Current Projects

Bike Austin is actively engaged in a number of projects to help bring more people to bicycling. You can read more below. Stay tuned for periodic updates.

Advocating for a world-class network of bikeways:
  • An All-Ages-and-Abilities Bikeway Network (more below)
  • Physically Protected Bike Lanes on Critical Streets (more below)
  • Completion of the Rail-With-Trail Red Line Trail
  • U.S. 183 South Shared-Use Paths
  • Travis County Bike Safety Plan
  • Austin Bicycle Plan Amendments
  • North MoPac Bike/Ped Highway from Enfield to Parmer (more below)
Partnering/ Collaborating with others’ events to encourage more people to attend by bike, and providing education focused on overcoming individual barriers to cycling:
  • HOPE Farmers Market
  • Bike To Work Day (with Austin Cycling Association) (read more)
  • VIVA STREETS! (read more)
  • Provide monitored event bike parking, i.e. bike valet
  • Compilation of existing resources for helping people overcome personal barriers to bicycling. (view)
  • Development and distribution of basic bicycling tips, tailored to the needs of Austin. (see example)
Develop advocates and broad support for bicycling:
  • Distribution of notices for key public input opportunities to support bicycling via our e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, and our website.
  • Development of an online resource and periodic workshops to help further develop public support and action for bicycling.
  • Continued development of relationships with elected officials.
  • Outreach to all areas of Austin between now and November 2014 to ensure support for bicycling among leading Austin City Council and Mayoral candidates

Further details on some of these projects can be found below.

An All-Ages-and-Abilities Bikeway Network

In October 2012, as part of the ThinkBike! Workshop facilitated by representatives of the Dutch Cycling Embassy, Bike Austin helped develop a draft All-Ages-and-Abilities Bikeway Network for Central Austin. This dense network would include physically protected bike lanes (cycletracks), bike boulevards, and trails, and connect all of Central Austin from RM 2222 to Oltorf, and Exposition to Pleasant Valley. (Bike lanes, trails, and other facilities, would continue to be implemented outside of Central Austin.)

This will be a game-changer that will make bicycling in Austin safer, more convenient, and more comfortable for everyone. During 2013 our city will consider implementing such a network, and we’re working hard to build real, lasting momentum for this effort.

Physically Protected Bike Lanes on Critical Streets

While there are many gaps in Austin’s network of bikeways, Bike Austin has identified and prioritized hazardous transportation corridors where physically protected bikeways are very important. These projects include: the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, Pleasant Valley Road (including the bridge), and East Riverside Dr. All of these locations have seen bad collisions between motor vehicles and bicycles, with fatalities having occurred on Congress Avenue Bridge (Oct. 2012) and Riverside Drive (Nov. 2012). We are regularly meeting with city staff, Councilmembers, and community and business leaders to build support and momentum we need to create safer bikeways.

North MoPac Bike/Ped Highway from Enfield to Parmer

This path would connect major population and employments centers in the Austin area, and would help complete a forty-mile loop around Central Austin.

In November 2010, Bike Austin asked the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of the North MoPac expansion project. In 2011, CTRMA and TxDOT agreed to include approximately $5MM of bike/ped facilities with the project that will include: a shared-use path along the western edge of MoPac from Loop 360 to Walnut Creek, a shared-use path connecting Shoal Creek Blvd. to areas north of U.S. 183, improved bicycle and pedestrian connections across MoPac, sidewalks, and an assurance that the roadway expansion will not preclude future construction of a shared-use path (trail) from Enfield Road to Parmer Lane.

Without our work, it is likely that less than $1MM of bike/pedestrian facilities (mostly sidewalks) would have been included and that critical low-cost connections would have been neglected. We are now working with the Austin City Council, City of Austin staff, CTRMA, and TxDOT to ensure that the North MoPac Improvement Project includes design for the complete trail from Enfield to Parmer.