown have been discussed a bit using The Katy Trail and the Dart Light Rail connection at Mockingbird.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Trail_of_Dallas


Otherwise, here is pretty much how the Dallas area trails stack up.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...ils/index.html


And FYI...I have been commuting from Wylie (NE of Dallas) into Plano for years without so much as a honk. I stay off the feeder arteries and instead stick to the side streets and designated bike routes. I probably also work a bit harder than most to try not to make a nuisance of myself and share the road. It works out really well. This area has a lot of residential route options that you can use to get just about anywhere too. I grew up here and have been riding a bike pretty much anywhere I want to go since the 70's. So from my view of the commuting scene, I would say that you could easily commute to one of the Dart Light Rail stops in Plano and depending upon where you start, you could get a nice commute leg each way just doing that. From there you could take the Dart line all the way into downtown. If you want though you could also take the rail line down to the Mockingbird stop, then take the Katy Trail into downtown from there. Look it over and see what you think.

Hope this helps.

Doggus

Your kidding right. Several years and not a honk. I find that hard to believe.

Two areas where I get honked at:

Going under 75 on 15th street. I've looked for better options to get over 75 and can't find one that doesn't involve a helicopter.

Allen Heights where there should be a 4-lane and there is only two. No way around this area either unless I want to go 10 miles around. I've noticed that there is one jackass in particular who likes to give me a rough time on that strip. One day I will get his license plate number.

Note to self:
1) stop riding in the center of the freeways.
2) stop weaving all over the road.


By the way WARREN, is that you???

aikigreg

So long as I stick to roads will good traffic flow I have never had an issue in the city. When I am right outside though, knuckleehads will do some stupid stuff.

monogodo

I commuted by bike for 5 months a few years back. At the time I lived in Richardson (Spring Valley & Abrams area) and worked 12 miles away in Far North Dallas (Tollway & Frankford). I rarely had any issues, but then I was riding to work at 11pm, and back to home at 9am.

There is a MUP that goes into Downtown Dallas -- The Katy Trail. Currently it ends up near Central Expressway (US 75) and Mockingbird. It terminates at the American Airlines Center in the Victory area of Downtown.

All1NTao

People honk at me all the time but so what I cut them off, flip them off, and snot on their windshield.

jsharr

There is that bike path where Renner goes under Central, not too bad.

BTW, everyone gets honked at 15th and Central, that intersection just sucks.

Hobartlemagne 

A DART rail driver told me last saturday (on the train with bike) that bikes are only allowed in non-peak hours. I would imagine a folding bike in a bag would make it through without too much fuss.

monogodo

According to DART.org (emphasis theirs):

rule

Uhhh...no not kidding. Not much to honk at you when and where I ride. The rest accounts for how I ride. If there is truly a two lane 55mph death zone between me and good riding, I put the bike in the back of the car and drive in past it. Life is too short, and for me to try and shorten it any more by where I am trying to ride isn't too smart the way I figure.

I can get up to the quiet roads north of Lavon easily enough for training rides. Not a lot of cars up there where and when I go. Otherwise, I can stick to a few neighborhood loops that I like. After folks get to know you they may honk to say hi but that's about it.

My commute breaks down the same way. It's a straight and fast shot down Park coming all the way out from Wylie through Murphy unless I peel off and cut through a neighborhood. I really don't see many cars at all in the morning because I am doing it at 5:30, and I don't encounter all that many on the leg home either doing it around 5:00. I pretty much run into the same drivers along the way most days because we are on the road at the same times. Most people behave pretty well all things considered. But then again there are a ton of bike commuters and fitness riders on the east side of Plano and into Murphy these days.

I cross Central at Park and can use the bridge sidewalks if necessary, but it usually isn't more than a short sprint to take the lane and cross there. There are plenty of trails and bike route options from there all the way down into Dallas or heading up to the north for that matter. I ride down to eat at that On The Border at 15th and 75 all the time. It isn't that bad to do cutting through the neighborhoods north of there and only pull onto 15th right when you get up near the service road. If you treat it like a quick sprint from there you can take the lane and outpace the cars all the way through to the other side. Back by the restaurant, you can pick up the bike trails and get to better options than staying on 15th. The guy that I ride with to lunch rides a mountain bike and can't get enough speed. He just uses the side walks through there most days if it is crowded. I might try to time pulling out so that I find a gap in traffic but that's about it. Both 15th and Park get a lot of bike traffic through there too, some of which goes straight through to the Dart rail station by downtown.

And no I'm not Warren. But I do know who you are and have seen you ride. I'm not suprised that you get honked at either.

Doggus

This does not surprise me. Several people know me here and I have no idea who they are. I've obviously given too much information. I don't think I would do well on the witness protection program.

Who are you if you dare tell?

Wait I get three guesses:
Alver
Kyle
Dwan

InTheRain

Thanks. Good info here. Looking at the map, it looks like that area north of Wylie might be a good area to do some good training rides. Looks like there is some confusion on the board about whether or not you can take your bike on board the DART trains during peak hours. I looked at the website and then called customer service at DART and they assured me that you can take your bike on anytime. I think I'm going to have to find ways through neighborhoods until I get a little more familiar with traffic volumes. It does sound like there are quite a few cagers in the area that aren't too patient. I'm not used to that. I have to climb some really long hills (luckily they have bike lanes) and the drivers here are pretty patient and give me plenty of room. The most dangerous areas in this area are the roundabouts or traffic circles. They have only been implemented in the last two or three years and drivers are still confused (they run into eachother alot.) I don't recall seeing traffic circles in Dallas (I was last there in 2001.)

Do any of you have links to maps that show your route (i.e google maps pedometer?) Or even some good rides in the area. That would be cool to have. Thanks for your help all! (Is it true that I really have to learn how to say "y'all" in every third sentence??)

Hobartlemagne 

In Dallas proper and most adjacent cities we are a bit more refined. I only say ya'll about
once a week.

monogodo

I moved here from Wisconsin (via Los Angeles) 18 years ago. I picked up y'all within 6 months.

rule

LOL...it happens.

Here are a couple more links for you...from the local Bike clubs. The routes they list will give you a really good idea of how the locals use the available streets to lay out their rides.

https://www.greaterdallasbicyclists.c.../ridemaps.html

https://www.planobicycle.org/pba/inde...d=66&Itemid=73

And no Steve...you're still cold. There isn't any reason that you wouldn't know me but no reason that you would either.

jsharr

Ya'll is very commonplace for me, but Howdy is my overused Texas phrase. Howdy Ya'll!!! BTW I am a third generation native Texan.

jim10040

For me, I suspect "Howdy" is pronounced "Highdy" -- I haven't heard it objectively, but I reckon that's the way it comes out (from my own mouth).

Oh...commuting in Dallas or the whole DFW area...stinks. (keeping it On Thread) Except in Fort Worth...must be nice cuz the buses have bike racks on them.

monogodo

I saw a DART bus this past weekend with a bike rack on the front.

Whynot1999

Google the DFW veloweb if you're someone reading this in 2017; it's a plan for over a thousand miles of MUPs (multi-user paths), bike lanes, and other bike-friendly paths all over DFW. According to the last version I saw, I could ride from my house in Roanoke out to Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth without having work out a complicated and dangerous route.

jim10040

Also, if reading this in 2017, do NOT trust Google Maps Bicycling suggestions 100%. They are very good, but there are many "bike safe" routes that follow narrow or faster roads where cars are NOT expecting cyclists. If possible, the Strava heatmap is a very good resource. - https://labs.strava.com/heatmap - In fact, it is a good enough resource that some cities use it to map their own bike routes.