Let’s go for a bike ride over the river and through the woods!

This time of year bicycles magically appear under the Christmas Tree or near the Hanukkah Menorah, so let’s break out the ol’ 10 Speed and revive the holiday spirit!

One of my most useful bike routes around Dallas is from Oak Cliff to the Katy Trail.

This route provides access to restaurants, retail shops, art and entertainment as well as city parks from Oak Cliff through Downtown Dallas, Uptown and the Park Cities.

The route begins on the Jefferson Bridge Cycle Track, which leads north into Downtown Dallas. The Cycle Track is most safely accessed from Zang Blvd near Lake Cliff Park.

The Bike Lanes on both 5th St and Bishop Ave lead to this area.

At the end of the Cycle Track, stay straight on Market St. into the West End. ***Attention: Market is one way in this direction.***

Continue passed El Centro and the DART West End Rail Station and into the West End.
Take a right at Ross and then a left onto the Lamar St. bike lanes. Lamar will take you under Woodall Rogers, then passed Hooters and the House of Blues. At Houston St, take a right and this will lead you the American Airlines Center.

Just after the AAC, on the right hand side of the road is the south end of the Katy Trail. Take the ramp onto the sidewalk to access the pedestrian/cycling trail.

The temptation is for cyclists to fly up and down the trail since motor vehicle traffic is prohibited, however, just as much caution should be taken on the Katy Trail as on city streets.

Important for Cyclists to Remember:
1. Pedestrians on the trail are just a vulnerable as cyclists are in traffic.
2. Motor vehicles do cross the trail at intersections on the north end of the trail.

At the north end of the trail, Airline Road can be taken north and it leads directly to Gerald J Ford Stadium on the SMU campus.

North Park Mall is also only a handful of blocks further to the north by way of Boedeker St.

Taking the route north to south, the route is exactly the same except through downtown. Coming off the Katy Trail, Lamar is one-way, so you must make your way to the other side of the AAC to head the opposite direction.

Go towards downtown on Victory Ave until you come to a T next to the Hard Rock Cafe. This road is Continental Ave. Take a left onto Continental and the next right onto Houston St.

Houston will take you all the way through downtown, passed the School Book Depository and Dealey Plaza. At Union Station, take a left onto Young St. in front of The Dallas Morning News and a right on Market puts you back on the Cycle Track and into Oak Cliff.

The Mavs got their holiday gift early, AKA Rajon Rondo, so go ahead a give yourself a present. Get out on your bike and explore the city. This route is a great place to start!

Thomas Cantu, Bicycle Commuter