BIKE: CapMetro's All Systems Go project

[Lane S. Wimberley]

In light of recent discussion, I thought the following might be of
interest to anyone who is not yet aware of CapMetro's "All Systems Go"
project.  I offer this not as any sort of endorsement, but in an
effort to make sure that we cyclists and commuters are aware of what
the city is doing that could have profound effect on us.

The web site for this project is

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/

The project purports to have solving traffic and air quality problems
in Austin as it grows as its goals.  What concerns me is that they are
again engaging the "community involvement" and "consensus"
strategies.  I'm not sure why.  In my opinion, these have proven
themselves to have significant potential for mediocre outcomes at
best, and typically bad outcomes for cyclists, since we're a
minority.

But, I guess since they're heading in this direction, we are remiss if
we do not take steps to make sure that we are represented, and to 
oppose majority-backed initiatives that we feel are bad or dangerous
to cyclists.

There are evidently a series of "open houses" and "workshops"
scheduled.  The open house schedule is here...

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/get_involved_open_house.asp

...and the workshop schedule is here...

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/get_involved_workshop_schedule.asp

Despite the fact that I have obviously become quite jaded about these
silly things (ECT anyone?  SCB anyone?), I hope to make it to at least
one of each, and also to send comments to CapMetro.  I suppose there's
always some sliver of hope that I could have some positive effect.

Y'know, I recall a few years back that a little cyclist demonstration
at the Lamar St. bridge got pretty decent local media coverage, and my
impression is that it did have some effect on getting the bike/ped
bridge built.  Regardless of whether you think the bridge was a good
thing or not, I think there is potential in that sort of
attention-grabbing activism.  As these CapMetro efforts move forward,
if we find that we are getting screwed, I suggest we keep this in mind
as a potential tool for raising awareness, etc.

BTW, there's an on-line survey here...

http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/get_involved_online_survey.asp

-Lane

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