BIKE: S. Congress bike lane plans?

[forjador]

Though not ideal, the segment of Congress Ave. between Ben White and Town
Lake is reasonably decent (by Austin's standards, anyway) for riding in
both directions.  However, south of Ben White conditions along South
Congress (which is indicated as a bike route on the city's bike
map)deteriorate rapidly--lousy, poorly marked, crumbling pavement that
often drops precipitously off into gravel, mud puddles, and worse; no
indications of bike lanes; vehicles frequently parked along the shoulder,
etc.  The city recently spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for the
short but fancy sidewalk in front of the Texas School for the Deaf and now
seems poised to spend more on creating a bike lane of questionable utility.
Why not spread the wealth along Congress a bit more equitably?  Like Jeff
and Lane, I'd like to know how the plan was hatched and what other
streets/bike routes, if any, were considered for improvements.

Ralph

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Lane Wimberley bikelane
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:58:22 -0600
To: forum
Subject: Re: BIKE: S. Congress bike lane plans?


Well, if Shoal Creek Blvd. provides any clue, the bike lane 
probably IS the parallel parking spaces.  (Sorry -- couldn't resist.)

In addition to Jeff's questions below, I'd like to know who's idea
this was, and why this came about.

-Lane


On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:39:23 -0600, Thorne <jeffrey.thorne> wrote:
>  
> 
> All: 
> 
> 
> Stuart Werbner tells me that there's a city plan for a bike lane for S.
> Congress between Riverside and Nellie, and I understand it to be for the
> southbound side only and only for that stretch of roadway.  Is this
right? 
> And can someone tell me what the proposed lane would look like? 
> 
> Right now, on that stretch alongside the School for the Deaf's new wall,
to
> the right of the contruction traffic cones, the city has painted a
> right-turn-only lane for the entrance to the school and parallel parking
> spaces also.  Where's the bike lane going to be?  To the left of the
r.t.o.
> lane?  To the left of the parking?  In the door zone of the parking, or
> farther out left?  
> 
> How is a cyclist served by a bike lane only a few hundred yards long on
one
> side of the street?  How does she get to the start of the lane?  Where is
> she supposed to ride when arriving at Nellie?  Will she be placed far
enough
> left on S. Congress to continue going south when she crosses Nellie?  When
> going back, does she ride on S. Congress properly or against traffic in
the
> new one-side-only lane? 
> 
> How does the proposed lane interact with the plans for pedestrian
> accommodations on S. Congress? 
> 
> Thanks for any helpful info. 
> 
> Jeff 
>  
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Get on or off this list here:  http://BicycleAustin.info/list
> 
> 


-- 
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the
human race."
- HG Wells

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