The way points of this bicycle route:
Start on the south side of the Bike/Ped bridge under MoPac. (Parking might not be available, it might be available for a fee, or, as usual, it might be free.)
Head northeast, across the bike/ped bridge under MoPac. Be alert to the many pedestrians, joggers, strollers, dogs, and leashes.
Don't worry that the underlying map shows MoPac, as this bike path crosses the river on the bike/ped bridge underneath MoPac.
Stop before entering the roadway, then LT on Veterans Dr. ("LT" means "Left Turn" on this cue sheet.)
BE ALERT to the possibility that a parked motor vehicle driver or passenger might suddenly open a door in the bike path without looking.
LT on Lake Austin Blvd
To visit Deep Eddy pool, LT here onto Deep Eddy Ave
RT onto Exposition Blvd ("RT" means "Right Turn" on this cue sheet.)
Straight across Windsor Rd
RT on Westover Rd
LT on Jefferson St
RT on W 34th St
LT off the roadway and onto the Shoal Creek Hike/Bike Trail. This short portion is paved and is fine for skinny tires. (The other direction requires fatter tires and has some small-gravel sections, but it's a motor-vehicle-free path all the way back to the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail.)
LT on Shoal Creek Blvd.
LT on Hancock Dr
LT on Balcones Dr (There's a donut/coffee shop at this intersection.)
RT on Perry Dr (or go straight ahead for a couple of steep but short rollers)
LT on Crestway Dr
LT onto Mt. Barker Dr.
LT stay on Mt. Barker Dr.
RT Balcones Dr.
RT on Mt. Bonnell Dr
LT on Mt Bonnell Rd, but first take a look right at the view of Lake Austin and Pennybacker Bridge (Loop 360).
Lock your bikes here or carry them up the steps to the highest point in (central?) Austin. Spot the Pennybacker Bridge (Loop 360) to the north.
Lock your bike or carry it up these steps for a view from the top of Mt. Bonnell.
SLOW going downhill here, in preparation for the hook left at the bottom of this steep hill. If you go slowly enough, you can look left at the skyline.
Competitive athletes do "Hill Repeats" here: short laps in a loop that includes this uphill climb.
RT on Old Bull Creek Rd
U turn; Laguna Gloria Art Museum/Park is on the left
RT on W 35th St
RT on Pecos St
RT on Scenic Dr
RT on Scenic Dr
CAUTION! KEEP RIGHT here, as opposing traffic might cross the yellow line coming around this blind turn.
LT on Stevenson Ave
LT on Rockmoor Ave
RT on Windsor Rd
Straight across Exposition Blvd (We passed here earlier, northbound.)
RT onto Forest Trail
Merge along Woodmont Ave for a few feet, then and bear right to remain on Forest Trail
STAY on Forest Trail, bearing right
LT onto Enfield. The motor traffic wants to go faster here, so wait here and pull in behind traffic stopped at the light at Winsted.
RT onto Hartford Rd
LT onto Palma Plaza
STRAIGHT on W 14th St
RT onto Westlynn St
LT onto W 12th St
EASY DOES IT. There's a down hill ahead with a traffic light at the bottom.
Straight across N Lamar Blvd.
LT onto Rio Grande St.
Cross MLK here with a bit of a curve left, then right through the traffic-light controlled intersection.
RT on W 21st St.
NOTICE: It is illegal to ride on the sidewalks adjacent to or on the UT campus.
DISMOUNT and cross the street to take in the view of the Littlefield Fountain and the UT library tower. (Risk a fine if you ride on the sidewalks on campus.)
RT onto San Jacinto Blvd
The Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has an official capacity of about 95,000.
RT onto E 18th St
Here is the Bob Bullock State History Museum
LT onto Congress
The traffic barriers are for motor vehicles. Give the guard a friendly nod and a smile.
On the right is the famous (infamous?) Ten Commandments stone, which courts ruled permissible on state land as artwork.
I like the cowboy statue to the right.
Straight across to Congress Ave.
NOTICE: It is illegal to ride on the sidewalks along Congress Ave and for a few blocks east and west.
DANGER! There is a slit gap on the right side of the road here that is dangerous for bicycles.
BE ALERT to traffic from Cesar Chavez on the right merging into the right-hand lane.
700,000 bats nest under this bridge starting in late spring. 1.4 million leave in early aummer. All emerge summer nights at dusk.
Note the bat sculpture on the right.
There is a fun choreographed water fountain here, next to restrooms and drinking fountains.
A bike lane starts here.
Merge out of the bike lane here, as it ends before the traffic light at Robert E Lee Rd.
Again, don't bother with the bike lane, as we're merging left for a left turn.
LT into Zilker Park, towards Barton Springs Pool
Bear Left along William Barton. On busy weekends, give the parking fee collector a friendly smile as you pass.
Have a look at a year-round spring fed swimming pool, that's about 68°F in mid-winter, and 72°F in the mid-summer.
Bear Right, up the steep but very short hill.
RT on Andrew Zilker Rd
LT exiting the park onto Barton Springs Rd. Prepare for an immediate right turn.
RT onto Stratford Dr
Exit the road to return to the start.
Back where we started.
Welcome to Bikely, take a step by step tour of this path:
Press Start Tour - then use the navigation buttons below to move along the path.
A complete description is at http://blog.danielnorton.com/2008/12/central-austin-sightseeing-bike-tour.html
Tagged with: Recreational, Onroad, Smooth, Basic, Intermediate, Urban, Scenic
