Veloway

Rating is a ⁵⁄₅ for cycling and a ²⁄₅ (and falling) for skating.
Southwest Austin is horribly dangerous to bike around since the city pretends that everything South of town lake and West of Lamar doesn’t exist. There’s virtually no bike paths, with the exception of a few specific interior roads, even though many of the streets have been replaced in the past 5 — 10 years. The veloway is a great safe (ish) space for cycling and inline skating.
With that being said, this rating for skating is deteriorating as the surface of the veloway continues to deteriorate. I’ve been riding here for a long time and the surface is close to unsafe for experienced bladers, I wouldn’t recommend learning here or even practicing here if you aren’t experienced enough to handle some major cracks and damaged road at 20 — 30 mph. I’ve gotten to the point where I can only stand to do 1 lap on this and even at that, leave the veloway feeling beat up. This is on 110 mm touring skates as well. I couldn’t even imagine trying it on normal rec sized wheels.
Totally different story for biking, and should probably keep a 4+ star rating for a long time.
In any case, make sure to obey the rules of the veloway, direction, stopping, staying to the side, etc. The riders here are typically some of the more courteous of anywhere in the Austin area. Great place to learn to road bike for adults and kids. Hopefully some funds can be found in the near future for resurfacing which is badly needed.

There was just a few people out, but we went at 4PM on a 100 degree summer day. A couple porta pottys, water fountains, and benches; nice 3.1 mile road only open to bikes and roller blades. Great find for trying out our new bikes :)

This is a great place for bike riding because as mentioned before these loops are paved and do not allow walkers or cars. I’ve taken the entire family here on occasion including my four year old with training wheels. Only thing you have to worry about (if you are on training wheels) are the advanced bike riders that sometimes go by quite fast. There is a white line divider painted down the middle of the road and as long as slower traffic stays right even this is no problem. As mentioned by other reviews there is one steep but short hill on the larger loop that you need to work up a bit of speed to get up easily and there is then there is a longer slow incline about a quarter mile after this. The steep short hill is no problem especially because its so short. The slow incline gives me a bit more of a workout but its also not a problem in the lower gears. I have often road from home down to the veloway, then done a few loops to reach the number of miles I want and then road back home to make for a longer, more scenic route. I would highly recommend this for bike riders of all ages and levels.

On Friday I was so excited. Why? Because I FINALLY got myself a bike. I hadn’t really ridden since I was maybe 14 years old, so I was really pumped. My boyfriend told me about the Veloway, and on Saturday morning we were there bright and early trying out my new wheels.
It’s true, once you learn, you never forget how to ride. The Veloway’s 3.1 mile, one way only track was awesome. It’s well maintained, lined with wildflowers, and equipped with signs about snake crossings and upcoming inclines.
It’s great to be able to watch all of the amazing cyclists who come out here to train, and I can see myself coming here over and over again to enjoy the weather and get some quality cycling time in. You don’t have to worry about anyone walking along the track, and the faster traffic stays to the left, so you can really build up your skills and endurance without any distractions.
Definitely one of the best tracks/​trails in Austin.

I’ve been skating at the veloway since 1995 but it’s so cracked now that it’s dangerous for rollerbladers.

This was my first chance to get to ride the Veloway, not much I can complain about. I got there about 8AM on a Sunday, weather was overcast/​slight drizzle. There were probably 6 – 8 other folks out there (not sure if that is normal, I would assume it is normally busier).
It is a short loop ~3 Miles. I did just over 30 miles and the elevation was ~1100 ft, not much at all, but fun for what it is. I’ll definitely be back, great place to practice aero position and other techniques without having to worry about getting run over by any cars. Peace of mind is hard to put a price tag on, don’t have to worry about that here since it’s free to ride. :)
I wish North Austin had something similar. All in all, great experience and a great place to train.
Just a quick note: For the new riders who don’t know etiquette, etc, it’s pretty simple and think of it like a highway, if you are going slower (just because you’re slow or if you are tinkering with stuff), stay RIGHT! I only had one issue when passing a couple folks, nothing wrong with riding side by side, but don’t take up the whole path, plenty of room for everyone. Also, to the lady who tried showing her kid how to ride a bike out there, yeah, wrong place dummy.

We enjoyed this ride so much. The wildflowers were breathtaking. The pavement is in great shape. If you are a cyclist and want a great ride without having to worry about traffic, it is a must in Austin. Minor caution for roadrunners and squirrels.

To Missy B. who gave the Veloway a 2 star rating because she was treated rudely as she walked her child around with a new bike with training wheels: Read the warning signs, WALKING IS NOT allowed. Some people would call the police and have you cited for doing that. If you want to teach your child to ride a bike, there are quiet streets, parking lots and parks all over Austin. How were you planning on getting back to the starting area? The track is 3.1 miles long and one way only. You were being rude and arrogant by ignoring the rules or thinking they did not apply to you. It is specifically designed as a place where riders and skaters can go fast without worrying about traffic. There are blind corners and you walking your child and their bike is dangerous to you, your child and the other users. Don’t get pissy at the Veloway and its users, you are in the wrong here.

Recently moved to Austin, guy at a bike shop tipped me off to this. The pavement is in decent condition, but watch out for kids. If your kid can’t make it around the whole thing on their own, please ride elsewhere. Not trying to be rude, but there are a few blind corners and I almost hit one who was stopped. All levels of riders go here, if you’re slow stay off to the right and you’ll be fine.

The Veloway is one of my favorite places in Austin. I only wish it was closer to my house or I could ride there safely, rather than having to drive there to ride. But once I get over that, and get down there, it is great.
Minus one star for the rollerbladers wearing patchouli and the two guys I’ve seen riding backwards recently. Like seriously, both of the infractions are highly unsafe: the first, I may run you over with my bike so that you have to go home and take a shower to get the road rash and patchouli stank off, the second, you may cause severe bodily injury to us both and I will call Wayne Wright on your dumb butt for going backwards on a track that only goes clockwise and putting me and everyone else in danger with your BS shenanigans.
I’ve seen other people complaining about the other riders at the Vway and I agree. People ride like they drive: some are good, some are bad, some are dumb, some like to go fast, some slow, some like to pass you then slow down (I guess they just want you to stare at their ass for a while). And much like regular traffic, if you have a huge problem with it, go when people aren’t there: really early, really late, when it’s really hot or cold or rainy.
I actually went a few weeks ago when it was rainy and that was pretty cool since it is a safe environment to learn how to handle yourself in the rain and there was only like five other crazies there at the time. And the Veloway is the perfect place to learn how to right with new gear, like clips. Well, a more perfect place would have softer grass and less cactus. I learned on a booze cruise and that’s what prevented all the inevitable falling from hurting as bad.
And even though many of the people you encounter here are a weird breed of bike yuppie, you never know, you may find a love connection on the track. Like the other day, I went and passed this guy, then half a mile later, he passed me, then I snowed him on the big hill, then he passed me on the last mile. And so on. We were basically riding the exact same speed but I guess it would have been weird to ride abreast with a stranger. So when we both left at the same time, he waved and I waved. Still looking for his Shot in the Dark ad in the Chronicle…

I enjoyed biking on the Veloway w/​hubby :) It’s a great, tucked-​away spot to cycle, run, roller blade, whatever tickles your fancy. It’s most certainly a great place to get away from cars & enjoy the sunshine! Created & located by Circle C, so of course it’s very family-​friendly.
Only caveat? Lotsa children (unless you consider that a plus when you exercise!) & I wish it had more hills/​challenging terrain. Other than that it makes a GREAT warm up /​easy riding /​speed riding place :)

I love the Veloway. It’s a fantastic place to bike ride or skate. As a speed skater, there are a couple of rough patches, but overall the trail is good and the hills are manageable. The trail is wide and there is a fast and slow lane.

Bike riding in the summer in Austin is possible. Despite the heat, so long as you are moving, you can survive. The problem, however, is that the City of Austin has hired Lord Voldemort’s cousin to design the traffic lights and flow to cook cyclists. (I promise you I will get to the Veloway, but allow me a moment of rant.) Having ridden on Austin roadways for years I’ve been stranded at lights, and endured countless «Austin Stacks» where large amounts of traffic are held up at a red light for no apparent reason. When it comes to traffic lights on Austin city streets, as a roadie and a commuter I see red too often.
Enter the Veloway. Here you may cycle to your heart’s content absent the commands of a traffic light, or the pressures of vehicular traffic consisting of people talking on their cell phones or other assorted psychopaths. These features make the Veloway safe and enjoyable, and a reason I am a fan of the park. With this explanation being said, here are my pointers for making your trip to the Veloway a bit more enjoyable for you and everyone else:
1. Slow traffic really needs to keep to the right. There are plenty of blind curves on the path, and the safest spot for not-​very-​fast people or toddlers is on the right. The fast people, and they know who they are, typically keep to the left to give the slow people room. I say this as a fast person.
2. Beware of snakes on the tarmac. The «caution snakes» sign is not meant to be cute. It’s for real. Snakes enjoy resting in the sun, and I’ve seen a few on the Veloway. The upshot of having snakes around is that you go really, really fast after happening upon one. Get in the left lane.
3. If you cannot ascent «Mount Everest» in short order, stay to the right. This is the one hill with a substantial grade on the loop. Although there is a warning sign, the hill arrives immediately after a blind corner. If you cannot make it up this hill and need to walk up, or are otherwise slow in your ascent, please keep to the far right. The seasoned riders who are on the Veloway typically hit that hill at a good speed in order to hurtle up in on the left hand side.
4. Lastly, and this is directed at the City’s Parks and Recreation Department: do not close the Veloway on occasion for the exclusive use of particular groups. I have driven to the Veloway more than once to find it closed for the exclusive enjoyment of some church group. Like Town Lake Trail, the Veloway is a public space that people expect to be open during its posted hours. Closing the park for some exclusive group to use is just not right, and the practice needs to be discontinued.

We were in Austin to attend our friend’s graduation. We were really into rollerblading and one evening decided to go find a place to rollerblade. We went to Target and started rollerblading when a tricked out Caprice rolled up on us and acted as if we were tresspassing on their territory. We got out of there pretty quick. We returned to our hotel and started rollerblading around the hotel when another car rolled up on us and asked us if we knew where such and such street was. It was weird that they would drive to the back of the hotel to ask us. We decided to hang up our rollerblades until we could find a safe place to skate.
The next day, we heard of this legendary place called the Veloway where we could go rollerblading in peace. Our friend used to live in Austin while in college and called a friend he knew that still lived there inquiring where this «Veloway» was.
Scott: «oh yes, it’s on Stassney.»
Off we go and it’s about an hour until sunset. So up and down Stassney we go. Several times, thinking we missed it, alas the sun set and we went home finally looking up the Veloway on our computer back at the hotel. Turns out the Veloway is actually off Slaughter. The wife kept saying, «Thanks a lot, Scott. ‘The Veloway is off Stassney. Like Stassney a pig.’ «
The trail is really set up for bikes. Rollerblading, it’s acceptable, but it’s not really ideal. We managed to only come upon half a dozen bikers and everyone was very nice to warn us that they were coming up on us and we kept out of people’s way so all in all it wasn’t too bad.
The trail is about 3 miles long and there’s a part that closes a loop that’s just about a mile long.
We had a lot of fun and would go back again.

A great trail for biking and rollerblading only. The loop is a little over 3 miles and has a good mix of turns (some mildly technical) as well as slight declines, inclines and flat surfaces. The pavement is smooth for the most part but there is going to need to be a refresh on it soon. I personally like to use the trail to prepare for triathlons due to the mix of turns. Ideal for training for the CapTexTri and TriRock in Austin.
I usually do about 25 – 30 miles on the trail only because it gets a little boring any longer than that distance. You can easily extend by riding across the bridge/​highway to the Circle C ranch. There you can find a good 10 – 15 extra miles on smooth flat surface to extend.
This dedicated bike trail is another great example of what makes Austin a unique and awesome place to live!

I just bought a new bike due to my jump into Triathlons. The Austin traffic terrifies me in a car, so biking on the road just isn’t for me yet. The Veloway has been my saving grace. How perfect is the trail? It’s laced in shade, paved, no traffic, and made just for bikers. There is plenty of room to move around and share the road too. However some people have trouble corralling their small children to stay to the right. Not a reflection of the trail, just their parenting skills.
Beware of the right turn incline, heed the signs and make sure you are prepared for it. If you fall, there are many people around to laugh with you-​cheer up Charlie… it’s just a hill.
I think the Veloway is great and plan to work it into my weekends from here on out. Austin does it again!

For the past couple of years, I would visit the Veloway and enjoyed the well-​maintained track. Most of these experiences have been great, and everyone seems to enjoy the Veloway for the same reasons I did: a way to enjoy a ride without worrying about cars. People were nice; in fact, once I had trouble fixing my wheel on my bike and a couple nearby helped me. The track has its surprises, but after several times around, you get the hang of it.
Because of my experience last week, I have no plans of ever going back. In fact, I recommend that a sign be installed near the «Caution Snake Crossing» sign that reads «Caution A-​holes Biking.» If you are on the Veloway and not a «serious» bicyclist, then be warned. If you are a parent walking with a child as he tests out his first «real bike» albeit with training wheels, then take care. There are cyclists who pass so closely they actually brush you, cyclists who make disparaging remarks. For some narcissistic reason, they think it is their private track for perfecting not only their time but their bullying skills. One in particular creates a diabolical scenerio in my mind: recalling his quite unique outfit and bicycle, I see him on the road as I drive my Volvo (nothing but metal, baby) and for once, I am not my considerate self, my hyper-​aware of cyclists rights attitude evaporates… I didn’t realize that the Veloway was for training only. I wish I could go bike in Iowa. There, you find miles and miles of biking trails that actually lead somewhere, though you never do leave Iowa.

I liked this place, but there is one part that is pretty tricky the first time you go.
I went with a friend, I would say we are pretty decent cyclists. We were just peddling along at our own pace, doing alright, when all of a sudden there was a sharp turn and behind some trees was a massive hill that was previously completely concealed. We were not prepared for that and we both nearly fell off our bikes. Then some guy in full bike gear with a racing road bike comes by yelling at us to get off the path if we were going to stand around.
It was mildly humiliating and annoying. They ought to put up a sign telling you to pick up some speed a little way before that hill, it really does come out of nowhere when its your first time on this path. Other than that the place is nice, however. The pavement is perfectly smooth and the scenery is beautiful. I recommend it, just watch out for hills.

There was a buffalo at the Veloway this morning. I see so many roadrunners, rabbits deers and snakes and occasional an eagle, but a buffalo that took me by surprise. I tried to get a picture on my Iphone but my hands were so sweaty it didn’t come out. Then the buffalo stormed away and I thought it might be best to steer clear of it.

Due to recent rains I knew my usual trail rides would have a few wet/​muddy spots in them. Not that I have anything against mud but I have gotten a few odd looks after a ride when I go into a store for a cool drink and, forgetting that I had ridden through the wet stuff, had a streak of mud splatter down my spine from the rear wheels.
So since I had errands to run down south today I brought along the bike and tried the Veloway today. Of course its paved and mud free. Being right across from the Lady Bird Wildflower Center I guess it was not much of a surprise to see the beautiful array of wildflowers in bloom all over on both sides of the Veloway trail. That definitely made the ride more interesting and pleasant. Oh, and the snake crossing signs. I thought that was a cute joke but I guess they are not kidding as I about ran over a nice little grass snake rounding out lap 4.
The Veloway has a nice mix of curves and gentle hills mixed into the Urban Hill country scenery. The riders I encountered were all courteous of each other and spread out enough to not be too crowded. I really enjoyed myself on the Veloway but since it so far from home I probably wont be able to ride here as often as I would like to. But its always good to have lots of great riding options.