Due to a technical snafu, the Austin City Council was not able to vote on the 2009 Austin Master Bike Plan when the plan was presented at the May 21 meeting. Instead, the plan is scheduled to be voted on this Thursday. 

While there was overwhelming support for the plan at the last meeting, this second hearing does allow opponents a second chance to attack the plan. It’s important that the cycling community show strong support for the plan especially in this time slimming budgets. While no one seems to suggest canceling the next four lane highway or overpass, bicycle infrastructure is often put on the chopping block with the perception of it only benefiting a few in our community. On the contrary, great bike infrastructure would help make it easier for more in our community to take advantage of this clean, cheap form of transport not to mention the economic benefit of green jobs that are possible. This plan will only be as good as its funding.

So what can you do?

1. Sign up to to speak in support of the plan. 

The public hearings section of Thursday’s council meeting begins at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers. Go to City Hall (301 W. 2nd st.), pass through security, and head to the southwest corner of the main lobby.

2. Send an email to the City Council. 

Write the council now at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm

3. Call the City Council

If you have the time, a phone call would help as well. Here’s the contact info for all the council members. They all serve at-large so you can call any of them or all of them.

Mayor Will Wynn- (512) 974-2250

Place 1 Councilmember Lee Leffingwell- (512) 974-2260

Place 2 Councilmember Mike Martinez- (512) 974-2264

Place 3 Councilmember Randi Shade- (512) 974-2255

Place 4 Councilmember Laura Morrison- (512) 974-2258

Place 5 Councilmember Brewster McCracken- (512) 974-2256

Place 6 Councilmember Sheryl Cole- (512) 974-2266

LET THE CITY COUNCIL KNOW you support not only ideas of the plan but full funding of the plan so we can make Austin’s place as a world class cycling city a reality.