City Government (re: bicycle issues)

Last update: December 23, 2025

On the City’s website

• Reporting problems with traffic signals, signs, and roadways.  Fill out the online form, or call 311, or use the 311 app.
• Police database for collision reports.

On other pages

• History of city planning for bicycles.  The first plan, which called for bike lanes, dates back to 1972!  I have the complete history of plans and progress from 1972 to present (which no other site has).
• City Council specifically.  Since the City Council is the biggest part of local government, I have a dedicated article about Council.

Bicycle Program

The Bicycle Program’s primary function is to periodically update the Bicycle Plan (specifying which roadways get which treatmets), and then implement it.  The City updates the plan every seven years on average.  Plans were approved in 1972, 1975, 1980, 1996/98, 2009, 2014, and 2023.

While the city’s first bike plan came out in 1972, calling for Austin’s first bike lanes, the city didn’t create a separate Bicycle Program and program Coordinator until 1981.  (Prior to 1981, the plan would have been prepared and implemented as part of someone’s duties in the transportation department.)  At some point in the mid- to late 1980s the city axed the program and the position, but then restarted both in 1994, and they’ve both been operating since then.  For more, see my separate article on the city’s bike history.

The city’s website has historically been a hot mess, and the Bicycle Program’s pages are no exception.  This is purportedly the home page of the Bicycle Program, but if so then why is there a prominent button that’s supposed to take you to “Bicycle Program”?  And of course when you click that button, the link is dead.

In addition to creating and implementing the Bicycle Plan, the program:

• Installs bike parking racks for free to businesses that request them.
• Publishes the Bicycle Map of Austin.
• Collects statistics.
• Facilitates spot street sweeping and repairs.

The Bicycle Program Coordinators have been:

• 2006-.  Annick Beaudet
• 2004-2006:  Colly Kreidler
• 1999-2004:  Linda Dupriest
• 1997-1998:  Keith Snodgrass
• 1994-97:  Rick Waring
• 1981-198x:  (lost to history)

Bicycle Advisory Council

A “council” is a citizen group that advises city staff and committees about a specific class of issues.  In the hierarchy:

• Councils »»  Advise staff and committees
• Committees »»  Advise City Council

Anyone can apply to join the BAC, and getting on the council is probably the most powerful way a bike advocate can make a difference.  Here's a detailed description of the council, and their official page on the City website.

• Official city web page about the council
• Their 2012-era web page
  

Urban Transportation Commission

The Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) advises City Council on transpo issues.  Most transportation issues go to UTC first, which then makes a recommendation to Council.  Council doesn’t have to take the UTC’s recommendations, but they usually do.  Each UTC member is appointed by a City Councilmember.

Between 1998-2000, four bike activists got smart and got themselves appointed to the UTC.  Rather than begging the government for change, they became part of the government.  Those advocates were:

• Michael Zakes (appointed 1998-2000)
• Patrick Goetz (1999-2008)
• Tommy Eden (2000 to circa 2005)
• Mike Dahmus (2000-2005)

Since there were enough bike advocates on the UTC, they formed a Bicycle Subcommittee:

• I preserved many of their meeting agendas
• I preserved many of their meeting minutes:  1999: 10/6/99 • 2001: 3/29 • 5/30 • 2002: 8/29 • 9/21 • 10/24 • 2003: 1/31 • 4/17 • 5/29 • 6/26 • 8/7 • 9/25 • 11/13 • 2004: 5/6 • 6/3  
• Here's Mike Dahmus' 99-00 Bike Subcommittee site.

The Spinning Wheel Project published bike-related resolutions passed by the UTC in 2000.  From their nature, it’s probable that they were first passed by the Bicycle Subcommittee.

UTC member Patrick Goetz wrote on Feb. 14, 2005:

I've grown fat and lazy enjoying the competent and effective efforts of Mike and Tommy. I've said this once, and will repeat it again: As far as concrete action goes, Tommy and Mike have done more to further bicycle transportation issues in the last couple of years than everyone else in Austin combined times 4. When you're tooling down the nice new bike lanes on Jollyville road NOT getting killed by being run down from the back, you might want to give a few moments of thought to the fact that the existence of that bike lane (as well as other facilities) is a direct result of someone's hard political work; i.e. it didn't just happen by accident, and it's not going to start happening by accident in the near future. When you get ticketed and/or arrested for walking across the street at an intersection where the city has posted a "No Pedestrians" sign, never mind that there isn't another intersection for a mile in each direction (no, I'm not making this up), you might wish that someone had been around advocating for the rights of pedestrians and bicyclists in a transportation environment designed to accomodate motor vehicles, and motor vehicles only.

Consequently I think it would be a good thing if someone on this list applied for the UTC position Dahmus is vacating. Lane Wimberley would be a very good candidate, but I'm sure there are others. All you have to do is apply. That's what I did, that's what Tommy did, that's what Mike did. You go to 8th and Congress and fill out an application. You meet with the councilperson. You get appointed, you go to meetings a couple of times a month and read a few documents in between; you start working to make things happen. Four years later a bicyclist is NOT killed because of facilities you worked to get installed, and more people are biking because the facilities are there. It's not much, but it's a hell of a lot better than nothing. Think about it.

The UTC generally meets once month in the evening (date and location varies), and citizens can address the UTC to give their two cents on transportation issues.

Safe Routes to School

The city runs a Safe Routes to School program.

Summary of City meetings where cyclists can speak

Citizens can sign up to speak for three minutes at most public meetings.  This is an excellent way for cyclists to try to influence local government about cycling issues, especially when there is a specific cycling proposal on the table.  Here's a summary of City meetings where cyclists can speak.

• City Council (Every Thursday). Meetings start around 1:30 and generally run into the evening. Agendas and minutes are available at the City Council site.  I also have an entire article about the City Council.
• Urban Transportation Commission (First Tuesday).  See above for more info on the UTC.
• Planning Commission.  (2nd and 4th Tuesday).  Website.
• CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) (schedule varies).  See my separate page about county and regional planning government.

City gives $168-262/year to car-free households

Part of every residential City of Austin utility bill is a $16-22/month charge for “Transportation User Fee” (TUF), but households which don't own or drive cars are exempt from the fee.  You can easily claim your exemption by calling the City's utility billing department at 494-9400.  The fee is  $16-22/mo. depending on what kind of home you have.

Notice that the exemption actually has nothing to do with whether you cycle: you get the exemption if no one in your household owns a car.  It’s also available to those 65 and older regardless of their car status.

This exemption is not new, it's just not widely known.  It's been part of the TUF since it was authorized by the City Council in the mid-90s. The text for the exemption is in 14-10-14(D)(1) of the Austin City Code.

Note:  I’ve had reports that City phone reps denied the TUF exemption to callers who have a driver license, even if the callers don't own or drive a car.  This is wrong; merely possessing a driver’s license doesn’t disqualify you from getting the exemption as per the City code linked above.  If they deny you, try reading the City code to them.  Failing that, ask to speak to a manager.  Failing that, try contacting the UTC or the Bicycle Program.

Planned roadway & funding changes