Comments on: Austin Bike Blog helps launch the Austin Bike Plan Petition http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/10/22/austin-bike-blog-helps-launch-the-austin-bike-plan-petition/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:19:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Conti http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/10/22/austin-bike-blog-helps-launch-the-austin-bike-plan-petition/comment-page-1/#comment-354 Conti Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:35:35 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=1185#comment-354 Trying to keep a close eye on city planning and policy can get a little headachy, especially with stuff like bike infrastructure that never seems to make the news until decisions have already been made. Thanks for keeping us all on top of the Street Smarts report, and giving us a little amplification with this petition. (And thanks for the blog-lovin,' too!) Trying to keep a close eye on city planning and policy can get a little headachy, especially with stuff like bike infrastructure that never seems to make the news until decisions have already been made. Thanks for keeping us all on top of the Street Smarts report, and giving us a little amplification with this petition. (And thanks for the blog-lovin,’ too!)

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/10/22/austin-bike-blog-helps-launch-the-austin-bike-plan-petition/comment-page-1/#comment-347 elliott Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:16:38 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=1185#comment-347 JW, We'll discuss this more in upcoming articles, but yes we do need paid staff for coordination and education. The coordinator ensures that when new roads and developments are built they have the facilities called for in the plan. The coordinator also ensures the plan is actually being executed as adopted by the City Council. These things do not happen by themselves and part of the reason our plan is so behind has to do with the elimination of this job in the 90s. Getting more people biking requires education in safe cycling thus the educator positions. If you go out on the street now, you'll see countless cyclists breaking traffic laws. The City is starting to crack down on this with ticketing, but if there is no education this discourages cycling. JW,
We’ll discuss this more in upcoming articles, but yes we do need paid staff for coordination and education. The coordinator ensures that when new roads and developments are built they have the facilities called for in the plan. The coordinator also ensures the plan is actually being executed as adopted by the City Council. These things do not happen by themselves and part of the reason our plan is so behind has to do with the elimination of this job in the 90s.

Getting more people biking requires education in safe cycling thus the educator positions. If you go out on the street now, you’ll see countless cyclists breaking traffic laws. The City is starting to crack down on this with ticketing, but if there is no education this discourages cycling.

]]> By: JW http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/10/22/austin-bike-blog-helps-launch-the-austin-bike-plan-petition/comment-page-1/#comment-346 JW Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:57:48 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=1185#comment-346 Do we really need paid bicycle coordinators? This city has more than enough chiefs already. How about spending the money on guys with shovels and some hot tar, or maybe with some brooms and vacuums for the mess that exists? I don't want advocates, educators or promoters; I want better streets, bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, etc. Put a enough of that stuff out there, MAINTAIN IT, and it will fill up miraculously with bike riders, I promise. Do we really need paid bicycle coordinators? This city has more than enough chiefs already. How about spending the money on guys with shovels and some hot tar, or maybe with some brooms and vacuums for the mess that exists? I don’t want advocates, educators or promoters; I want better streets, bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, etc. Put a enough of that stuff out there, MAINTAIN IT, and it will fill up miraculously with bike riders, I promise.

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