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Downtown Austin Goes For The Goal – and the Gold!

Fred Schmidt | March 28, 2014 |

If you haven’t yet read this week’s edition of The Austin Chronicle – and seen the amazing front page photo/rendering – please check it out at once here! Stupendous reporting by Senior News Editor, Michael King, of breaking news regarding a multi-billion dollar plan to build a Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium in the middle of Lady Bird Lake, coupled with the new Light Rail line running straight through the center of the stadium as the train crosses the river.

[Read more…] about Downtown Austin Goes For The Goal – and the Gold!

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin parks, austin recreation, austin traffic, austin transit, Austin Views, city council, development, downtown austin, entertainment district, lady bird lake, life, life in austin, Rainey Street District, rumors, gossip, urban planning, waller creek Tagged With: Austin, lady bird lake, light rail, river, soccer

Austin Bike Share Enters the Homestretch

Jude Galligan | January 15, 2013 |

It’s been almost two and a half years since I started advocating for Austin Bike Share in the state capital.  It became the highest rated of any SpeakUpAustin initiative, ever.  Because of incredible grassroots support, generous financial support by several local businesses, and hard work by City staff, Austin Bike Share is finally happening for Austin.

Austin City Council this week is expected to approve an important step in the process, which will allow the city to form a partnership with nonprofit Bike Share of Austin to operate the bike share program.

The City and Bike Share of Austin are aiming to have the bike share program up and running by spring 2013. A separate contract with a bike share vendor for the purchase of bicycles, kiosks, and the bike share system network is scheduled to come to City Council for approval at the next scheduled council meeting, which would be Jan. 31.

It has long been rumored around town that Austin is going to pick B Cycle, the same bike share operator as San Antonio, to supply the bike share system for Austin.  San Antonio’s system is a phenomenal success and expanding.

According to the City, the bike share will bring about 40 bike share kiosks, with as many as 400 bikes, to Central Austin area.  That’s a good start.

jude-bike-shareIt was around 2009, when traveling in Montreal, that I was first introduced to a robust bike share system. That system was called BIXI, but it was the same bike design used in Minneapolis.  The system works impressively well.  You can become a member, or pay-as-you-go. The three-geared bikes are comfortable and well maintained.

That Austin’s Bike Share initiative seems to be heading for the final stretch is superb news, and I’d like to thank all of our City Council members and all the folks at the city who are working to make this happen.

We can expect a draft map of the locations within the next couple of months.

I’ve learned that City staff’s process of identifying possible sites for bike share kiosks is based on several criteria:

  • Proximity of bike infrastructure such as bike lanes or cycle tracks
  • High employment density
  • Nearby parks, recreation facilities, tourist attractions, or other destination
  • Favorable topography
  • Public transit services

Get it out there.

For the sake of getting bike share off the ground, I really hope the City doesn’t let perfection get in the way of progress.  I, myself, would be in favor of a phased launch and the City says, “we are putting half the stations in these spots. Deal with it.  However, we would like to hear from the public about where we get the other stations set up at.”

That would get Austin Bike Share rolling, with kiosks being put into the ground, instead of letting all the zealots debate the minutia and delaying having something the public can actually use.

-Jude

Filed Under: around town, austin recreation, austin traffic, austin transit, city council Tagged With: austin bike share

Mega Presentation On Urban Rail Tuesday

dab | June 13, 2011 |

austin rail

NEWS FLASH: According to a source at City Hall, the Austin Transportation Department is slated to give a big presentation June 14 that will be “a substantial briefing” on urban rail and begins to start answering Uncle Lee’s 30 crucial questions and “then some.”

The mayor has pushed a 2012 bond election funding a first leg for a new mode of mass transit in Austin.

[Read more…] about Mega Presentation On Urban Rail Tuesday

Filed Under: austin news, austin traffic, austin transit, city council, development, downtown austin, rumors, gossip, urban planning

Is Austin Bicycle Theft On The Rise?

dab | May 30, 2011 |

austin-stolen-bike

There were more bike thefts reported in the heart of downtown Austin during the first five months of 2011, compared to 2010, according to city police records I compiled. However, reports are down in the South Congress area.

I know this because I decided to do my best Council Member Chris Riley impression — sans silver hair — and work on reducing my car usage in favor of pedal power to commute to the Capitol area. I bought a bike over the weekend, did some research and promptly shelled out another $200 for accessories, aimed mostly at anti-theft.

[Read more…] about Is Austin Bicycle Theft On The Rise?

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, Austin Real Estate Data & Statistics, austin recreation, austin traffic, austin transit, city council, crime, data, statistics, downtown austin, life in austin, rumors, gossip Tagged With: austin bicycle, austin bike theft

SXSW 2011 – Downtown Austin Street Closures

Andre Suissa | March 9, 2011 |

Do you have a plan for getting around Downtown Austin during this year’s SXSW?  Bike, scooter, or walking will be your best bet.  But, if you have to get to/fro by car, attached are two nice maps of street closures for you to be aware of.  Click the thumbnails below for a full size image.

Filed Under: austin traffic, downtown austin Tagged With: austin street closures, SXSW

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