My family is considering relocating to Dallas for work, and I am largely unfamiliar with the area. We have been advised by several friends that the northwest corridor would be a good place to start looking, from say Plano/Allen/Frisco to Colleyville/Keller/Grapevine or anywhere in between. On other threads, I have heard Dallas called one of the worst cities in the country (world even) for cyclists. Can anyone familiar with the area suggest good family-friendly suburbs or developments with nice parks, trails, and safe cycling routes?
I live in Dallas (Dallas proper, not the suburbs you mentioned). There are plenty of places to train, White Rock Lake being the most popular.
Dallas is a dangerous, but not impossible place to ride. It isnt a cyclist commuter friendly city, largely a product of how spread out we are, and as a result most motorist simply don’t have much experience with cyclists.
http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/cyclist-riding-along-north-dallas-parkway-service-road-run-down-by-infuriated-motorist.html/
Sadly stories like this are pretty common.
That being said Dalls-Fort Worth is a great place to live and work.
Depends on where you move…White rock is a nice protected 10 mile loop in the center of Dallas. Richardson Bike Mart and the Tri Shop have some nice group rides on Sat/Sun in areas that aren’t too bad. Having moved from San Diego, it isn’t that type of culture but you can manage. You are going to want to get a trainer though for your weekday training sessions.
North of Grapevine lake up towards Denton is some great riding. Check out MadDucks cycling, Bicycles plus Flower Mound, BlueBonnet bikes.
I have a trainer, but prefer getting road rides in whenever possible. I also have the luxury of doing my rides in the middle of the day to avoid rush hour. Anything closer to DFW airport?
North of Grapevine lake up towards Denton is some great riding. Check out MadDucks cycling, Bicycles plus Flower Mound, BlueBonnet bikes.
This. 100%. Both road and trail options. .
I have a trainer, but prefer getting road rides in whenever possible. I also have the luxury of doing my rides in the middle of the day to avoid rush hour. Anything closer to DFW airport?
You can get to the “loop” and mountain bike trails at Grapevine Lake from Southlake/Grapevine/Keller/Flower Mound/Argyle. Just depends on where your job is located. Mad Duck / Lifetime / Bike Plus all have group rides. The “loop” is a well traveled bike route between 40-60 miles (depending on a few turns) and goes through Flower Mound/Double Oak/Bartonville/Copper Canyon/Argyle/Ponder/Sanger.
If you are near the airport, check out the Airport service roads. Many have wide shoulders ( depending on construction ) and not too much traffic. On the weekends and before/after rush hour it is definitely pretty empty. You may also want to check out Carrolton cycling club which rides around that area and Los Colinas
North of Grapevine lake up towards Denton is some great riding. Check out MadDucks cycling, Bicycles plus Flower Mound, BlueBonnet bikes.
This. 100%. Both road and trail options. .
Flower Mound, Double Oak, Copper Canyon, Highland Village?
Work would be at DFW airport, and I wouldn’t be going there more than once or twice a week. I would prefer to be able to access the roads right from the house without having to transport my bike to ride.
I live in Allen and can tell that north of Dallas is the place you want to live if you are not working down town. That commute can add 1.5-2hrs to your day. The city of Dallas is run very poorly and has terrible schools. North is not the case. It has some of the best in the state. Also next to Allen is McKinney which is nice also. From these cities you can ride several hundred routes out into the country with good roads to ride on. Not to many hills but you have the heat and wind to contend with. I have raced several hilly and mountainous races and really dont have a problem. Cost of living is very good here and is the economy compared to most states.
There are also several large clubs in the area. North Texas Multisport, Playtri, Fit2Train, Madduck, Dallas Athletes, Matrix Cycling, McKinney Velo and a few more. There are also several larger good bike shops. You will see large packs of riders every weekend and weekdays north of dallas. There are lots of cyclists in the area.
From Allen it is about a 30min commute to DFW on he George Bush Tollway. Not bad at all. North of the airport you could ride right from your driveway with no issues.
Thanks for the responses, you’ve been very helpful!
I think your Plano / Allen decision would be wise. Easily ride out from there. Tons of stuff in the area. Good schools. I lived in Garland/Allen for a bit and enjoyed both. Garland was a bit more “rough” / cheap.
Not a problem. Good luck with your move.
There is a Saturday/Sunday group ride out of Lifetime Fitness in Flower Mound that takes advantage of the “loop” referenced above. Many different skill levels and you don’t have to be a member to do the ride.
I’m partial to driving out to Argyle and riding HWY 377 out to Ponder/Denton Airport (also part of the “loop”). There are a ton of decent roads out that way and not a lot of traffic, even on the weekends.
I live at WRL. I use WRL to ride short 10-20 miles, but head east from WRL to Sunnyvale, Mesquite, etc. Ride as far as you want (120+). All that said, if you are working at DFW, I would explore Grapevine/Southlake/Keller area. Lots of buds over there and all ride. If you want further north, look for something reasonably close to 161 so you can get to the airport relatively quickly.
Dallas may not be the most cyclist friendly, but much (not all) of that stems from bad cyclist behavior. I have seen it, I have done, and I have been angered by it as a motorist. Lots of safe(r) places to ride. From Spring to Fall, there is a rally every weekend if you want safe big group rides.
Dallas is a great place to live and wonderful place for family. Great tri community as well. All that said, if you are in the 40-44 AG, please don’t move here! (kidding)
I live in North Dallas as well. Plano. North Dallas and Dallas are pretty horrible places to ride. And what I mean by that is that the locals aren’t very bicycle tolerant like some other cities.
I’ve had a few friends hit by cars, or killed while riding. BUT there are many great clubs you can join in Dallas. As, some of them have been mentioned here. Where I live in plano, a few Us while working with the city council have actually helped change the law protecting cyclists and released almost a million dollars to put up signs and change roads to help cyclists. Dallas is becoming much much more friendly when it comes to cyclists.
But you can’t forget that it’s still Texas. And it’s not California, Seattle or Portland… Trucks, football always will have a heavy front seat to cycling.
Let any of us know here if you need any info. Small community but very loyal and helpful.
Oh, Whiterock lake is a great place to ride too, it you want to not pay attention to cycling because there is more tail there than cyclists. 
Socks
Resurrecting this thread. Is there an online map of this “loop”? I’ve done some searching but what I’ve seen doesn’t seem very loop-y. I’ll be riding with some friends from Murrell Park (Lake Grapevine) tomorrow and am interested in any routes anyone might know we could do to fit in some miles. Thanks
Sent you PM with all the routes.
If you want a Sat group, Lifetime leaves at 7am. Downing Middle School ride at 7:30am.
Pft…forget North. Head south…Mansfield, Grand Prairie, South Arlington, etc. Area south of Joe Pool Lake is like living in the Texas Hill Country. Cedar Hill is the highest point in the Metroplex and lots of good climbing. I work at DFW Airport and commute is 26 miles up/down Hwy. 360. Yes, a bit congested but what freeway isn’t.