Nueces Bike Boulevard Proposal

Recently, a plan was introduced to the city to turn Nueces Boulevard into a Bike Boulevard.This plan is being promoted by the League of Bicycling Voters. A group has been created opposing this plan, Keep Austin Moving. In a nutshell, the plan proposes to make Nueces Boulevard more bike friendly without closing it to car traffic. The plan would use methods such as speed bumps, medians, and various tools to restrict auto traffic flow to accomplish this. The bike boulevard will connect MLK to the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, approximately 15 blocks away. Proponents claim this will promote bicycle traffic , improve bicycling conditions, and help with building and maintaining a comprehensive bicycle system for the city. Opponents are concerned that it will add to further traffic problems and congestion within the city, as well as negatively affect existing businesses along Nueces Boulevard. I think both arguments have merit. However, I think it's important to consider that in the last decade, the number of people who live in downtown Austin has doubled to 8,000 people. We've all seen the recent explosion of condo buildings and it is expected that the demand for housing will continue. With these numbers, congestion can not be avoided and the city needs to look at ways to provide better public transportation, as well as promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic as an alternative. This will also go very far in promoting the "Green" image Austin has been working hard to project. I don't personally do much cycling, not in a small part due to not feeling comfortable sharing Austin's busy streets with motor traffic. Whether or not you agree with this proposal, I think Austin needs to rethink how people are moving around the city and I think the creation of safer and faster bike friendly or bike only routes around the city is a good idea and would benefit everyone, motorists and cyclists alike.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:951292

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/nueces-bicycle-plan-not-on-easy-street-183748.html

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:951290

http://lobv.org/

http://keepaustinmoving.org/