Bike Austin calls for funding, launches petition

Mayor Steve Adler has made it clear that he would like to see a transportation bond on the ballot in November. Now, Bike Austin has partnered with Vision Zero ATX, WalkAustin, ATX Safer Streets, Austin UP, Evolve Austin and Friends of Austin Neighborhoods to launch a petition asking that funding for Austin’s bicycle and sidewalk master plans be included in that bond. That petition is online here. It asks for full funding of the city’s Bicycle Master Plan and funding for all high- and very high-priority sidewalks identified in the Sidewalk Master Plan through a 2016 Mobility Bond. In a statement to the press, Bike Austin Executive Director Mercedes Feris said, “For decades, we’ve simply accepted that Austin’s notorious sidewalk gaps are part of life in our City. That the life-saving properties of protected bike lanes can only extend to a fraction of our most dangerous streets. … We know Austin can do better. Funding infrastructure to support the most efficient, affordable forms of transportation will relieve congestion on our busiest roadways and bolster equitable access to Austin’s schools, transit, healthy food and economic opportunities.” The transportation bond is expected to be addressed at the next meeting of the City Council Mobility Committee.