Junkbeast

Reading tim24k's post about bike friendly towns in TX, I need the same help but specifically for the DFW Metro area.

I'm considering a move to TX; in fact I just returned to MI from a visit at DFW ATCT. I spent 2 days and over 300 miles driving around to all of the suburbs looking for places we might like to live. Maybe I just went to the wrong roads but it didn't seem like a lot of good road biking with all the traffic. I feel like there was a lot of sidewalk available but that's not really ideal; I didn't see a lot of bike lanes (at least on the roads I explored). I need about no more than approximately a 30-45 minute drive to work (we work shifts that mostly avoid rush hours so just regular 30-45 minute drives in non-rush hours). I couldn't believe how built up some of the far out rural areas are though, the growth is a bit worrisome.

There were some Flower Mound (there is a school we're really interested in, in FM) and Argyle spots that seemed nice to live but I'm not sure of the biking. I'm on the south side of Lansing, MI now and can be on straight up rural farm roads within a few miles now, with little traffic and 1-2 mile stretches in between intersection stop signs. I know it won't be the same but I want to be able to just go, get up to speed, and go without a bunch of stop and go. Any ideas?

texbiker

I live in Houston so I don't ride in DFW but this website might help you https://www.bikedfw.org/dfw-area-bike-trails.html

Junkbeast

Thanks for the link. Some of the links on that page are dead but it helps get some ideas.

I've been looking at Flower Mound and it seems there are some okay roads and some paths in the parks around Lake Grapevine. Those mostly seem to be MTB trails though, is this correct?

dynawolf

DFW does 'sprawl' well. It is a land of SUVs and distracted drivers. However, there is a big bike culture here. I grew up here and have been riding for years, but it is a bit east of where you are looking. I like White Rock Lake as the cars expect to see riders on the road. There are multiple group rides.

Check out:
Plano Bicycle Association: https://www.planobicycle.org/
Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association dorba.org
Richardson BikeMart: https://www.bikemart.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/criticalmassdallas/

Good Luck!

StephenH

You can ride all over- but surprisingly, the roads you drive on the most, are not the roads you want to ride on.
PBA has rides up in Plano. Not necessarily better or worse place to ride than elsewhere, just more riders.
Greater Dallas Bicyclists has various rides scattered around. The one I've done the most starts at Poteet High School in Mesquite and goes out into Sunnyvale.
Fort Worth Bicycling Association seems to be good about having more rides out in the country, where you drive out to the ride start. Generally on the west side, of course.
There's also a Lone Star Cycling club down in Grand Prairie or Arlington, and a club up in Frisco, a bike shop ride in Rowlett- but I don't know much about any of them.
I do a lot of randonneuring on weekends, and that usually involves driving 30-60 miles to a ride start.
I'd say pick your spot based on your commute, house prices, schools, etc., then work out the cycling to fit.
If you're commuting on an odd schedule, you may be able to ride on an odd schedule, and that would help. One issue the rest of us have is coming home from work and trying to ride, but rush hour is still going on.

Classtime 

I'm from L.A. But visit family here in Red Oak and Waxahatchie once a year and usually borrow a bike. I usually ride from R.O. to Waxahatchie on the back roads or 77 which has a wide shoulder. This year I drove and brought my road bike. I'm having a blast exploring. There are innumerable routes to wherever you want to go. Drivers have been willing to share the road for the most part. This is Covid Times so likely not the same experience as 5 months ago. I've got 23s on my bike and will bring 28s on my next drive to North TX.

tcs

Population of Lansing, Michigan: ~120,000
Population of DFW Metroplex: >7,500,000

Not sure where you need to drive to work, but obviously the rural outskirts of the Metroplex are going to be a lot further from city center.

That said, Texas has around 50,000 miles of highways (interstates, toll roads, state highways of various designations) and another some odd 200,000 miles of county roads. You can ride 12 months a year - although perhaps not every day in the winter and in the summer you'll most likely wind up crepuscular.

curbtender

You looking to commute into Dallas or leisure ride? With the urban sprawl there are a lot of side roads available.

pepperbelly

A lot of the local lakes have riding trails, as do many of the cities. NRH has a well maintained trail.