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How Bike Friendly is Texas?
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 2009-05-28 4:22 PM |
Regular  57  Plano, Texas |  Subject: How Bike Friendly is Texas?http://usatriathlon.org/news/article/13142 The League of American Bicyclists recently released their second annual ranking of Bicycle Friendly States. Texas is ranked 36. Too high? Too low? Just right? Recent chip sealing of roads around here give me reason to believe 36 is too high. |
| 2009-05-28 5:32 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Champion 10471  Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Multi-Spork - 2009-05-28 4:22 PM http://usatriathlon.org/news/article/13142 The League of American Bicyclists recently released their second annual ranking of Bicycle Friendly States. Texas is ranked 36. Too high? Too low? Just right? Recent chip sealing of roads around here give me reason to believe 36 is too high. The mean drivers in trucks who want to use you as target practice gives me reason to believe 36 is too high. Not to mention we don't have bike paths... we barely have any MUT paths (WRL is the longest one thus far) for us to ride on... etc. Texas SUCKS for riding a bike. OK, well at least Dallas does. |
| 2009-05-28 5:33 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Pro 4311 Texas | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Multi-Spork - 2009-05-28 4:22 PM http://usatriathlon.org/news/article/13142 The League of American Bicyclists recently released their second annual ranking of Bicycle Friendly States. Texas is ranked 36. Too high? Too low? Just right? Recent chip sealing of roads around here give me reason to believe 36 is too high. Depends on the city. Austin would be ranked significantly higher than Dallas or Houston. More to the point, if it weren't for Austin I think Texas would easily be in the 40s. Edited by JBrashear 2009-05-28 5:33 PM |
| 2009-05-28 5:37 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? AND... why are states where it's freezing cold most of the year cater to cyclists more? Come on... they can only ride like 3 months out of the year and they have it better than we do in Texas by a long shot. Shoot, the trail we ran on in Minnesota (Wabegon? trail) was 100+ miles of concrete trail. 100 MILES!!!! Just think, you want to do a century for training... you go hop on the TRAIL to do it. Gah. Stupid Texas and it's suckiness when it comes to outdoor activities and fitness. Top Five: Washington Wisconsin Maine Oregon Minnesota |
| 2009-05-28 7:26 PM in reply to: #2179701 |
Extreme Veteran 455 Plano,TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? KSH - 2009-05-28 5:37 PM Come on... they can only ride like 3 months out of the year and they have it better than we do in Texas by a long shot. Wrong!!! These are states where YOU would only ride for 3 months out of the year. The rest of us aren't big cry babies about the cold and would be out riding!!!! |
| 2009-05-28 8:08 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Expert 1139 Austin | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Austin certainly is a big help for those rankings. There's bike lanes galore here and a bike/tri shop on every corner. The idea of a 100 mile trail without stop signs and stop lights sounds amazing tho.... |
| 2009-05-28 8:35 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Pro 4174 Keller, Texas | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? The Trinity Trail is OK, but from a roads perspective, I have to agree. Tim...are you suggesting that Karen has an aversion to the cold
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| 2009-05-28 8:45 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Regular 87 Beaumont | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Southeast Texas is pretty bad. I would rank Texas in the 40's as well. As a matter of fact, I was almost hit by a police officer after signaling to turn about two weeks ago. I am glad I turned and looked before making the corner! |
| 2009-05-28 9:04 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Elite 2998 Fishers, Indiana | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Austin itself may be okay, but I rode from Austin and was in Dripping Springs with some friends a couple of weekends ago and about four of us were stopped at a light. A suburban comes up next to my friend (we're all in the right straight lane, suburban in the right turn lane) and the old man takes the moment to roll the window down and tell my friend (whose leg is on the inside of the white line separating the lanes) that "he could run right over her leg" and then it was immediately followed by some other old codger who felt the need to roll his window down to tell me that we were supposed to stay on the other side of the "white line" (umm, he means the 5 inch shoulder.....right....). I kindly (okay, maybe not) told both drivers that we're vehicles too and have a right to the road!! Not to mention we were not riding two abreast, and we were staying far over to the right. Then there are the people that meanly honk, flash lights, flip birds...I don't get it...what does my presence on the side of the road due to cause them to be angry?? Apparently one of the angry ones runs DOT and thus the chip seal... |
| 2009-05-28 9:54 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Extreme Veteran 331 Corinth, Texas | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? I don't think the jerks who honk and roll down their windows are unique to Texas.  Sorry that happened to you TexasMPGal. Dripping Springs is usually pretty good. There are some really nice hills and routes back there. Anyways, Texas is not very friendly for bikes as a whole. Austin for the most part is pretty nice for bike riding, but is also a nice town for endurance sports in general. I think DFW is big enough where you can find nice routes, but they were not designed with cyclist in mind.... the idiots in the Trucks, well I dunno. Can't do much about that. It's hard to say if 36 is accurate because I have not been on a bike in many of these other states. Plus Texas is a whole lot bigger than most of these states. The better study would be the best cyclist friendly cities. I'd be interested if and cities in DFW even ranked. |
| 2009-05-28 11:16 PM in reply to: #2179927 |
Extreme Veteran 455 Plano,TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? dodgersmom - 2009-05-28 8:35 PM Tim...are you suggesting that Karen has an aversion to the cold
Why would anyone ever suggest anything crazy like that? |
| 2009-05-29 1:49 AM in reply to: #2179564 |
Regular 94 Hollywood, FL | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? I'm pretty new to cycling (400 miles under my belt total). In my short experience, Houston drivers seem to have it out for cyclists. I pretty much almost get hit at least once every time I ride. If I don't pay attention at all times, I'll end up road kill one of these times. The dudes in the pick-up trucks are the worst, and the quality of the roads are horrendous. Hard to speak for the rest of the state, but based on Southeast Houston, I'd say Texas should be much higher. |
| 2009-05-29 9:10 AM in reply to: #2180114 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? tajsss - 2009-05-28 11:16 PM dodgersmom - 2009-05-28 8:35 PM Tim...are you suggesting that Karen has an aversion to the cold
Why would anyone ever suggest anything crazy like that? *Flips hair* Gosh. What can I say? I'm a warm weather gal.  |
| 2009-05-29 1:07 PM in reply to: #2180182 |
| Master 1468 Montgomery, Tx | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Seminole_Coastie - 2009-05-29 1:49 AM I'm pretty new to cycling (400 miles under my belt total). In my short experience, Houston drivers seem to have it out for cyclists. I pretty much almost get hit at least once every time I ride. If I don't pay attention at all times, I'll end up road kill one of these times. The dudes in the pick-up trucks are the worst, and the quality of the roads are horrendous. Hard to speak for the rest of the state, but based on Southeast Houston, I'd say Texas should be much higher. Just like on a motorcycle, you must ride like your invisible. I have a golf carts try to run me off the road in my neighbor hood. Serious Edited by hd-dream 2009-05-29 1:08 PM |
| 2009-05-29 2:14 PM in reply to: #2181405 |
Regular 94 Hollywood, FL | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? hd-dream - 2009-05-29 1:07 PM Seminole_Coastie - 2009-05-29 1:49 AM I'm pretty new to cycling (400 miles under my belt total). In my short experience, Houston drivers seem to have it out for cyclists. I pretty much almost get hit at least once every time I ride. If I don't pay attention at all times, I'll end up road kill one of these times. The dudes in the pick-up trucks are the worst, and the quality of the roads are horrendous. Hard to speak for the rest of the state, but based on Southeast Houston, I'd say Texas should be much higher. Just like on a motorcycle, you must ride like your invisible. I have a golf carts try to run me off the road in my neighbor hood. Serious Funny you brought up motorcycles, because I actually just sold mine. After moving to Houston I just about quit riding all together because I kept having close calls every time I took it out for a spin. Riding my motorcycle in Florida wasn't even close to being as dangerous as it is here in Houston. But yes, I definitely assume no one sees me when I'm riding. |
| 2009-05-29 8:26 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
| Tyler, | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? I'm at stop light on my bike in Gun Barrel City (1 hour southeast of Dallas), this redneck behind me probably in his 40's goes "Get on the F******* side walk. " I waved the first time and blew him off, the second time he said it as he passed me I wasn't so cool about it, anyways he pulled off to Buddy's Liquor Store. Welcome to Gun Barrel City. |
| 2009-05-31 10:37 AM in reply to: #2179564 |
Regular 68 Katy, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? I guess I'm either lucky or just don't pay enough attention. I live on the west side of Houston and have hardly had any "issues" with drivers. There's a decent cycling community and enough road options that I'm able to try different routes (although I usually end up with one or two "core" routes with deviations). Now, I do have a nice 25 mile out-n-back trail that I live next to that is great for biking (when it's not flooded) and the really good non-trail bike routes are starting to get filled in with houses that is increasing traffic, but I really couldn't ask for more (except for some hill options). |
| 2009-05-31 1:07 PM in reply to: #2179564 |
Champion 5522 Frisco, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? No real issues up here in Frisco / Little Elm / Plano area - lots of riders around. Now if we can talk about cities putting up stop signs right in the bottom of hills and in the middle of long straight-aways for no real reason... |
| 2009-06-01 9:15 AM in reply to: #2179564 |
Expert 683 Fort Worth, Texas | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? If the guv signs the safe passing law, it'll be friendlier (on paper, at least). See my separate post on this. |
| 2009-06-01 9:57 AM in reply to: #2184363 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? ashort33 - 2009-05-31 1:07 PM No real issues up here in Frisco / Little Elm / Plano area - lots of riders around. Now if we can talk about cities putting up stop signs right in the bottom of hills and in the middle of long straight-aways for no real reason... at least in the windhaven area or the spots where some of the bike groups ride the traffic is more used to seeing bikes so it's a little better, not much though |
| 2009-06-02 11:33 PM in reply to: #2180027 |
Expert 773 | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? draykus - 2009-05-28 9:54 PM I don't think the jerks who honk and roll down their windows are unique to Texas.
I sort of disagree. Do jerks honk and say things in other states? Of course they do. But not to the regularity that Texas drivers do. This kind of juvenile behavior may not be unique to Texas, but Texas drivers perfected it. I have been to many many states and the worst place I have ever been to ride a bike as far as roads, bad drivers, lack of bike lanes ect was El Paso. It's slightly better here in Killeen. I have had the pleasure to ride in both San Diego and Tucson, Az. In both places there are TONS of signs that remind drivers to give cyclists the right of way, to stay out of bike lanes (in Tucson there is a bike lane on nearly every street except for the older, narrower streets downtown), and to share the road with cyclists. I have yet to see one sign like this where I have been in Texas. I haven't been cycling in all cities in Texas, but the whole attitude towards cyclists is very poor here compared to other states.
Edited by crazylegs 2009-06-02 11:37 PM |
| 2009-06-03 6:21 AM in reply to: #2186045 |
| Tyler, | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? dblack1801 - 2009-06-01 9:15 AM If the guv signs the safe passing law, it'll be friendlier (on paper, at least). See my separate post on this. It will mean nothing on paper unless it is strictly enforced and advertised effectively. |
| 2009-06-03 6:24 AM in reply to: #2179564 |
| Tyler, | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? Most of the encounters I have are while commuting in regular street clothes. Yesterday in the great Gun Barrel City, Texas some young punks (younger than I). Honked as the drove by missing me by inches then they turned off to wait until I went by again to get even closer and then turned right in front of me. I braked hard swerved to the drivers side and kicked the heck out of the tail gate. I may have put a dent in it. It felt softer than I thought it would. |
| 2009-06-03 8:00 AM in reply to: #2179564 |
Expert 619 Wylie, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? The other day I had Mr. Macho in his awesome convertible V6 Mustang lay on his horn at me for about two full minutes and yelled for me to "Get off the F%$king road!" I just ignored him as I was in the process of doing a proper left hand turn signal. Afterwards, I realized that I should have told him that he was just jealous, and to get a real Mustang, haha. |
| 2009-06-03 5:39 PM in reply to: #2191150 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: How Bike Friendly is Texas? triritter - 2009-06-03 6:24 AM Most of the encounters I have are while commuting in regular street clothes. Yesterday in the great Gun Barrel City, Texas some young punks (younger than I). Honked as the drove by missing me by inches then they turned off to wait until I went by again to get even closer and then turned right in front of me. I braked hard swerved to the drivers side and kicked the heck out of the tail gate. I may have put a dent in it. It felt softer than I thought it would. You need a CHL. I mean, you live in GUN BARREL... why not carry one? |
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