News & Issues
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Bicyclist Safety Program and Adult Helmets
On May 31, 2006 the Executive Committee of the Austin Cycling Association approved this statement for recommendation to the Austin Cycling Association (ACA) membership. On June 5, 2006 the ACA membership approved this statement.
Currently, a small group of concerned citizens are working to introduce citywide legislation to require the wearing of protective helmets by adult cyclists. This move is driven by a sincere desire to enhance the safety of cyclists.
The Austin Cycling Association will support a community awareness and education outreach campaign with the goals of reducing bicyclist crashes and strongly encouraging adults to voluntarily wear helmets.
The Austin Cycling Association will not support a mandatory adult helmet ordinance for the City of Austin.
The ACA supports the following activities as part of a community awareness and education outreach campaign as a means to significantly improve bicyclist safety and to reduce the social, physical and economic cost of bicycle crashes to individuals and to society:
- Adult (and child) bicyclist safety education.
- Widespread community campaign to strongly encourage bicycling and voluntary adult helmet use.
- Provision of low-cost and no-cost helmets to low-income adults and children.
- Roadway designs that accommodate bicyclists. Specifically, update and implement the Austin Bike Plan Part II.
- Share the Road campaign.
- Enforcement of existing traffic safety laws.
- Bicyclist and motorist traffic ticket diversion program.
The ACA does require that all participants in our organized rides wear a helmet. We require helmets because we accept that scientifically valid studies have shown that wearing a properly fitted helmet can help cyclists survive some types of head and brain trauma. (Harborview)
The ACA believes that a community campaign will be more effective in improving bicyclist safety and helmet use through education, and that the campaign will allow adults to make informed decisions about their personal health and safety when riding a bicycle.
The ACA proposes that the cycling community, public and private organizations, and the City of Austin work together to develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive Bicyclist Safety Program that incorporates a community awareness and education outreach campaign with the goals of reducing bicyclist crashes and strongly encouraging adults to voluntarily wear a helmet. We pledge to support an effective Bicyclist Safety Program that benefits all citizens of Austin.
Followup on Helmet Statement
On 6/22/06, Council approved a public hearing on August 24, 2006 at 6:00pm to consider amending City Code Section 12-2-31 to require helmets for all bicycle riders. Date and time: August 24, 2006 at 6:00 pm., City Hall Council Chambers, 301 West Second Street.
Sponsor: Mayor Will Wynn
Co-Sponsor1: Council Member Betty Dunkerley
Co-Sponsor2: Council Member Brewster McCracken
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We encourage the cycling community to share their views on a mandatory adult helmet ordinance for the City of Austin with Mayor Wynn and Council.
You may contact Council via the following email addresses:
will.wynn@ci.austin.tx.us
betty.dunkerley@ci.austin.tx.us
Brewster.McCracken@ci.austin.tx.us
jennifer.kim@ci.austin.tx.us
mike.martinez@ci.austin.tx.us
sheryl.cole@ci.austin.tx.us
lee.leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us
Please be respectful and professional in all communication with Council and remember that they are sincere in their efforts to improve cyclist safety.
Bee Cave marginalizes bikes
New construction to accomodate traffic expansion will remove shoulders from Hwy 71 between Hwy 620 and 2244. Reported public response to cyclists concerns was, "We are not concerned about recreational cyclists."
See ACA's official response letter on this issue (pdf file 71k) to the village of Bee Cave.
Austin Cycling Association
Proposal for Shoal Creek Boulevard
Printable PDF version of this proposal (32 K)
In a 40 foot cross section it is unrealistic to expect to be able to fully accommodate all stakeholders. The proposed configuration attempts to address the following issues:
- The homeowners and users of Shoal Creek Boulevard desire to reduce the speed of motor vehicles using the roadway (traffic calming).
- Shoal Creek Boulevard is a major north/south bikeway and accommodation of transportation cyclists is a primary consideration.
- Pedestrians must be able to walk safety along and across the boulevard.
- Homeowners desire to maintain parking as far a practicable given the previous criteria.
- This configuration provides limited traffic calming by maintaining the travel lanes at the current 10 foot width. Currently the 85 percentile speed varies between 33 and 39 mph. In other words, 15% of the motor vehicles using Shoal Creek Boulevard are going faster than this.
- By including a 1 foot center section this configuration provides minimal separation for motorists that are concerned about negotiating the narrowed travel lanes.
- By striping the bike lanes at 6 feet some additional pedestrian space is provided and the possibility of dooring in the lane next to the parking lane is reduced. Bike lane striping should be terminated in advance of each intersection to allow motorists and cyclists to position themselves in the proper location in the intersection. Bike lanes should include bike symbol and direction of travel arrows to reduce the potential of wrong way travel.
- Crosswalks at all intersections should be enhanced with either ladder or zebra striping and stop bars. This will encourage pedestrians to move to the intersections to cross safely and will aid in traffic calming.
- Removal of the current curb islands is required on the West side at a minimum.
- All dimensions, signs and markings must comply with AASHTO and MUTCD guidelines.
- For enhanced pedestrian safety we propose the addition of a 6 foot sidewalk on the West side of Shoal Creek Boulevard separated from the roadway by a 2 foot grass strip.
This proposal was not developed or reviewed by a professional engineer and it is understood that final design and engineering specifications may vary from the dimensions in this proposal.
For questions or comments contact:
W. Preston Tyree
Chair, Legislative Liaison Committee, Austin Cycling Association
preston3@communitymobility.org
10/3/2005
Pfinish the Pfluger Bridge!
Austin's bicycling public is welcomed and encouraged to participate in selecting the design of the long-awaited Pfluger Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge extension.
Please visit The Pfluger Bridge Web Page to get an excellent introduction and some of the latest information on the Pfluger Bridge Extension Project. Current design options being considered are here.
Connect & Stay Informed via Email
AustinRiders
Bike list on the Yahoo Groups area. Click
this link to sign up or send a blank email to :
Austinriders-subscribe@yahoogroups.com This group of dedicated
recreational cyclists, largely ACA members, is open to all novices
and experts. An intimate chatty list with lots of talk something
like this. "Who wants to join me Saturday to ride _____?"
Great place to meet some nice bicycle folks.
Austin Cycling Association's very own ACA-List on Google Now Available!
If you were one of the 300 or so members of the old list, you've already received an invitation to join the new list. New subscribers can join via the link below.
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Bike-Austin
Listserver.
Once the webmaster's favorite, but having recently pummeled Austin Cycling Association on some issues concerneing Shoal Creek Blvd, not so much a favorite anymore. Begun by Michael Bluejay years ago, this
list was the holy grail of Austin's bike community for years. A
bikes-as-transportation oriented email forum.