BIKE: 590 KLBJ update again

[Byrnes, Rick]

Mike, I heard only the last few minutes of your comments.  I thought you
came through as quite reasonable and level-headed.   I was impressed.
Actually, I had expected more arguments and raised voices from the host and
callers, but the tone overall was tame.  Too bad your time was so limited. 
If I remember right, the host seemed to think that Hwy 71 was an alternative
route for FM 1431.   I can't see how they can compare like that.  Especially
if someone lives on FM 1431, or nearby. 

Richard Byrnes

Office 512.388.8529
Cell     512.423.3562

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Mike Dahmus [SMTP:mdahmus]
> Sent:	Thursday, November 20, 2003 8:42 AM
> To:	forum-bicycleaustin.info
> Subject:	BIKE: 590 KLBJ update again
> 
> I spoke this morning on the morning show two times for about two minutes
> each - answered a few questions from the hosts; and then had to get to
> work. I only caught a couple of callers; one was ludicrously wrong (and
> the hosts corrected him) and the other was generally supportive of bikes;
> I'm sure there were other callers more like the former but I didn't get to
> hear them.
> 
> I do know that Ed at least read the email I sent them; since he referenced
> Shoal Creek Blvd and Speedway (the streets I told him in the email he
> should drive on to see more cyclists in the morning and afternoon).
> 
> Mark asked fairly straight factual questions as he usually does; Ed made a
> comment about 360 and 2222 being dangerous for cyclists; I countered by
> saying 360 is fairly safe but agreed about the no-shoulder part of 2222.
> Sam stepped in and threw the most hostile question of the discussion (not
> that bad for him) talking about last year's legislative effort to ban
> cyclists from some rural roads - I quickly pointed out the lack of
> alternative routes in that part of the area and he didn't say anything
> else (of course, I don't know what he said after I got off the phone while
> I was taking the dog out).
> 
> The points I made were fairly limited:
> 
> 1. It's not "15% of everything" - it's "15% of this one thing" and I
> pointed to the current TIP which lays this out in almost painful detail -
> 2004 figures show something like 580 million for roadway projects and 4
> million for bike/ped.
> 2. I listed some reasons for bike facilities which make more sense to
> motorists (mentioning the fact that the bike lanes on Speedway help cars
> maintain 30 mph rather than being stuck going 10, for instance)
> 3. I briefly mentioned that a lot of road funding comes from property and
> sales taxes; and that no significant amount of state gasoline tax goes to
> any street without a TXDOT shield on it
> 
> Points I didn't get to:
> 
> 1. Why you don't "see" cyclists - you've driving on Mopac; they're riding
> on Shoal Creek, for instance
> 2. What type of projects the 15% actually goes for (barrier removal and
> building sidewalks on frontage roads were what I was going to talk about)
> 
> If anybody else heard the show, I'd love to hear your comments.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> ---
> Mike Dahmus
> mdahmus  << File: ATT147657.txt >>