But I never see any other cyclists out there. Is it b/c of the high speed traffic?

Are there other routes north of 380 that are good that I'm not aware of?

Do you ride on the shoulder or in a lane? Please don't say a lane.

I used to ride from Richardson to Sherman right up 75 on the service road but the 380 construction has jacked up the route there by the service roads, is all that cleaned up now?

From what I can tell cycling in Dallas is a lot like playing Russian Roulette.... quote]

I actually thought about this as being the reason why not many cyclists go on 380. Although 380 being no different than Austin's 360/620, the drivers here are not as use to or tolerant of the cycling community. I appreciate your reasoning w/ doing Triathlon to enjoy life thus not wanting to get hit by a driver going 70, but I've actually had more close calls cycling on the 2 or 3 lane suburban streets in Frisco, Mckinney, Plano than on any wide shouldered highway.

I would bike to work if Dallas were actually bicycle friendly as they like to claim. Speeder friendly, check. Texting and driving friendly, check. Illegal lane changes and driving like an asshat all day long friendly, check..... Bicycle friendly, yah right....

Living north of DFW airport things are fine here. Almost the opposite problems, too many bikers on the weekends. Anywhere north west of Flowermound/ argyle etc. is great for biking. Just gets annoying with large packs of riders taking up the whole roads on the weekends ...

I am doing triathlon to improve my quality of life. I don't think getting hit by someone texting and driving at 70+ is going to improve it. From what I can tell cycling in Dallas is a lot like playing Russian Roulette.... at some point something really bad will happen. Of course, I got hit by a drunk driver while riding a motorcycle in Dallas, so my opinion is heavily skewed.

That said does anyone know any safe long ride routes on the south side of Dallas, preferably out in the country a bit. I would bike to work if Dallas were actually bicycle friendly as they like to claim. Speeder friendly, check. Texting and driving friendly, check. Illegal lane changes and driving like an asshat all day long friendly, check..... Bicycle friendly, yah right....[/quote

DFW sucks to ride. I don't recall having heard anyone say that it's bike friendly- EVER.

As a Texan, I declare that nowhere in TX is bike friendly (lived everywhere from the Eastern to the Western border, sans El Paso). I surrendered my "Share the Road" vehicle license plates this summer b/c in this state paying to broadcast a PSA is pointless. Most Texans are inane and incorrigible about their driving habits.

When I lived in CA I didn't need a vehicle, but in TX it's almost an absolute necessity.

Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen have become good cities to cycle in, but yes, Dallas proper (can't comment on FTW) SUCKS. I live at Frankford and the tollway and if I'm going cycling in the city of Dallas, it's leaving my house taking back roads to Whiterock Creek Trail, and taking that to Whiterock Lake (Loop it X numbers time depending on desired miles). After doing that millions times, it's quit a boring ride now.

Oh man. You're at an awful awful intersection.

I actually live in a neighborhood by that intersection. I take Voss down by the Addition airport and backroads to the Trail. I think that's what you meant by bad intersection.

Voss is a great way to avoid Midway. I used to live right over there & I used it frequently. Here's how I got down to White Rock Trail from there, other than some stop signs it's pretty easy.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5535139

To the OP: I'd never go on 380 alone. I'll ride up & cross 380 where DNT ends, but only to get onto the parkway & head up to Celina. There are more cyclists using that road for mileage than 380.

That's exacty the way I get to the Trail. I'm actually in the neighborhood right at the 1 mile marker.

So going past 380 on the parkway given that's it narrows to 2 lanes doesn't create a dangerous situation (or just as dangerous as 380)? If not, I'm all about headed up that way. I've always wondered if there was good cycling areas continuing on the parkway.