BIKE: Crossing I-35 at +/-42nd St (Hancock Center)

[Fred Meredith]

At 11:12 AM -0500 10/18/04, Mike Dahmus wrote:

>When Eric talks about commuter rail enabling barrier crossings, the 
>assumption is that the route uses the commuter rail ROW itself.

Many of the Rails With Trails systems that are in place have pinch 
areas and other situations that make it most feasible to leave the 
right of way for some distance. I don't feel like that need be a 
detraction from the overall trail. In fact, I think such practical 
deviations are truly in the spirit of walking and bicycling -- the 
most flexible and cost effective modes of transportation. I have 
always advocated that to put a bicycle on par with an automobile we 
need to tout its advantages, not just crab about its shortcomings or 
the problem with trying to make it happen in some particular facility.

Which brings me to the issue I'd like to add my take on.

Personally, I don't think that anyone should vote for or against the 
commuter train issue on the basis of whether a trail will or will not 
be included in the ROW. In fact, I don't think my vote will even 
depend on whether there is provision made for bikes on the train cars 
or bike parking at the stations although I highly favor both as 
encouragement to the one transportation group that could use this 
train most effectively.

I will vote for this plan for the following basic reasons.

1.) We need a "first step" project in order to have any further 
advancement in mass transit through consideration of rail or other 
option to the single-occupant motor vehicle that increasingly 
gridlocks Austin. It may not be the best beginning, but it would be a 
beginning rather than a mandate to keep all rail plans off the 
horizon and just throw money at more lanes of concrete in a misguided 
attempt to overcome congestion. Once a first step is taken, I feel it 
is more likely that better plans can be brought to bear on the issue. 
I think it is a foot-in-the-door situation.

2.) I will vote for the commuter rail because I have a promise from 
Capital Metro that bicycle accommodation on the trains and 
access/parking at the stations will happen and because I intend to 
use the rail as just a part of my personal transportation strategy. 
Cyclists are probably the most likely group to use the proposed 
commuter rail effectively. They have their bicycles to reach the 
nearest station and to pedal away to their destinations after the 
train ride. Their "transfer" is to and from their bikes. I already 
have such a link with the Capital Metro bus, but I would like a 
quicker option at some point in time, and a broader system. I can't 
crusade for cyclist accommodation if the basic system is voted down. 
Nothing goes forward in that scenario.

I'm voting for the commuter rail. We need options.

Fred Meredith
(representing himself, only)
-- 
When in doubt ... ride your bike (or at least write about it).

Fred Meredith
P.O. Box 100 (12702 Lowden Ln for UPS/FedEx)
Manchaca, TX 78652
512/282-1987 (office/home)
512/282-7413 (fax)
512/636-7480 (wireless)
More than you want to know at: http://2merediths.com