The City of Austin now has a plan to make Austin one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the country.
Thursday, city council was set to approve the first update to the city's bicycle plan in more than a decade. Due to a technicality, voting on the bike plan has been pushed back.
The updated plan will call for more than 900 miles of bike lanes throughout the city, nine new miles of bike boulevards and more than 100 miles of multi-use lanes.
The price tag for the plan is $250 million.
Incoming City Council Member and avid biker Chris Riley said it's about time the city gets serious about transportation cycling.
 |  |
 | |  |
| | | | | | | |
Bike Plan
News 8's Reagan Hackleman shares more about the city's updated bike plan.
 
| | |
| | | | | |
|
"So we're talking about taking care of 5 percent of our trips citywide and 10 percent in the central city for what's really a pretty reasonable sum," he said. "On top of that, we're talking about a type of transportation that is very environmentally friendly and offers significant benefits in terms of the public health as well."
According to the city, less than 1 percent of people in Austin ride their bikes to work.
Under the updated bike plan, the city wants 5 percent of people to ride their bikes to work.
Mayor-elect, Lee Leffingwell says when they vote on the plan they will only be voting on the plan, not to spend any money.
"The money will be spent when we have it to spend and it will be
spread out over a long period of time," Leffingwell said.
Leffingwell also brings up the possibility of paying for some of the infrastructure through a transportation only 2011 bond package that he wants to put before voters.
Cyclist we talked think it's about time the city started seriously talking about spending money on the city's bicycle infrastructure.
"It's been needed for years and it's good to see that the city is
finally moving in the right direction and making it safer for
bicyclist on the streets," cyclist, Brent Thompson said.
Council is set to vote on the plan during their June 11 meeting.
