Where should we move so we can bike more???

[fidlfreek]

Hey! Look, another Cowtown girl! Hi! I live on the southwest (aka cool!) side of town and agree totally w/ Barbara. FW is economically very very stable, quite attractive, and has great arts/museums and a kick *** trail system. If you live on the west side you have multiple neighborhoods that the trails meander through (mostly on the banks of the trinity river where people fish, there are ducks etc. so not a concrete jungle). I live in a walkable neighborhood and can get on the trail in 1.5 blocks. In the summer it is warm. True. But not humid. Plus, in the summer I get up and bike at 6 am and then am in a great mood for the rest of the day. Fall has been perfect with day after day of breathtakingly awesome riding. Winter is windy but we almost never have ice/cold that lasts more than a few days. There is great country riding just west of the city where you get more big hills than you can shake a stick at. The biking community here is also very active! On beautiful days I will see dozens and dozens of road bikers on the trails.

Did I mention that housing is cheap? You can get a loft in our thriving litte walkable downtown for 300k and up, a beautiful 1920s bungalow in a charming neighborhood for around 250k, and condos all over the city start around 100k.

Don't be scared off by whole red state thing. I know plenty of dems in the city and there are still lots of Obama bumper stickers on cars all around.

Having grown up near Austin I can't say enough how cool it is. However, Austin has terrible traffic, a smaller airport, and sky high property values. Fort Worth is much friendly in every on of those respects. Good luck!

[crazycanuck]

Well, if you'd like a perpetual summer & don't mind travelling...you can always get a work visa for Australia. Darwin, Brisbane, Perth...

Just a thought....

[sundial]

Well, I'm going to make a plug for the southeast region. Our weather is mild pretty much year round. The cost of living is lower and the lifestyle is a little more laid back. The downside is you may not have access to many bike friendly parks or paths, but there are many rural farm roads that make it nice to cycle. Oh, and if you don't mind living in tornado alley, or dealing with the humid, hot summers, then it's for you!

[Norse]

For what it's worth, Portland and Minneapolis consistently rank at the top of various "best places to bike" surveys. Of course though, Minneapolis can be a little on the chilly side come winter! But as they say, if you're dressed for it, no problem. I know many people who bike all year long here.

[cobalt]

Wow, thanks! I am reading the replies to my fellow bikers. Trying to convince our best friends to go with us.

We are looking for general thoughts and then we will look in depth at the cities we think might work. I don't want to exhaust you!

Husband is in IT

We have two dogs so I suppose we'll have to be out of the city a bit but I'd rather be in a condo with my bike hanging on the wall. Would love to bike to work or take a train. Hate the thought of a chicago commute from a suburb.

WI cost of housing is may be much less than many of the cities we are looking at but I am not looking at that yet. If there's a will there a way etc

We would take a cooler winter over a hot, humid summer.

Barbara, we'd get along great. We could use you in WI too.

[Aggie_Ama]

Husband is in IT

We have two dogs so I suppose we'll have to be out of the city a bit but I'd rather be in a condo with my bike hanging on the wall. Would love to bike to work or take a train. Hate the thought of a chicago commute from a suburb.


We would take a cooler winter over a hot, humid summer.

Austin would be good for his job.

Living in city- HAHA!! Unless you are very well off you will be in suburbia but I don't know your situation. Condos in the city (where practically zero IT jobs are) will cost you a lot. I have to say my commute from past suburbia (I cannot stand the urban sprawl of closer burbs) is not bad. It is 20 miles and takes about 40 minutes plus I have the luxury of biking from my house and being in ranch land with little traffic in 3 miles. Austin motorists are impatient and obnoxious, I wouldn't bike in city without some stronger nerves. I personally do not think our public transportation is up to par but maybe I am just cynical.

Hot summer, don't think you want to come here. Last summer was exceptionally hot but 90's and humid are a norm. I was born here and never left, most summers don't phase me but even last summer was enough to have me whining. By noon on a summer day in Texas you are back in the AC. Another thing transplants don't get- AC is a way of life don't bring a car without AC. That one never ceases to amaze me, the number of northerners that bring cars down with no AC and then quickly realize they can't sell it here to get one with AC. My 90 year old grandma doesn't have it but I think she is the last person in Austin to refuse it.

Still many transplants find themselves in love with Austin. Honestly I love Texas, I am a native Texan through and through. I cannot stand cold, hate winter and don't mind sweating like a pig all summer. I learned a long time ago what a river or lake is for.

[Tuckervill]

Don't forget findyourspot.com

Karen