Bicycle Austin forum

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,466

Website

Car-Free Day on Congress Ave. in 2018?

Bike Austin is asking City Council to approve a Ciclovia (Car-Free Day Event) on downtown Congress Ave. next year.  Council was to have considered it last Thursday, but typically there's nothing about it on the Bike Austin website, so I don't know whether they heard the proposal, much less approved it.

Here's KXAN's article.  I waded through dozens of Comments following the article to look for one that supported the idea before giving up.  Lots of people calling the idea "stupid", rage against cyclists, suggestion that it's okay to run cyclists over, etc.

I guess that means it's about time Austin gets another one of those "Bike-Friendly City" awards.

http://kxan.com/2017/06/21/city-council … ss-avenue/

RedFalcon

Member

Registered: 2013-10-10

Posts: 233

Re: Car-Free Day on Congress Ave. in 2018?

Yeah, it's bike friendly alright.  I was just flipped off by a car driver because I came to a full stop at a four way stop.  I was pulling a 100 lbs trailer, so I was a bit slow to start.   

I am sick of hearing how Austin is bike friendly.  The next time we get an award for being bike friendly I think I'll show up to protest it.  So, if anyone hears of anything like that happening, please post it.

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,466

Website

Re: Car-Free Day on Congress Ave. in 2018?

This just in:  Austin drivers rated worst in the state:

http://www.twcnews.com/tx/austin/news/2 … finds.html

Here's my article with 15 reasons why Austin doesn't deserve the "Bike-Friendly City" designation:

http://bicycleaustin.info/getaround/top10.html

RedFalcon

Member

Registered: 2013-10-10

Posts: 233

Re: Car-Free Day on Congress Ave. in 2018?

It's the honking that gets me.  When I moved here in 1987 I rarely ever heard anyone use their horn.  In fact I remember telling a friend, who was visiting from New Jersey, to calm down and not use his horn because it might provoke a fight.  Now I hear horns everywhere.  This is not a friendly place anymore.  I gotta get outta this place!

MichaelBluejay

Webmaster

From: Austin, TX

Registered: 2008-05-26

Posts: 1,466

Website

Re: Car-Free Day on Congress Ave. in 2018?

Kathie Tovo was the lead sponsor of the Ciclovia resolution.

Some here might recall that Bicycle Austin (this website, not Bike Austin) endorsed Randi Shade over Tovo six years ago, so it's good to see Tovo sticking her neck out on an unpopular issue.