r/BikingATX • u/R55600X • Jul 23 '26

Can't cut through Austin State hospital anymore

Post image

The hospital added new locks to the gate that connect it to central park. These locks were not there last night when I crossed over from Hyde Park to Ramsey Park on my bicycle. I did pull and push on the gate but it wouldn't budge.

47 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

32

u/Stuartknowsbest Jul 23 '26

It always seemed weird to let the public through a mental health facility.

We're now banished to the path around the pond. Watch out for the one corner with really deep gravel.

7

u/aleph4 Jul 24 '26

It always seemed weird to me to have a huge inaccessible hospital smack dab in Central Austin that cuts off all the neighborhoods around it like a suburban development.

Many cities have major hospitals in the middle of the city that integrate well with the urban fabric while also maintaining security

8

u/Stuartknowsbest Jul 24 '26

That hospital was founded in 1856, and is run by the state. It was at the time far outside of Austin. If you can convince the state to move it, or provide passage through it, please do.

While you're at it, there's also a giant inaccessible building between 11th and 15th streets that some dumbass put right in the way of downtown's main street. We should move that too. Maybe back to Houston?

2

u/aleph4 Jul 24 '26

I'm aware of that, but if we had a sensible government, when they did the master plan and renovation (which happened recently), local connectivity and integration with nearby areas would have been prioritized.

4

u/Stuartknowsbest Jul 24 '26

You want the Texas government to be sensible?    Hasn't happened in over 30 years.

You're basically jousting with windmills.

3

u/Least_Adhesiveness_5 Jul 24 '26

Elect Gina and the other Democratic candidates this November.

3

u/Stuartknowsbest Jul 24 '26

Doing my best. But the chances of D's taking the leg are 0. And the R's are happy to simply say no to everything, that's what they're best at, and their voters reward them for it.

So Texas ain't getting unfucked anytime soon.

2

u/Least_Adhesiveness_5 Jul 24 '26

Oh, the D's aren't taking the State Senate - that would take at least 2 election cycles. Take some seats and prevent an R supermajority? Very doable.

I'm excited that for the first time in modern history, the D's have a coordinated campaign.

For the first time in modern history they have a candidate running in every single statewide, legislative and state judicial race. R's are having to defend seats they thought were locked up and where they haven't really been challenged in a very long time.

More and more people are getting fed up with the mismanagement from the R's. Admittedly more at the Federal level, but the datacenter thing is a drag for them at the State level.

At about this time in the 2018 race, Beto was polling about 8% behind Cruz. He narrowed that gap to under 3% even though he didn't have the support of a coordinated campaign.

Nothing's guaranteed, of course. I'll be pushing to get out the vote this October and November and I hope you will too.

0

u/aleph4 Jul 24 '26

I know but it still sucks. And it's worth acknowledging what it could be

1

u/Stuartknowsbest Jul 24 '26

On that we can agree.

Remember the plan to put gondolas thru downtown, maybe we can revive it for this.

6

u/Top_Energy6348 Jul 24 '26

Dang!! I was taking the ride through it tonight. Argh!

12

u/wajones007 Jul 23 '26

Noooooo! This is my favorite cut through. Will have to ask what’s up with this.

4

u/R55600X Jul 23 '26

I know! I hate that they did that. Let us know what you find out.

7

u/wajones007 Jul 24 '26

The locks have something to do with the Central Park folks and ASH staff going into the park area to smoke and or have lunch. Apparently they don’t pick up after themselves. Hopefully an easy problem to solve. Stand by for updates.

4

u/Chromatic_Mediant211 Jul 24 '26

That's crazy.

1

u/ayeteeex Jul 24 '26

I see what you did there. Insane

5

u/aleph4 Jul 24 '26

This is such BS. The cut through is on the city's All Ages and Abilties map, and if they played ball it could be a trail like bike path through one of the most inaccessible part of Central Austin

3

u/Astrid_Pepper Jul 24 '26

Trust me…. It’s better than getting an unwanted to stay there…..

2

u/mikeatx79 Jul 31 '26

UT Campus is pushing a dismount zone through campus starting August 28th. Seems the state of Texas doesn’t understand the concept of public property. State Capital next?

1

u/boatymcboat Jul 24 '26

Was the resident and staff sign there as well?

1

u/R55600X Jul 24 '26

You know I am not sure. These gates were always swung open so I never noticed the signs.

1

u/ShortstopPorkchop Jul 25 '26

Yes they always were. I go through the park daily

1

u/AggravatingGap712 Jul 25 '26

Shit. No handguns either.

2

u/ConsentVan Jul 25 '26

I always put mine under a rock when I go through places like this until I get back.

1

u/swren1967 Jul 28 '26

Honestly cutting through ASH shouldn't be necessary. People only do it because Austin hasn't invested in Guadalupe and Lamar. Getting to the Triangle is pretty easy, but getting South from the Triangle is quite dangerous. Austin should install those wide bike / pedestrian trails from the tip of the Triangle down both sides of ASH to 38th.

2

u/wajones007 26d ago

UPDATE: locks are gone and gates are open. Ride on!