New app recording bike routes

AUSTIN (KXAN) - If you're seeing more bikes on the road this week -- that's because it's Bike to Work Week.

This year Austin was chosen as the city to test out a new smartphone app that records routes bikers are riding.

"I enjoy riding, being outside, being active," said Jason Baker, who bikes to work.

By most standards Baker has a short commute to work -- only a mile and a half. He chooses his bike over the car and likes to stick to the neighborhood streets.

"Some of the main roads especially through South Austin like South First [Street] are just a little too busy and too much traffic," said Baker.

He hopes to let city leaders know that by recording his route on an app. It's called Cycle Tracks .

The idea is to record a biker's route, distance and speed on a smartphone.

The Texas Transportation Institute chose Austin for this testing since city officials are in the process of making the area more bike friendly by extending bike lanes and proposing to create bicycle boulevards.

"That can be used to help planners and decision makers in the area decide on routes. What are good routes? What is being used, what isn't being used?" said Joan Hudson, associate research engineer, Texas Transportation Institute.

"It gives us all of that information without having to be onsite," said Hudson.

For cyclists like Baker, he hopes it leads to safer roads on which to bike.

"I would like to see bike lanes on more of the major streets," said Hudson.

Cycle Track is free to download and will be available this month and next.

Don't forget Friday is Bike to Work Day . Three dozen locations throughout the city will offer free breakfast.