Bicycle Austin forum

bizikletari

Member

Registered: 2009-03-18

Posts: 223

San Antonio beats us to having a Ciclovia

They called it Ciclovia.

[Internet definition:  A Ciclovia (Spanish for "cycleway") is an event where city streets are temporarily closed to cars and opened for people to walk, bike, skate, and enjoy recreational activities, promoting health, community, and sustainable transport, inspired by Bogotá, Colombia's famous weekly event that closes vast road networks to vehicles. These car-free events feature activities like live music, fitness classes (yoga, aerobics), food vendors, and art, transforming urban spaces into temporary parks for all ages.]

http://vimeo.com/29940672

Ok, they did it first. But ours we'll be etymologically correct. We are a college town after all.

bizikletari

Member

Registered: 2009-03-18

Posts: 223

Re: San Antonio beats us to having a Ciclovia

Wise people,
I have been thinking whether the reason for not having a ciclovia in Austin obeys to a dark subconscious bias.

Austin boasts to be the Mecca for cycling in Texas and yet the powers to be have found all kind of good reasons not to held a ciclovia here.

Since the idea was born in Colombia, South America, and the two only Texas places where it has been carried out has been in cities with a noticeable Hispanic majority (El Paso and San Antonio) I wonder, is THAT the real obstacle to overcome?

Is it the idea TOO "Hispanic" for Austin to swallow?
Merely wondering.

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,484

Website

Re: San Antonio beats us to having a Ciclovia

I thought the only problem with us having a ciclovia was just that no one had put one together?  I think the City would be amenable to having one if our community did the legwork in planning the whole thing and giving them a proposal that they could just approve (or ask to adjust).  I'm thinking that the City just doesn't have the resources to plan the thing themselves.  And should it really be their job anyway?  If we want one, it's probably up to us to put it together.

tomwald

Moderator

From: 78722

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 290

Re: San Antonio beats us to having a Ciclovia

The League of Bicycling Voters is now taking up the effort to make Ciclovia / Open Streets happen in Austin.  This is a new development over the last few weeks.  We had been told a number of times that someone else was taking responsibility to make it happen, so we had deferred to them.  Since those efforts have faded, we are taking a leadership role to make it happen.

damicoaustin

Member

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 143

Website

Re: San Antonio beats us to having a Ciclovia

Indeed there is a new effort underway with several interested parties working on the project, so hopefully there will be some news worth printing soon. But thanks, bizikletari, for pushing on this!