An Important Update on the 2012 BP MS 150 Day 2 Route For many years, the
Bastrop and Buescher State Parks route has been a beloved Day 2 tradition of
the BP MS 150 fundraising ride. Last fall, the most destructive wildfire in
state history incinerated these areas, destroying 96 percent of the
6,565-acre parks. Because of extensive damage that still remains to these
areas and their internal system of roadways, we have made the necessary
decision to safely bypass the Bastrop and Buescher State Parks this year.
Since September 2011, the National MS Society has worked closely with
officials from Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Texas Department of
Transportation, the BP MS 150 Safety Committee and our leadership volunteers
on evaluation of park conditions and roads severely impacted by the intense
fires. While officials continue working to repair and eventually reopen
park roads, recent storms have caused additional damage and raised the need
for more repairs.
The safety of our cyclists, volunteers, support crews and staff is the
priority on ride weekend. This is the rationale - based on the support and
expertise of our Texas parks and transportation colleagues - for our
informed decision to safely bypass the parks.
Riders will still have two route options on Sunday morning, April 22, from
the Fayette County Fairgrounds: the Bechtel Challenge Route and the Pfizer
Lunch Express. This year, the Bechtel Challenge Route will continue down FM
153 and merge onto Hwy. 71.
For additional safety, participants should encourage friends and family to
use US 290 and I-10 as alternate routes into Austin on Sunday (see Day 2 map
with alternate routes
marked<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/2012_BP_MS_150_Da
y_2_Route_Map.pdf?docID=55919>). This will help reduce the volume of
passenger vehicle traffic sharing Hwy. 71 with all BP MS 150 cyclists. It
will also help supporters avoid heavy congestion on Hwy. 71 and reach Austin
in time to watch their cyclists cross the finish line.
We anticipate resuming the park route in 2013 and offering this scenic
option to our cyclists.
In the meantime, Bastrop and Buescher State Parks - and our neighbors in
these areas - need our support. Once the parks reopen, we sincerely
encourage you, your family and friends to visit them; visitor fees pay for
about half of all operating costs, which go toward ongoing fire damage
repairs.
You can see how wildfires impacted our beloved state parks, but, more
importantly, you can support the restoration of these Lone Star natural
treasures by visiting Texas Parks &
Wildlife<http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/bastrop/fire/>.
