Study: Bike blvd would not hurt traffic

AUSTIN (KXAN) - It was only fitting that dozens of people pulled up to Pease Elementary Wednesday night on two wheels. After securing their bikes outside, hundreds of cyclists packed the school gym and were pleased to hear how a designated Bicycle Boulevard would affect downtown traffic in the future.

"Any version would not make the traffic worse, in fact the traffic circles version actually keeps things the same," said project manager Annick Beaudet with the City of Austin.

Seven different versions have been mapped out . They include variations of speed bumps, special medians and signage used to slow down drivers and create a safer ride for cyclists either on Rio Grande Street or Nueces Street. Both streets are still in the running.

"To bring in new cyclists, Nueces is a much better choice," said Tom Wald with the League of Bicycling Voters . "It has a gentler grade."

Beaudet said Rio Grande is also a promising pick due to the number of schools that sit on the street that would benefit from slower traffic.

Depending on the plan, a couple dozen parking spaces could be compromised. Adding a simple bike lane on either street would have wiped out half of the spots.

"The way the process has been done has been a little unfair," said Monica Thomason, the office manager at eLaw Systems located on the corner of Nueces and 17th.

She and others against the $350,000 plan have picked up steam since the public meetings began.

"To spend an insane amount of money for the very limited number of bikes that actually commute here in Austin during this time is actually a really bad idea," said Thomason.

Bikes currently account for about 9 percent of the traffic along Nueces. Wald said the idea is to increase ridership and encourage more people to ride who have been discouraged by the traffic.

Signs of opposition have been posted along Nueces.  Keep Austin Moving is providing the signs and are encouraging people to sign an online petition . The group claims to support cyclists, but say that changing a commercial street is not the right move.

"Those businesses rely on their customers being able to get to them," said Beaudet. "You make it difficult and those customers are going to go elsewhere."

It is an argument the city said they are not ignoring.

"No version of this project would ever prohibit motor vehicles from the roadway," said Beaudet.

Driveways along the street would not be compromised either.

The city is encouraging people to email their opinions to bicycleboulevard@ci.austin.tx.us. They will use public feedback and the traffic impact study to make their recommendation to various boards by March 15. The plan should be in front of the city council by May.