Commuting in Waco

[joraff]

I'm on a big bicycle commuting kick right now, having ridden to work 30 straight days. I've also ridden to local places like the grocery store, teriyaki park, and as far as the shop (from the Baylor area). And I am LOVING it!

However, I want to go further.. If you commute here in town, post up your routes, your bikes, your tips! Ideally I'd like this thread to be a big resource of commuting info relevant to Waco/Hewitt/Robinson/etc. and possibly a hub for organizing some kind of efforts with the city to raise awareness of cycling as a healthy, alternative mode of transportation. We all know that right now not much thought has been given to cyclists in planning and construction, but that's likely because no one has spoken up nor are there many commuters! Imagine how nice a path or bike lane from richland mall area to downtown would be!

mapmyride.com (http://mapmyride.com) lets you create and share routes if you have an account, but most of the routes on that site right now were created with the intention of getting out of town, and not into it. Google maps (http://maps.google.com) also lets you create a route and share it, and has the easiest interface in my opinion.

[monogod]

tip number one... ride defensively, assuming every car is out to get you.

tip number two... THEY ARE!

tip number three... stay off any street with more than one lane in each direction if at all possible.

[bigkfisk]

It's not actually an in-town commute, but here's a link:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5341232.

The first six miles are a little spooky and the North River Crossing bridge is potentially disasterous! It's also dark at that time! The following morning, I usually take it easy on the way home.

[Crawfordkid60]

Crossing that bridge scares the crap out of me. I take a left on Eichelberger, right on Baylor Camp, and either right on 10 Downing or straight to China Spring Highway. It only adds a couple of miles and it's a scenic ride.

[joraff]

Pretty good little elevation change on that route, bigkfisk.

Here's (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106855041024284007642.0004494a0d4894f11c067&t=h&z=13) a route that I tried the other day from Baylor area to my wife's workplace in Hewitt. It was pretty nice except the mile or so on Bagby from New Road to Hwy 6. F'ing crazy shoppers and soccer moms on their cell phones. New Road itself wasn't so bad b/c it has a shoulder... just watch out for semi's around the Flying J.

I'm still trying to think of a better way to that particular destination.. Most other ways add several miles.

[Wumpus]

Pretty good little elevation change on that route, bigkfisk.

Here's (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106855041024284007642.0004494a0d4894f11c067&t=h&z=13) a route that I tried the other day from Baylor area to my wife's workplace in Hewitt. It was pretty nice except the mile or so on Bagby from New Road to Hwy 6. F'ing crazy shoppers and soccer moms on their cell phones. New Road itself wasn't so bad b/c it has a shoulder... just watch out for semi's around the Flying J.

I'm still trying to think of a better way to that particular destination.. Most other ways add several miles.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=115249943662841441055.00044ba4df0785cb7f80d

This is a cross of my old commute to work(I worked at the nursery on 12th street) and my ride out to Woodway, though I cross Valley Mills by the Genie Carwash.

[joraff]

Total distance is shorter, and I wouldn't mind crossing valley mills once in a while. If I remember right, Sanger is generally low traffic, and probably gets quieter past valley mills.

That's almost the exact route I take out to the shop (I take austin instead of columbus), but I never really thought about continuing that way to hewitt. I'll have to try it. Thanks for the route!

[Wumpus]

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=115249943662841441055.00044ba4df0785cb7f80d

This is a cross of my old commute to work(I worked at the nursery on 12th street) and my ride out to Woodway, though I cross Valley Mills by the Genie Carwash.

I don't ride Sanger between New Road and the Sanger overpass, but that is just me and Tennyson is a quiet, wide street for the most part.

[Wumpus]

Well, I blew that quote.:endo:


Columbus is nice -- very few stoplights(12th??? and 17th&18th) and light traffic compared to Austin.

[bui]

Any big city buses on Columbus? I've had some issues with getting brushed by the Waco Transit on Austin (out towards the neighborhoods)...and I'm already riding in the crap that is cutting my tires to shreds.

[Wumpus]

Any big city buses on Columbus? I've had some issues with getting brushed by the Waco Transit on Austin (out towards the neighborhoods)...and I'm already riding in the crap that is cutting my tires to shreds.

I haven't encountered any that I can remember. If you follow the route I posted, you only have to be on Austin for a block.

[joraff]

So I found a VERY nice pedestrian lane on the south side of the valley mills bridge over the railroad tracks. However.... there are no connecting sidewalks :confused:

Anyway, I found it trying to piece together a backroads way to Cheddars, after riding alongside the railroad tracks looking for an opening in the brush that I could walk across. I reach the end of that road without any luck and looked up to the bridge on valley mills, and saw that ped lane - score!

By the way, what I mean by ped lane is a concrete barrier on either side of you.. not just a shoulder or sidewalk exposed to traffic.

Seems a waste to have such a lane without sidewalks, but w/e.. I'm still going to use it.

[bigkfisk]

Crossing that bridge scares the crap out of me. I take a left on Eichelberger, right on Baylor Camp, and either right on 10 Downing or straight to China Spring Highway. It only adds a couple of miles and it's a scenic ride.

There aren't many scenic routes at 5:30A.M. I will take that route home at times, but I rationalize staying on 185 (and consequently-the bridge) in the dark hoping that motorists will see the lights from a ways back instead of as they round a corner half asleep. I averaged 20 mph coming this morning with a little tailwind.

[joraff]

found another nice pedestrian lane without any connecting sidewalks, this time on the New Road bridge over the tracks.

Whats the deal with our civil engineers?! Do they get some sort of dark enjoyment out of making it so difficult to cross those railroad tracks?

[bui]

Informal poll:

To those who commute, do you prefer the relaxed geometry of a mountain bike, or does a road bike feel more natural? I'm a juncture where I might sell my current "commuter", a mtb, and buy an old road bike to beat around on.

[Wumpus]

When I commuted all the time, I liked the speed of the road bike. Plus back then I felt it was less likely to get stolen than my mountain bike.

[joraff]

I didn't have many options... I only had one spare frame to put together my commuter, and it happened to be a mountain bike.

With the slicks on (1.3's), I feel it's plenty fast and the sloping top tube and tall stem I have makes the geometry pretty relaxed and comfortable. I don't quite have the geo right, though.. I have a tendency to lean too hard on the bars. Suggestions from any fit experts?

I ditched the singlulator for a 1x9 deore/road cassette setup. If/when I switch the mtb to a 1x9, I might lace my eno to a 26" for this bike and turn it into a fixed. I'll need to get shorter cranks and pedals, or a taller fork... something to raise that bb height.. I keep flipping hitting the ground pedaling through turns.

[newtothis]

I am considering trying to commute to work via bike. Live in Hewitt/Lorena area near Spring Valley and Old Lorena Rd. Anyone have suggestions about safest routes? I have ruled out I-already...

[joraff]

Where is your destination? I've stumbled upon a few decent roadways that lead to that area

[newtothis]

It would help if I included that huh? I work at 6th and Clay, which is a couple of blocks east of downtown.

[joraff]

I assume you're talking about the VA offices, I could be wrong.

I live around the baylor area and don't mind taking Clay as far as it goes. It's kinda dirty on the "shoulders" and you get weird looks from the locals, but it hasn't given me any problems yet.

Here's a potential route. I'll let you figure the route from your house to bagby, aka old temple road: linky (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.519142,-97.144032&spn=0.067973,0.128489&z=14&msid=106855041024284007642.00044e24c5615fac404b4&mid=1211820417)

[newtothis]

Thanks for the route- I checked out a few days ago (in the car). You had some very good ideas, especially how to get across HWY 6 and Valley Mills- unfortunately, Beverly Dr. by the VA hospital is narrow, concrete, and lined with 18-wheelers (industrial area), so I am going to try some other possibilities. this is not a bike or pedestrian friendly town. Maybe when gas gets to $12 a gallon folks will wake up. Thanks for the help.

P.S. Too bad can't use RR tracks, Southern Pacific route would be a straight shot, and a lot less dangerous than the streets Hmmm

[joraff]

I've been lucky not to hit any semis or much traffic on that stretch of Beverly, but I know exactly what you mean. There is some serious industry there, and the road could be less... pot-holy (:confused:)??

That railroad is indeed the optimal route through waco to almost anywhere that you'd ever need to go. Too bad that's very much a "live" rail, so there's no hope for a rails to trails program there.

There are a lot of places in Waco that are heavily congested and I wouldn't mind riding sidewalks.... if there were sidewalks. This town is not only bike-unfriendly, but even pedestrian unfriendly. However, I dont think that will ever change, even if gas prices do get to $12/gal. Scooters, mopeds, motorcyles possibly (I absolutely love riding my 1984 suzuki scooter), but America is all about making hard things easy and comfortable, and riding a bike 10 miles in 100 degree heat on your way home doesn't quite fit that mentality. Physical exertion is just something America doesn't like, and that's why we buy a riding lawn mower for our 1/16 acre front yard instead of that puny push mower that was 1/20th the cost...


# umount -f soapbox

[newtothis]

Agree with you totally. Seems to be some sort of conspiracy to keep us in cars. I am in Phoenix right now on vacation. Phoenix was SUV heaven when I moved away from here 8 years ago. Now, I am seeing a lot more scooters, bikes, and tiny cars. It would still be an incredibly dangerous place to bike, except for Tempe, where the city leaders had some foresight and created bike paths all over. Bought a newspaper today, and the used SUV ads take up almost an entire page. I think things will change, Waco and smaller cities in the heartland will resist as long as they can.

[Crawfordkid60]

I've started commuting, by bke, to work this week and hope to do it at least two or three times a week. I'm getting a little flack from my wife about getting home late every night , so I have to limit it. The shortest route I feel relatively safe on is 23 miles one way. I live in North Bosque Estates, just past Baylor Camp rd, on HWY 6 and work on LaSalle near the Circle. I leave the house at 6:00 and am at work at about 7:30 leaving me enough time to get cleaned up. The route I take is through Baylor Camp rd to China Spring Hwy, China Spring Hwy to Steinbeck Bend/Lake Brazos Dr, cross the river, down University Parks to LaSalle. The mornings have been really pleasant. Cool, with light traffic. On the way home, I take a slightly different route, Rock Creek rd through Bosquiville and more back roads. I've enjoyed it, so far. I've calculated that if I do this 3 times/week it would save me about $100 a month with near $4.00 gas.

[bigkfisk]

The route I take is through Baylor Camp rd to China Spring Hwy.


Perhaps I will see you one morning. I typically take Flat Rock to yankee, to 185, when I head home. What time do you typically go by Flat Rock? Perhaps if I have nothing going one morning I'll ride to work with you and then head home. The ride home this morning was absolutely brutal!

Kevin

[Wumpus]

Maybe y'all should consider forwarding suggestion to Larry Groth at the City Manager's Office (http://www.waco-texas.com/city_depts/cmoffice/cmoffice.htm). I had good luck getting some crosswalks and more signage at the kiddo's school, and it was fast -- about a week from my initial e-mail. Of course, sidewalks and bike lanes are going to take a bit longer.

[joraff]

If I thought the locations where I'd like improvement would be used by anyone other than myself, then that would be a great idea. However, I'm the only other person I've ever seen on those bridges.

If that railroad was ever decommissioned , I would be all over getting it paved! Is it illegal to ride next to the rails?

[Wumpus]

If I thought the locations where I'd like improvement would be used by anyone other than myself, then that would be a great idea. However, I'm the only other person I've ever seen on those bridges.

If that railroad was ever decommissioned , I would be all over getting it paved! Is it illegal to ride next to the rails?

The reason no one rides them is they are scary to get to. I do my road riding mostly north of Waco because there really isn't a good(easy) way across the tracks.

[loco]

<snip>

If that railroad was ever decommissioned , I would be all over getting it paved! Is it illegal to ride next to the rails?

I don't know who owns it, but BNSF here will hand you your hat for being on their property.

[joraff]

BNSF here will hand you your ha

How kind of them! It's been so windy here lately that I'm sure if I wore a hat it would blow off all the time.

[newtothis]

Joraff, how to cross Valley Mills from Beverly? or any other good places to cross? I did not understand the map at that point about crossing through parking lot of Katie's.

I did try this route in the middle of the day last week, but crossed Valley Mills at Memorial/Dutton, which was a little frightening. Otherwise is a great route, and I made 13.6 miles in just over an hour riding at a relaxed pace. That is about the same time as my old commute in Phoenix, driving 21 miles!

It is good to know I could actually ride to work if I had to. Too hot right now unless they put in showers at the office.

[joraff]

Memorial/Dutton is scary because the light is so short. I had to push my out-of-gas moped back to that Valero one night :eek: ... If you feel compelled to avoid traffic you could trot down to the railroad bridge at the bottom of the hill and make your way under that on foot - I don't think you have to go on the railroad's property there, but I could be wrong.

The way I described it on the map was to (coming from the south) cut over left (west) into the neighborhoods just before you get to valley mills, on something like Columbia. That takes you to the road that backs up to the railroad (Sherry/Industrial) which comes out on valley mills directly across from Katie's. There's a cutout in the median there - just BEFORE the light/turn lane at Clay - that gives you a straight shot at Katie's and a little curb protection from traffic since no one really turns there that I've seen. Make a little more sense?

I'm in Temple right now, and am paying close attention to all this new construction they're doing... so far there are sidewalks with ramps on about 80% of it, including the new bridges over I35. However, that 80% that doesnt have sidewalks already has new grass planted right up to the curb with a sprinkler system. Soo close...

[Wumpus]

Joraff, how to cross Valley Mills from Beverly? or any other good places to cross? I did not understand the map at that point about crossing through parking lot of Katie's.

I did try this route in the middle of the day last week, but crossed Valley Mills at Memorial/Dutton, which was a little frightening. Otherwise is a great route, and I made 13.6 miles in just over an hour riding at a relaxed pace. That is about the same time as my old commute in Phoenix, driving 21 miles!

It is good to know I could actually ride to work if I had to. Too hot right now unless they put in showers at the office.

What about the pedestrian bridge on Bagby by University High School? Or Speight?

[Wumpus]

sidewalks with ramps...



Not sure if Waco is going to continue, but they did go thru a little sidewalk building spree a few years ago...they added sidewalks all the way around the Coliseum and some other areas...A long way to go...like down Valley Mills/New Road/Waco Drive area.