Traffic free cycling trails in Austin?

Good opportunities for low traffic roads NE of Pflugerville.  Don't know anything down your way though...sorry.

THe closest thing I can think of would be the cycling trail down by Cesar Chavez near Town lake, I don't have any idea how long it is tho, but it is a dedicated bike trail.

If you're okay with a slight amount of traffic there's a perfect road up north by Shoal Creek called "Great Northern Blvd" just search that on Google and you'll be able to find it. It's a nice 1.5 mile long stretch with very generous bike lanes and you'll usually pass more cyclists than cars. You can even make it a loop onto Shoal Creek which also has huge shoulders that are dedicated bike lanes. The loop comes in at just around 3.1miles.

There's also the Veloway...Zero cars.

+1 on the veloway for a newbie.  It is a 3mi paved loop dedicated to bikes/rollerbladers only.  It is down by the Johnson wildflower center (mopac/lacrosse).  You can do a few laps and then if your friend is brave enough venture out onto the wide shoulders of Hwy 45 for an 8mi loop

+2 on Veloway; also Shoal Creek from Anderson Lane down to 35th on a Saturday morning generally has lighter traffic;  Balcones drive south of 2222 would be similar, but very hilly. 

I am sure you are just asking in general, but take note the ROT rally is this weekend and there will be a few hundred thousand bikers in and around the area.

Another vote for both Great Northern and the veloway.  The veloway is a great place to teach bike handling skills as there are many turns on the course. 

Great Northern would be a good place to get someone comfortable with riding on the street.  The Shoal Creek loop has wide bike lanes and there is little traffic.  The traffic that does travel on these roads is typically accustomed to seeing cyclists as this is a popular route for cyclists.

Oh crap I'd forgotten about that!  More reason to get your ride in EARLY!

Edited by Tyrell 2010-06-03 8:41 AM

Thanks everyone!

Rot Rally is next weekend, Danskin is this weekend, which I will be attending.


The roads out by Decker Lake seem somewhat less trafficky...you can get a pretty good long ride out there...or towards Manor....

I have been using the bike lanes near Anderson Mill, it still has vehicles but morning traffic is not nearly that bad.  Parmer out towards 1431 is less used thoroughfare.

Glad ROT is this coming weekend - I'm headed to Houston!  It always seems to work out so I leave town for something or other when all the bikes roll into Austin.

I rode on the Veloway for the first time today.  I know, I've been in Austin for 6+ years and have never been....sad.  Anyway, I discovered quickly that there are some TIGHT turns out there!  Nothing like going from cruising along in aero position to "backing it in" on a hard left turn!  Anyway, I got in a good couple laps before heading back to work.  I was on my lunch break after all! 

This past weekend was the gay pride parade and this coming weekend is ROT rally.