Bike Change « Bike Friendly Richardson

April 28, 2011 • 6:04 am 4

Oncor Transforms Rights-Of-Way In Richardson

Several folks have been sending us information about Oncor and their efforts to improve north Texas cities through the creation of hike and bike trails through their transmission rights-of-way. As reported through Pegasus News, the Oncor Texas Trails SM program will produce trails that “will help create pathways that will be integral parts of the communities Oncor serves.”

What does that mean for Richardson since we already have hike and bike trails on Oncor rights-of-way throughout town? Here’s a bit from the Oncor press release:

Oncor has engaged la terra studio, inc., a Dallas-based landscape architectural firm, to assist with developing the design templates for the Oncor Texas Trails projects. In addition, la terra studio will assist with work on the inaugural Oncor Texas Trails project, a hike and bike trail in Richardson. In the coming months, Oncor will work with the City of Richardson to design and complete the landscaping on a portion of Owen’s Trail, an existing trail on a section of Oncor’s transmission right-of-way. As part of the planning, Oncor will work with the City of Richardson to determine how Oncor employees will be able to volunteer their time to be part of this project.

“The Richardson Trail will be the first of many trails that Oncor and its employees will work on to help create a destination for our customers to gather with their friends and family, “said Jackson.

“Oncor has always been an important partner in our community, and its Oncor Texas Trails program will be a very welcome enhancement to our city and our trail system,” said Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel. “We have done a lot of work recently in partnering with local companies and volunteers to create the type of environmental improvements the Oncor Texas Trails program will bring, and we are especially excited to see these improvements focus on the highly used paths which many of our residents enjoy on a daily basis.”

Click here to read the entire press release.

On a personal level, this is great news for me since the Owen’s Trail runs through my neighborhood. I’m also hoping more folks will see these trails as destinations to gather – and not just pass through (and hopefully clean up after their dogs).

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, Bike Change, Richardson Trails, Owens Trail, Oncor, Pegasus News, Improvements

April 17, 2011 • 9:15 am 6

Trail Under Central – Serious Progress

Looks like the forms are up on the southern underpass (just south of Renner Road). It usually doesn’t take them long to pour the slab once it’s at this point. That doesn’t mean the trail will be open, yet. There is a bunch of finishing work that needs to be done before it will be open for riders. We’ll keep you posted.

I didn’t get a chance to check the northern underpass (just north of Renner Road) – but until the Renner Road underpass is complete, that section is far from useful.

Follow our coverage of this trail construction:

November 28, 2010
September 26, 2010
August 28, 2010
August 21, 2010
July 25, 2010
June 13, 2010
May 8, 2010
April 3, 2010
March 11, 2010
December 5, 2010
February 13, 2011
March 6, 2011
April 2, 2011

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, Bike Change, Spring Creek Trail, Trail Under Central Expressway, Richardson Bike Trails

April 9, 2011 • 9:07 am 0

Week of Cycling Chic Dallas – Starts Today

There’s a global bike movement (started in Copenhagen – I think) that’s making its way to DFW. I’m sure most of you have heard of or read about Cycle Chic which is the culture of cycling in fashionable clothes – style over speed. Dallas Cycle Chic has come to Dallas and is launching with a Week of Cycling Chic.

From their site:

Dust off your bike and join the revolution! Bikes all over the city! A whole week of ways for you to show your biking love in Dallas (and celebrate our newly updated Bicycle Master Plan!)

Represent your cycling style at our first ever Cyclist Census, see some great shots of biking in Dallas on display at Eno’s, come for happy hour at the Texas Theatre and see old classic “The Bicycle Thief”, vote for your favorite cyclist to be our Face of Biking in Dallas, race around town to win the Spring Poloride photo scavenger hunt, relax at Main Street Gardens watching “Peewee’s Big Adventure” on the lawn, then end the week learning to play Bike Polo and watching (or competing in!) the tournament.

It’s an action-packed week of bicycle love just for you, Dallas.

We’re glad this has started in DFW. Anything that brings in more cyclists to the area always makes us happy. Click here for event details and here for their Facebook page.

Filed under: Advocacy, Bicycle Events, Bike Change, Bike Friendly, Culture, Dallas, Dallas Cycle Chic, Fashion, Style

March 6, 2011 • 10:14 am 7

Trail Under Central Progress – West Side Ramp

View of the underpass from the west side

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve checked the progress on the trail passages under Central Expressway. The north underpass looks about the same, but I believe there has been progress on the actual west side trail heading to Alama (along the PGB Tollway). We’ll investigate that in a couple of weeks.

The south of Renner Road underpass has made some great progress. All of the heavy construction equipment is gone indicating that most of the structural work is complete. All that remains is actually building the path. The ramp on the west side of Central Expressway (next to the QMACS building) is mostly complete as well. Check out some pics that we took:

Ramp To The Under Central Trail - West Side

Start of the west side ramp

West side ramp leading to the underpass trail

View of the west side ramp - from the underpass

Follow our coverage of this trail construction:

November 28, 2010
September 26, 2010
August 28, 2010
August 21, 2010
July 25, 2010
June 13, 2010
May 8, 2010
April 3, 2010
March 11, 2010
December 5, 2010
February 13, 2011

Filed under: Bike Change, Bike Trails and Routes, City Stuff, Central Trail, New Trails, Spring Creek Trail, Trail Construction

February 3, 2011 • 7:24 am 1

Opening Soon! Switching Gears Cyclery

There’s a new bike shop coming to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It’s called Switching Gears Cyclery. If you’ve been on any of the 75208 or BFOC rides, you might have met local bike enthusiasts Colin Clark or Andee Pittman. Colin and Andee have decided to join the ranks of other great Dallas bike shops like Oak Cliff Bicycle Company and Transit Bikes and offer a more personalized bike shopping experience.

Their shop will be located in between Fallout Lounge & Amsterdam Bar in Expo Park across the street from Fair Park (just off the DART Green Line). To find out more about Switching Gears Cyclery and what they will be offering, jump over to their Facebook page and Like them. We can’t wait to visit the shop as soon as they are open.

Switching Gears Cyclery
833 Exposition Ave
Dallas, TX, 75226

Also, please remember to support your neighborhood bike shops and buy local. You might be able to save a few bucks online, but it will be at the cost of our city’s bike culture. As with all the DFW bike shops, we wish Switching Gears Cycley great success.

Filed under: BFR Misc, Bike Change, Local DFW Bike Shops, Switching Gears Cyclery

February 1, 2011 • 6:51 am 0

New Group Formed – Friends of White Rock Creek Trail

Image © Friends Of White Rock Creek Trail - please visit their site

Friend of BRF, Magnus, sent us a link to an article in Lake Highlands Today about the new Friends of White Rock Creek Trail group. From the article:

The purpose of FWRCT, of course, is to support the betterment of the White Rock Creek Trail.

Current President of the advocacy group Bike DFW, Marc Mumby, is leading the charge on forming the FWRCT organization.
Read more…

What does that mean for Richardson folks? If you aren’t already using the White Rock Creek Trail to access White Rock Lake (or other parts of Dallas) perhaps you will once the Cottonwood Creek Trail and the Central Trail are complete. Having an organization like Friends of White Rock Creek Trail will help keep the trail maintained, improved and upgraded for many years of continued use.

If you would like to become part of the group or help them out, perhaps you should try to make it to their first meeting on February 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Mariano’s Hacienda on Skillman Avenue in Lake Highlands.

Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Trails and Routes, Bike Change, BikeDFW, Lake Highlands Today, Friends of White Rock Creek Trail

January 19, 2011 • 6:47 am 1

2011 Dallas Bike Plan – Final Public Meeting – January 20

The City of Dallas and the North Central Texas Council of Governments invites you to attend the Final Public Meeting for the 2011 DALLAS BIKE PLAN on Thursday January 20, 5-8 pm at Dallas City Hall Flag Room (6E North). For more information, or to review draft plan and maps following the public meeting go here.

Filed under: Advocacy, Bike Change, City Stuff, Dallas, Dallas Bike Plan

December 12, 2010 • 8:16 pm 2

Central Trail South Public Input Meeting

BFR friend Magnus, sent us a reminder about the City of Richardson’s Central Trail South Public Meeting. Here are the details:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The City of Richardson
Parks & Recreation Department

CENTRAL TRAIL SOUTH PUBLIC INPUT MEETING

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Richardson Civic Center / City Hall
Richardson Room
411 W. Arapaho Rd., Richardson, TX 75080

The meeting will provide public input for the design and construction of the south Central Trail project. DART right-of-way from Arapaho Road to Buckingham Road.

Download the notice. We hope to make it out there and hope you can too.

Filed under: Bike Change, City Stuff, Central Trail South, City Of Richardson, DART, Public Meeting

December 4, 2010 • 11:54 am 8

New Bike Lanes – North Collins

New Bike Lane On North Collins

These projects are in the Richardson Bike Plan, but you never know when they’ll pop up. It’s always a nice surprise when you take a turn onto a road, only to discover that it’s been turned into a bike lane. North Collins Boulevard is the newest part of a more bike friendly Richardson.

North Collins Bike Lane - Renner Entrance

Entrance From The Renner Road Trail

Rider Taking Advantage Of The New Lane

Unfortunately, it doesn’t go very far. Running from the north end of Collins, at Renner Road, the lane goes south until you pass Palisades Creek Drive. From there, it ends and and you get a “Share The Road” sign. According to the Richardson Bike Plan, it is supposed to continue all the way to Campbell Road. We’re not sure why it ends short of that goal or if there are plans to complete it.

Bike Lane Ends

Share The Road From Here

Click here to see a map of completed Richardson bike lanes.

In our opinion, the entire length of Collins Road needs to go on a diet. We wouldn’t mind seeing either bike lanes or sharrows all the way to Garland, on the far east side of Richardson. The Richardson Bike Plan has this route (just south of Campbell Road, all the way to Jupiter Road, where Garland begins) marked as a “signed route”. Although the signs will be nice, we feel that there is missed opportunity to create a more centralized, bike friendly route through the entire length of town, from the east end all the way to the west side (via Melrose Drive).

UPDATE: Video on Suburban Assault.

Filed under: City Stuff, Bike Trails and Routes, Bike Change, Bike Friendly, Richardson, Texas, Bike Lane, Collins Road

September 12, 2010 • 7:36 am 1