Subject:     Bicycle Newsletter 4-26-99
Date:        4/26/99 4:23 AM
To:          bicycle@ccsi.com

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    \__/    ==       
      /_____/       BIKING IN AUSTIN NEWSLETTER
  ___/ \  _/ \___   covering bikes as alternative transportation
 /  /\  \/___/\  \ 
 \___/   &   \___/  bluejay@mail.com  *  michaelbluejay.com/bicycle

  Michael Bluejay, editor                             April 26, 1999
######################################################################

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 just let me know you want off.]

[Please visit our website, the most comprehensive resource for cycling 
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######################################################################
#### C O N T E N T S :
####
####   Calendar
####   --------
####   * April 30: Critical Mass & Full Moon Rides
####   *    May 9: Bicycle/Human Powered Parade on Sunday, 1pm
####   *   May 14: Rep. Doggett to speak to cyclists; solicits feedback
####   * May 1-31: Bike Month in May
####
####   News, Info, & Opinion
####   ---------------------
####   * Update: Trial for Ben Clough's killer
####   * New east/west bike corridor downtown
####   * Local activists to send bikes to kids in Mexico
####   * Route Help: Arboretum to Downtown
####   * Feedback: Gas Out Controversy
####
####   Appendix
####   --------
####   * Rep. Doggett's survey
####   * Publication / Subscription Info
####
######################################################################


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======================================================================
 APRIL 30:  CRITICAL MASS & FULL MOON RIDES 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Critical Mass meets on the UT West Mall on Friday, April 30th at 5pm.

April 30th is also the full moon, meaning there will be two full moon 
rides.  The clothing-optional ride meets at Wheatsville (3101 
Guadalupe) at 10:00pm, and the Midnight Ride meets at Junior's (29th & 
Rio Grande) at 11:59pm.  Note that the meeting place for the midnight 
ride has changed to Junior's from the old location at Ozone.  Also 
note that neither Wheatsville nor Junior's sponsors these rides; 
they're just convenient meeting places.


======================================================================
 MAY 9:  BICYCLE/HUMAN POWERED PARADE ON SUNDAY, 1:00 PM
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The next Bicycle Parade will happen on Sunday, May 9th, meeting on the 
South side of the State Capitol at 1:00.  Attendees are asked to 
arrive by any method other than by car.  The parade will end at 
Waterloo Park (15th & Red River) at 2:00 for a Human Powered Party.  
With the disorganization typical of the local cycling community, the 
telephone number printed on the fliers that are being distributed is 
wrong.  The correct number for more information is 453-0438.


======================================================================
 MAY 14: CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT TO SPEAK TO CYCLISTS, SOLICITS FEEDBACK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) will address the Austin cycling 
community on May 14th at 7:00pm about national issues affecting 
bicyclists.  To learn the location, which is pending, call the Austin 
Cycling Association at 345-1154.  The location will also be announced 
in the May edition of Austin Cycling News, available free at most 
local bike shops.

On a related note, Rep. Doggett is soliciting feedback from his 
constituents via email about what issues are most important to them.  
This is an excellent opportunity to tell our elected representative 
that federal highway projects should also include bike lanes or bike 
paths, and that junk email ought to be outlawed.  Please see the end 
of this newsletter for Rep. Doggett's survey.


======================================================================
 MAY 1-30:  BICYCLE AUSTIN! MONTH
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bicycle Austin! Month is a a month-long annual celebration and 
promotion of cycling, with a variety of events all over town.  There 
are way too many events to list them all here, so pick up a copy of 
Austin Cycling News (free at most local bike shops) for the full 
schedule.  You can also call the Bicycle Austin! Month hotline at 
703-5318 for a recorded calendar.  Selected highlights of Bicycle 
Austin! Month include:

* Mon, May 3: Bicycle Film Festival, Ritz Theater on 6th St., 8 & 10pm
* Thu, May 6: Yellow Bike Project Women's Nite:  Learn, teach, or just
               practice maintenance skills.  Women only this night.
* Fri, May 7: Take your bike on the bus on this day & ride for free.
* Tue, May 11: Wheatsville offers discounts to those who bike there.
* Fri, May 14: Bike to work today and get free breakfast from various
                breakfast stations around town.
* Sat, May 15: Bicycle Swap Meet, Wheatsville (3101 Guad.), 1-5pm.
* Fri, May 21: Bike with local politicians, 8th & Congress 4:45,
                proceed to Happy Hour at Ninfa's on W. 6th St.
* Thu, May 27: Yellow Bike Project Open House, 1182 Hargrave, 457-9880



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                    N E W S ,   I N F O,   &   O P I N I O N
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======================================================================
 UPDATE: TRIAL FOR BEN CLOUGH'S KILLER 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In our last issue, we reported that Lauren Robishaw would go to trial 
on May 19th for running a red light and killing cyclist and Yellow 
Bike volunteer Ben Clough in October.  In fact, the May 19th court 
date is not a trial but rather a "designation" or "first setting", in 
which Robishaw will present her attorney, or be assigned one by the 
court if she does not have one.  After that, another court date will 
be set for a "pretrial hearing", at which Robishaw may be offered a 
plea bargain (an opportunity to receive a lesser charge in exchange 
for pleading guilty).  If a guilty plea is not entered at pretrial, 
THEN the case will be set for a jury trial.  We'll be following the 
case and will keep you apprised of developments as they occur.


======================================================================
 NEW EAST/WEST BIKE CORRIDOR DOWNTOWN          Eric Anderson, 476-7304
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Bicycle advocate Eric Anderson is pushing for construction of a 
crosstown bicycle highway running about 5 miles east/west from Mopac 
to 183, mostly along the abandoned railway on 4th St.  Anderson 
recently gave tours of the proposed corridor to a receptive audience.  
Sources within the City predict easy passage by the Urban 
Transportation Committee, at which point the proposal will go to the 
City Council for approval.  Below is an excerpt of Anderson's open 
letter about the project.]

  March 26, 1999

  Dear Bicyclists, Pedestrians, and Riders of Capital Metro:

Major redevelopment efforts are underway in the downtown area bounded 
by IH-35, Lamar Blvd., 6th St., and Town Lake.  No consideration has 
yet been given toward transportation or public amenities through this 
corridor as part of these numerous projects.  That these projects 
share an incredibly similar timeline, an opportunity presents itself 
to create a bicycle/pedestrian/transit corridor along 4th/3rd Streets 
from IH-35 to Lamar Blvd.  Please see attached maps.

In addition, the Seaholm Power Plant will eventually be redeveloped, 
and light rail is slated to run through this entire corridor.  If you 
add all this together, you will no doubt see the opportunity to create 
a first-class intermodal light rail/bicycle/pedestrian facility 
through the entire south rim of downtown Austin.  This east-west 
corridor would be intersected by Amtrak, light rail, the soon-to-be 
bike/pedestrian bridge over Town Lake at Lamar, Shoal Creek trail, 
many bus routes, Congress Avenue, and Waller Creek trails, just to 
name the bicycle, pedestrian, and transit interfaces.  The project 
could extend into East Austin as far as the SH 183 bridge, using 
railway right of way, 4th & 5th Streets.  This greenway could also be 
extended to the west as far as the Johnson Creek trail at Mopac.

Your interest will make a difference.  You can help create a true 
community vision.


======================================================================
 LOCAL ACTIVISTS TO SEND BIKES TO KIDS IN MEXICO
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Most of us in the biking community do a little bit here and there when 
we can find the time, but for some people, it's a full-time part of 
their lives.  ThatÕs the case with one of our favorite cycling 
activists, Dave Baker.  Dave used to be the shop manager for Bikes Not 
Bombs, then left that group to help found the Yellow Bike Project.  
While putting in lots of hours with the Yellow Bikers, Dave teamed up 
with John Thoms and contracted with the city to install bike parking 
racks all over town.  All those green racks downtown and silver racks 
all over the rest of the city that started popping up about a year 
ago?  That's mostly the work of Dave Baker, John Thoms, and some other 
bikers working with the City's Bike Program.

You'd think all this would be enough for Dave, but no, he just can't 
sit still.  Right now, he's working with some other folks to organize 
a shipment of bicycles to the economically depressed area of 
Boquillas, Mexico, right on the other side of Big Bend.  Dave relates 
that the last time he visited there, kids were playing with bikes that 
didn't have any wheels!  So Dave and friends are working on trying to 
get a shipment of 45 bikes to the area.  They have planning and work 
meetings every Tuesday at 1:00 at the south Yellow Bike shop (419 W. 
Johanna).  If you'd like to get involved, call Dave at 476-6286.


======================================================================
 ROUTE HELP: ARBORETUM TO DOWNTOWN
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  (by the editor, with suggestions from Phil Hallmark & Bill Canfield)

Mike Dundov asked for help in planning a route from the Arboretum to 
the downtown area.

Remember that all city buses are equipped with bike racks, and the #34 
bus goes between the Arboretum and Northcross Mall (Burnet & Anderson).
Ê
If you're not knocking out the hard part of the trip by taking the 
bus, then first thing you want to do is get from the Arboretum to 
Mesa, which isn't particularly fun. You have two choices: (1) You can 
take Jollyville, which is a straight shot, but the road lanes are 
narrow and the traffic is fast. (2) You can weave through the 
neighborhood between 360 & Mesa (see a map), but you run the risk of 
getting lost, and the hills there are BAD. I usually try #2, but I 
haven't done it often enough to get good at it or remember the routes 
I took. However you do it, once you get to Mesa, it's much less 
dangerous:
Ê
Safer & less hilly, but circuitous
-----------------------------------------------
(1) South on Mesa. Mesa has a bike lane, if I remember right.
(2) 1.5 mi., then Left (east) on Spicewood Springs.
(3) 2 mi., then Right (south) on Shoal Creek.
(4) 4 mi., then Left (east) on 46th St.
(5) 4 blocks, then Right (south) on Rosedale.
(6) 5 blocks, then Left (east) on 40th.
(7) 3 blocks, then Right (south) on Medical Parkway.
(8) 4 blocks, then Left (east) on 37th St. (immediately after big 38th 
intersection)
(9) Note that 37th is discontiguous at Lamar. You go catty-corner when 
crossing.
(10) Where 37th ends after another block, continue straight through 
the medical parking lot.
(11) Right (south) on King St. when you exit the parking lot.
(12) Right (west) on 31st, then immediate left (south) onto Washington 
Square.
(13) As you cross 29th, you'll have to go caty-corner to the left to 
get on Salado.
(14) Left (east) onto 28th St.
(15) 3 blocks, then Right (south) onto Nueces.
(16) 2 MILES, then left (east) on 5th St.
(17) Continue on 5th St. a few blocks into downtown
Ê
Simpler, but more dangerous and more hilly
------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) South on Mesa. Mesa has a bike lane, if I remember right.
(2) 1.5 mi., then Left (east) on Spicewood Springs.
(3) 2 mi., then Right (south) on Shoal Creek.
(4) 5 mi., then Left (east) on 38th St.
(5) 1 mi., then Right (south) on Guadalupe
(6) 1 mi., then take the fork on the right (Nueces), right across the 
street from Mango's.
(7) 2 miles, then left (east) on 7th St.
(8) Another half mile on 7th. and you're in the heart of downtown.
Ê
To go the opposite direction, take Rio Grande between MLK & 28th 
instead of Nueces.


======================================================================
 FEEDBACK: GAS OUT CONTROVERSY  Travis Hartnett, tiktok@sprintmail.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[In our last issue, we printed a scathing editorial by Darrell Rose 
blasting a planned boycott of gasoline on 4/30 to protest the "high" 
price of gas.  But reader Travis Hartnett, of local famed musical acts 
Tiktok and Futura, had to comment on a piece of the editorial we had 
overlooked:]

I'd have to say that anyone who complains about the destruction of the 
environment due to the petrochemical industry, and then advocates 
NUCLEAR power as a partial substitute is several steps short of the 
top floor.


***********************************************************************
* WATERLOO CYCLES  47-CYCLE     2815 & Fruth, off 29th & Guadalupe    *
* WATERLOO CYCLES  47-CYCLE  NEW & USED BIKES * REPAIRS * ACCESSORIES *
* WATERLOO CYCLES  47-CYCLE      http://pobox.com/bluejay/waterloo    *
***********************************************************************

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            A P P E N D I X    A P P E N D I X    A P P E N D I X
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======================================================================
 REP. DOGGETT'S SURVEY     
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Please feel free to send a copy of your answers to Rep. Doggett at 
lloyd.doggett@mail.house.gov.]

   April 15, 1999

Dear Mr. Bluejay:

With e-mail rapidly becoming the communication tool of choice, I
have finally been successful in  upgrading the information
technology in this office to improve my ability to communicate with
Central Texans.

You have previously supplied your electronic mail address to my
office.  I would like to continue to communicate with you by e-mail
and to update you periodically on issues that you have indicated are
important. The best way to ensure that your priorities are my
priorities in Washington is my having an opportunity to hear from
you.   I have included a brief survey concerning legislative
initiatives before the Congress.  I greatly value your input on these
matters and welcome your advice.  

If for any reason now or in the future you would prefer that I not
communicate with you by e-mail, please simply contact my office to
have your e-mail address removed from the list.
         
Please take a moment to share your views on some of the most
urgent issues facing the nation.  I thank you for your participation
and look forward to hearing from you. 

  Sincerely,
  Lloyd Doggett
  328 Cannon House Office Building
  Washington, D.C. 20515
  (202) 225-4865, (512) 916-5921
  www.house.gov/doggett
  
  SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH CONGRESSMAN
  LLOYD DOGGETT
                     
  1.  The goal for Social Security reform should be to:  [ ]replace the
  existing system with individual private-sector investment accounts
  managed by each beneficiary. [ ] preserve the current system that
  guarantees retirement, survivor, and disability benefits for present 
  and future generations. [ ] Other                                        
       
  
  2.  Should the federal government increase both taxes and marketing
  restrictions on tobacco products?   [ ] yes   [ ]no   [ ] undecided
  
  3.  Regarding the current conflict in Yugoslavia, the U.S. should:  
  [ ] Get out now  [ ] Add troops on the ground [ ] Just continue the 
  bombing  [ ] Other _________________________________________________
  
  4.  Should the federal government spend significantly more to make
  quality child care more accessible?  [ ] yes   [ ] no   [ ] undecided
              
  5.  Should the United States negotiate more agreements, such as
  NAFTA, for more free trade with other countries?  [ ] yes   [ ] no   
  [ ] undecided
  
  6.  Which of the following is most important to you for action by
  Congress?  (Choose only one)
    [ ] Pension reform to encourage savings and more retirement 
         security
    [ ] Further reductions in federal taxes
    [ ] Campaign reform to reduce the impact of special-interest 
         dollars in federal elections
    [ ] Closing tax loopholes for large corporations
    [ ] More federal support for education
    [ ] Strengthening environmental protection laws
    [ ] Crime prevention
    [ ] More investments in transportation and infrastructure projects
    [ ] Pay down the federal debt
    [ ] Other _____________________________________________
  
  7.  On spending for national defense, Congress should:
    [ ] Substantially increase spending
    [ ] Substantially decrease spending
    [ ] Maintain the current level of spending
  
  8.  Should Congress place any restrictions on a woman's access to
  abortion?
    [ ] yes
    [ ] no
    [ ] undecided
  
  Please use this space for additional comments.                       
                   


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 PUBLICATION / SUBSCRIPTION INFO               Michael Bluejay, editor
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Biking in Austin is published about once every week or two.  You 
either asked for this newsletter, or I personally know you to be a 
cyclist and I thought you'd want it.  If you no longer want the news-
letter (or if someone forwarded it to you and you want your own 
subscription), just let me know.

Articles are by me if uncredited.  Articles by others may have been 
edited.

Submissions that focus on bikes in general or on bikes as alternative 
transportation are welcome.  Please don't write to us about sport or 
off-road cycling, since we don't cover those areas.


 Biking in Austin newsletter sponsored by:
***********************************************************************
* WATERLOO CYCLES  47-CYCLE     2815 & Fruth, off 29th & Guadalupe    *
* WATERLOO CYCLES  47-CYCLE  NEW & USED BIKES * REPAIRS * ACCESSORIES *
* WATERLOO CYCLES  47-CYCLE      http://pobox.com/bluejay/waterloo    *
***********************************************************************
  Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the sponsor