Bicycle Austin forum

I lived in Germany for a couple of years, where there are are many cycle tracks on the sidewalk.  The cycle tracks are painted so that pedestrians know that they should stay clear--and they do mostly.  The street crossings are painted green so that automobile drivers are aware.  Right-turning drivers yield to bicycles going straight on a cycle path--that's a rule that is emphasized in driver education.

Getting Austin drivers to yield to anyone or anything is an uphill battle, so I wouldn't count on that happening here--it would take a huge cultural change.

In Germany, some cyclists wear helmets, but most do not.  Some obey traffic laws, some do not.  But a bicycle is considered a legitimate form of transportation, and drivers are not annoyed by cyclists (any more than they're annoyed by buses and red lights).

Steve Peckham