Friday, March 9, 2018
Fortunately, they fixed the shower. One of the real perks of working at the Brown-Heatly State Office Building in mid-town (across from the Triangle) is that there is a locker room and shower on site. That amenity allows me to ride my bike to work, not worrying about how dirty or sweaty I get. I keep work clothes there so I don’t have to haul them in a backpack or panniers. Pretty sweet deal, I know, and I don’t take it for granted but when the shower is broken, like it was last Friday, the transition from bike to office is a bit more rugged.
But that’s another story. Today, the shower is working and knowing that, I was able to take advantage of decent weather and the last work day before Daylight Savings Time kicks in. An early sunrise meant I was able to leave my north Austin home at 7 a.m. and take a less direct route to work, one that runs west of Mopac and features more miles and hills.
One of the keys to this route is Hancock Dr., which features a mildly-traveled bridge over Mopac. Within the past year, the city has restriped this road, widening the bike lanes on both sides, and added firm plastic barriers to separate vehicle traffic from bikes and pedestrians. Don’t get me wrong, there are some sketchy parts of Hancock due to a number of road, business, and occasional residential driveway intersections, but overall, this is a great bike route, one that gives you a kind of rare view of the Mopac traffic you’re avoiding by riding your bike!
Austin Bike Sherpa 