Bicycle Austin forum

Ive not kept track, but would imagine that Ive travelled 10s of thousands miles in austin on foot, bike, and skates.  Ive done so for fun, to get to work and school, to go to the store...everything...I have owned and regularly used a truck as well...its difficult to carry more than 100lbs. without one, even though I have  carried that much in tools to work on a regular basis for years.  I intimately know of the hazards and difficulties of doing so...but I also know the pleasure, exercise, and connectedness  I receive from doing so.  I have no plans on ever stopping...Granted, I would love the opportunity to travel under my own power more often. 

Saying that...I have 2 comments...

1. No matter how many laws are written to protect bikers, and to give them rights....I WILL NEVER RIDE IN MY LEGALLY GIVEN INVISIBLE BIKE LANE.  I will never put my own life at extreme risk to take advantage of "my right".  Screw my right...the piece of paper giving me the right to do so will not stop a car from turning me into a vegetable, or killing me!  And to those of you that DO take advantage of those rights- with your helmets, and lights and huge set of balls swinging as you ride- Your crazy....I will personally happily slow down, make room and give you your legal and congenial space...but Im part of a small minority...While Im on Lamar going 12 mph while you ride in your legally given space....there are masses of people behind me that dont care, dont know, and are getting pissed...many will recklessly swerve around me to get ahead...only to nearly run over the very bikers I have tried to give respect and space to...\
All I can say is that as far as Im concerned...and partially based on the reactions and experiences of other drivers....GET THE HELL OFF THE ROAD...Take a different route...ride on the sidewalk (YES BREAK THE LAW!!!IN DEFIANCE OF WASTED SIDEWALKS)(BUT GIVE THE PEDS. THEIR "LEGAL" SPACE AND RESPECT) No sidewalk? Go off road!!! Its more exercise and fun!!! Learn the backroads!! Enjoy the scenery!!!  But GET THE HELL OF THE ROADS!!! For the  record- there is obvious safer times and places to ride in the road....JUST DONT DO IT ON DANGEROUS BUSY ROADS!!!! DONT BE AN IDOT (AND RISK YOUR OWN LIFE) FOR THAT SAKE OF PROVING A POINTLESS POINT...

2.  I was just reading that Austin will be/ has been spending 84000000 on sidewalks in a matter of years...Wow...thats a lot of money...I personally am in the construction field, and decided to do a little math....

1 yard of concrete =s 27' x 3' x 4"  of sidewalk

1 yard of concrete =s  -$100.00

27' of concrete forms, and wire mess =s -$50.00

27' of a little digging and dirt removal =s  (city cost? $1000.00s ?  -  cost of putting unemployeed workers to work? 2 workers get it done by lunch- YOU decide what thats worth..)

27' of pouring and finishing side walk  =s (city cost? $1000.00s ?  -  cost of putting unemployed workers to works? 2 workers get it done in an hour- YOU decide what thats worth..)

IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUILD 27' OF SIDE WALK FOR LESS THAT $300.00...

$84,000,000 / $300.00 =s  280000 27' sections of side walk. =s  7,560,000' of sidewalk.  =s  1431.8 miles  =s    47.7 sidewalks back and forth across austin  north to south...city limit to city limit (which is right at 30 miles on IH 35 )

I was just curious how many feet of sidewalk we will be getting for 84 mill...

Years ago, I worked and lived in Rosedale area...the neighbors decided that a sidewalk was a good idea for people to get to the park and pool in the area...the city told them no....there wasnt the money to do it....SO, the neighborhood got together and did enough fund raising and volunteering to take care of it themselves....THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT and were forced to stop the process....

If youve made it this far.....Thanks for listening!!
Maik