BIKE: Fwd: Factual errors in talk about bicycle funding this morning

[Lane S. Wimberley]

Well done, Mike.  I hope you get some response to this. 

Mike Dahmus writes:
> >Other topics that you or your listeners were dead wrong about were 
> >... and bicycle usage in our area (drive down Shoal Creek Boulevard or 
> >Speedway at 38th in the morning or late afternoon; bicyclists obviously 
> >concentrate on good existing routes rather than riding on Mopac or I-35 
> >where your car is!).

I don't know if my perception is somehow skewed, but it seems like
bike traffic on SCB (at least) has increased noticeably over the
recent past.  In addition to just noticing an increase in the number
of cyclists I see, I've had several interesting situations arise, like
a close call at a stop-signed intersection ... with another bike!
(Yet one more reason why abiding road rules pays off.)  And, having to
wave other cyclists through stop-sign intersections because there were
several of us who arrived at the same time... etc.

Kinda nice to see!

On a somewhat related note, I hope EVERYONE on this list will follow
Bob Farr's advice and make yourselves heard re: 15% bike-ped set
aside.  I intend to solicit the help of family and friends on this
one, asking them to send in emails (at least).

What other effective means at our disposal can we exploit to get this
message across?  I notice KUT has a little segment on local issues
every morning at around 8:10 or so (maybe at other times as well).  Is
there anyone there we can contact to get this issue into the limelight
in a way that is likely to have positive results?

I remember a few years ago that we got a fair bit of attention -- with
what I think were pretty good results -- from the demonstration we put
on over Lamar St. bridge regarding funding of the stalled Pfluger
Bridge project.  Maybe we should do something similar here?

-Lane

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Lane Wimberley             8303 N. MoPac, Suite A-300  Austin, TX 78759
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