City Council expanded possibilities for Austin’s residential street spaces this past Thursday with the unanimous passage of a resolution initiating the Living Streets program. The program, sponsored by Council Member Paige Ellis, will allow for Austinites to interface with residential streets in new and creative ways with the aim of expanding their recreational uses and […]
Bike Austin
Bike Austin is a bicycle advocacy group that works to grow cycling in the community by removing barriers to cycling and encouraging the creation of infrastructure.
Posted inTransportation
Bike Austin fights for Healthy Streets
The Austin Transportation Department removed two segments of Healthy Streets last week, and barring another wave of cases of Covid-19, will continue winding down the initiative by removing one or two street projects every couple of weeks until all eight are gone. With social distancing still a necessity, however, Bike Austin is calling on the […]
Posted inCity Council
Temporary protected bike lanes coming to a section of Congress Avenue this month
In another effort to meet demand for social distancing and safe activity as local businesses reopen, City Council voted Thursday to set up temporary protected bicycle lanes on Congress Avenue north of Riverside Drive by June 30. Mobility advocates said the protected lanes will be a benefit to all downtown visitors, including business owners along […]
Posted inBicycles
UT meets with advocates, talks bike safety on San Jacinto
Representatives of the University of Texas are promising ongoing discussions of safety and mobility improvements to its section of San Jacinto Boulevard, where 39-year-old Tony Diaz was recently killed while riding a bicycle. Director of Sustainability Jim Walker and President Gregory Fenves’ chief of staff Carlos Martinez met with a small group of bicycle advocates […]
Posted inAustin
Ciclovia on hold while parking proposal creates controversy on Congress Avenue
The dream of shutting down Congress Avenue for a daylong bicycle festival is in a state of suspended animation. City Council made a step toward the idea just over a year ago when it voted on a resolution directing the city manager to explore the potential costs related to the event known as a Ciclovia. […]
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: Let’s talk about bikes
Bike Austin board president Hill Abell joins Austin Monitor editor Liz Pagano and Monitor reporter Caleb Pritchard to talk about bikes. Tune in to hear the latest on mobility bond bike projects, bicycling challenges in Austin and to check in on the bicycle state of the city. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/327619894″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inBicycles
Advocates say bond funding for Bicycle Master Plan could diversify local biking community
Sharmar Mohamed Hassan doesn’t know the words in English to describe his bicycle. So he uses his native language, Somali, to tell me it’s a green road bike. And it’s his primary form of transportation in Austin — which, at times, can be a little touch-and-go. “I’m feeling afraid because there’s no bike lanes and […]
Posted inTransportation
Mobility bond discussion occupies Council
Austin City Council treated itself to its first look at the political and financial conditions framing a fast-tracked transportation bond decision on Wednesday. At a special work session, Council members heard a lengthy briefing on the Mobility Talks public engagement process, bonding capacity and several potential options for bond packages. The five-hour discussion ended with […]
Posted inTransit
Commission adds weight to light rail efforts
The Urban Transportation Commission has once again given a boost to advocates for light rail in Austin. At its meeting last week, the commission voted unanimously to recommend that City Council consider putting bonds for “rail options” on the November ballot. Recognizing that there is a “vocal and organized group of people” advocating for light […]
Posted inBicycles
Bond Oversight commissioners nix bike plan recommendation
Austin’s Bond Oversight Commission on Thursday evening voted down a proposed recommendation to City Council to consider placing on the November ballot a bond that would fund bicycle and sidewalk infrastructure. Chair Keri Burchard-Juarez, who was put on the commission by Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, scheduled the special meeting at 6 p.m. in downtown […]
Posted inBicycles
Bike Austin rallies toward transportation bond
More than 100 people gathered in front of City Hall on Tuesday afternoon to urge City Council to focus on investments in alternatives to automobile transportation. Hosted by Bike Austin, the rally was the latest step in the nonprofit’s effort to put a bond proposition on the November ballot that would fund $411 million worth […]
Posted inBicycles
Bike Austin hopes to break cycle of inequity, congestion
Advocates of two-wheeled and two-footed transportation alternatives are building momentum in their campaign to put millions of dollars in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements on the November ballot. More than a dozen people testified in favor of funding the city of Austin’s Bicycle Master Plan and Urban Trails Master Plan at the Bond Oversight Commission’s […]