Austin's Famous Bike Transportation Corridor closes nightly at 10pm!

[austin-steve]

I run early morning (5:30AM) in the dark around Town Lake once or twice a week. It's basically deserted except for other hard core runners. Some wear head lamps, but I don't, as I can see "good enough" to maintain my footing and not run into someone approaching.

I rarely, as in hardly ever, not even once that I can remember, see cyclists on the Town Lake trail in the dark. On Sunday mornings after sunup is when you'll see the most, but those are generally recreational riders. Also you see some errant tourists on those rent-a-bikes. If we asked cyclists why they stay off the trail, they'll probably say it's not good for riding, especially in the dark, and that there are plenty of better options on roads where they don't have to dodge walkers, joggers and baby strollers.

There is no pointA to PointB bicycle trip in Austin during low traffic late night or early morning that requires getting on the Town Lake dirt trail, so I'm not sure what the point is of this thread.

Steve

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

There is no pointA to PointB bicycle trip in Austin during low traffic late night or early morning that requires getting on the Town Lake dirt trail, so I'm not sure what the point is of this thread.

Steve

Four and a half years ago, someone was pretty worked up about it, I reckon.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

Four and a half years ago, someone was pretty worked up about it, I reckon.

Ha! I didn't even realized it was a re-thread.

[noellestar]

I use the trail constantly to get from East Riverside to the Barton Springs area and Downtown.

[LiveUrban]

Originally Posted by noellestar

I use the trail constantly to get from East Riverside to the Barton Springs area and Downtown.

Same. I use the Boardwalk and Town Lake trail for bike transportation needs quite often though not after hours. I would use the trails if I wasn't afraid of being ticketed. I have a very bright head lamp and bike light that illuminates everything in front of me so lighting is not an issue when riding the trails at night

[verybadgnome]

Every few months or so I use the trail after its official closing with my front and rear lights going. Not a big deal. It's faster than surface streets with stop signs and traffic lights and under-the-influence motorist rarely run over trail users.

On a side note does anyone know if the boardwalk lights up at night?

[Rock Climber]

This is interesting to me, as a former Austin resident. The trails here in Fayetteville are mostly all LED lit and the lights stay on at least til midnight. I know here people complain that they aren't all lit until 3 am (after the bars close). I'm thinking at least the main spines of the network here might be lit until 2. They certainly aren't ever "closed".