Hi all, details to come, but please save the date for the Austin City Council Bicycle Candidate Forum (sponsored by the League of Bicycling Voters, Austin Cycling Association and Yellow Bike Project)

Monday, March 23
6-9 p.m.
St. David’s Episcopal Church
304 E 7th St
Austin, TX 78701

Last year we had one of the highest turnouts for a political forum in Austin, and this year we’re looking to set a record for forum attendance!

As usual, stay tuned in at http://www.lobv.org

So I’m flattered that you’re thinking of getting me a gift certificate to Waterloo Records or the book store for my birthday March 14. But what I’d really like for you to do is give up some cash to a couple of other causes. Because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things they does. Do?

On Saturday, March 14, Chris Riley’s camp will host a “Ride for Chris Riley” fundraiser. Starting at 10:30 a.m., Chris will lead us on a tour of some bicycling hot spots…meaning places that are on the radar for improving bicycling with new facilities or safety enhancements. Following the ride, you’ll have a chance to grab some yard signs and stickers at the campaign HQ, and of course, you’ll have a chance to sign up as a volunteer for block walking and flier distribution.

They’ve structured the ride so you can feasibly form a “team” of riders with small donations. Remember, if you donate to Chris online, I suggest adding 2 cents to signify your two wheels—and thus that yet another bicyclist has made a donation. If you want to be on my ride team for a minimum donation of $10.02, email me at damicoaustin@yahoo.com.

But what ride isn’t complete with a nice cold beer? After the Riley ride, head over to the Yellow Bike Project benefit (to raise money for  their new facility) at The Compound at 1300 E. 4th Street on the Eastside (time tentatively 3 p.m.).  There’s also a scheduled alleycat or some other type of race happening beforehand. Bands are lined up for the party and it promises to be a blast. LOBV will be there as well with info on our projects…More details to come from Yellow Bike soon!

Nothing like this would ever happen in Austin! (Errr…well we did have some arrests way back when.) But take a gander at what happened to this bloke who rode his bike to work without a helmet in the land of Mordor…the oppressive state of New Zealand, which has a bicycle helmet law.

News 3 has the story… http://tinyurl.com/kiwispice

Regardless of how effective it will be in dealing with bicycle transportation, completing the gap in the Lady Bird Lake hike/bike trail (can’t I say “town lake,” please? Or maybe just “the river?”) makes sense and will be used extensively by bikes/peds.

LOBV has been following the project–although mainly from the sidelines–to ensure bicycle access and transportation are considered and balance with pedestrian issues.

Sara Krause–who now chairs the Urban Transportation Commission–made the following plea for bicyclists and others to let the City Council know the Boardwalk  Trail Project is an important project that need not be delayed by pressures from developers or nearby landowners.

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Dear Friends, I wanted to personally reach out to you because of your dedication to our beautiful city, and one of its most important treasures: the Trail around Lady Bird Lake.  This email pertains to the proposed Boardwalk that would complete the trail. This is an incredibly important project in many respects and will be an important recreation and transportation opportunity for bicyclists and pedestrians.

In the weeks ahead, the City Council will consider the Riverside Boardwalk Trail and its concept plan.  On February 12, the Council will receive a briefing on the Boardwalk from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Public Works Department. On February 26, the City Council will vote on the concept plan.

Please show your support for completing the Trail by emailing our City Council today:

Project Catapult Update and Timeline
(February 9, 2009)

For the original project description and report, see http://www.lobv.org/catapult/pc1.pdf

To volunteer for any of the working groups listed below, e-mail info@lobv.org

Update

After our Jan. 31 meeting and subsequent conversations with COA bike/ped staff, Project Catapult is proceeding with the following working groups. Each working group will draft a report, which will be submitted for review to the City of Austin and other area entities as needed.

1. Nueces Bike Boulevard
The group will provide a vision of how the boulevard should enhance bicycle transportation by outlining key components to the facilities (e.g. removal of stop signs, removal of parking, limiting auto access, signage and striping, possible phases for implementation, etc.)

COA has just started initial planning for what a Nueces Bike Boulevard would look like, and so a report at this juncture from the bicycling community is timely and welcomed by the city.

2. Downtown Bike Zone Plan
The group will re-evaluate the LOBV Downtown Bike Zone plan to provide recommendations for “first steps” toward implementation. Additionally, the group will develop more comprehensive recommendations for the “Commuter Club” concept.

3. Public Education
The group will pull recommendations from the Street Smarts Task Force and outline steps and projected costs for implementation for the next fiscal year.

4. South Austin “bikeway” facilities on Congress Avenue
The group will inventory past proposals for bicycle/pedestrian improvements and will examine such issues as reverse angle parking, possible separated facilities inside of parking, climbing lanes, and short-term solutions to enhance safety.

Additionally, the group will examine past “roadblocks” toward changes on South Congress, such as concerns from businesses over parking.

5. Analysis/Recommendations for Bike Parking Downtown and at Major Activity Centers
COA currently is finalizing plans for removal of parking meters and retrofitting some meters as bike racks. However, converting some of the meters has been deemed infeasible due to cost and location, and COA has ordered some 400 “U racks” for placement around the city. The group will examine current proposals and develop recommendations for both bike racks and other possible “bike stations” downtown and at other major activity centers.

6. Transportation User Fee Allocation
The group will examine the feasibility and develop recommendations for allowing COA utility customers to designate their transportation user fee (which varies, but runs about $5 a month for residential users) to bicycle programs. Currently, those who do not own or use a car can request a waiver to the fee. The designated fee could help track bicycling and provide revenue for public education and “Commuter Club” projects.

Working Group Requirements
Volunteers should be willing to communicate with group members extensively via e-mail/phone and should try to attend meetings if possible. Working group coordinators will be responsible for delegating tasks to group members, providing weekly summaries to LOBV and drafting final reports.

Weekly Summaries
Weekly summaries of all working group efforts will be submitted to LOBV by the group coordinator. Summaries then will be publicized on the LOBV site and to area bicycling organizations and blogs.

Reports
Working groups will submit a written report that outlines:

1. Project/Program Description
2. Benefits for Bicyclists and the Region
3. Relevant Past Planning Work
4. Costs and Possible Funding Sources
5. Steps to Implementation

A note on reports: Project/Program reports are by no means intended to be detailed planning (or engineering!) efforts. Rather, the reports will serve to highlight key issues, benefits and desired facilities.

Timeline
Draft reports will be completed by February 27, 2009. Submission of reports to COA likely will occur in mid March.

Apologies for the late post. It’s been a crazy week. But the good news is that a large number of interested people showed up for LOBV’s Project Catapult meeting on Jan. 31, including many  fresh faces. First, thanks to Bike Texas (http://www.biketexas.org) for the meeting space, equipment and support. Austin Bike Blog also has a short report on the meeting.

First…No wait seond, if you’re not familiar with Project Catapult, take a gander here. The objective of the meeting was to better define what five big projects would be presented to the City of Austin and other entities and what the final “deliverables” would be.  I’ll cut to the last part first. The deliverables will be reports that detail the particulars of what the bicycling community envisions for major investments in five significant projects.

Here’s what we’re looking at so far:

1) A bike boulevard on Nueces Blvd.
2) Bicycle facilities to create a South Austin Bikeway from Ben White to the River.
3) Implementation of LOBV’s Downtown Bicyle Zone Plan.
4) A substantial public education campaign
5) A significant investment in bicycle parking downtown and at major activity centers.

Additionally, it should be noted that a bikeway along the Waller Creek Tunnel Project alignment, the MoPac bridge over Barton Creek, and a bike rental program are also in the mix of projects that need serious attention.

There was a significant amount of discussion on each of the five projects above, and at the meeting we agreed to break out into working groups to develop more specific proposals. If you would like to be involved in any of the projects above as part of a working group, email damico@lobv.org.

Time frame? We’re looking at working group meetings for the next month, another group meeting in early March, and then presentation of reports to the city by the end of March.

Any filmmakers out there want to participate in the latest Brewster McCracken gimmick for the “Your City - Your Vision - Your Ad” contest? Burnt Orange Report notes that Brewster is enlisting Robert Rodriguez and Richard Linklater to judge contest entries for a film displaying a vision for Austin. The winner will air as an ad paid for by the campaign, although the campaign says the winning entry will not mention or show any candidates.

I see tailpipes, lots of them, then maybe a moonlight ride with Elvis’s “Little Less Conversation.” If anyone is interested in doing something bicycle heavy, let me know.

For those abbreviation impaired: The League of Bicycling Voters will give a presentation at tonight’s Austin Cycling Association meeting on Project Catapult. More on the project at http://www.lobv.org.

This will be a good opportunity to hear the latest since LOBV’s meeting on Saturday to discuss the project. There will also be a “SHOW-N-TELL.” Bring your bike lights: Long-lasting, super-bright, front lights, rear lights, monkey lights, backup lights, etc.

Essentials:
ACA Meeting
Monday, Feb. 2
7 p.m., LCRA Redbud

LCRA’s Redbud Center, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd (map), Room 108. The parking entrance is immediately west of the intersection of Redbud Trail at Lake Austin Blvd. Room 108 is on the lower level on the south side (lake side) of the building.