The folks at bycycle.org (Wyatt and Lauren) have generously opened up the discussion for an Austin, TX, version of bycycle.org. Austin and Portland ARE sisters, so it only makes sense.
While Austin is not quite as advanced as Portland is when it comes to bicycle infrastructure, it comes pretty darn close, especially considering that it’s in the middle of Texas. There are some subtle similarities and differences between the two bicycle cities :
Portland cyclists primarily ride road bikes. It’s a mountain bike for Austin cyclists. Portland cyclists, in a waterproof bubble, continue to ride diligently through the winter rains. Austin cyclists drink gallons of water to replace the gallons perspired while riding faithfully through the hot summer breeze. Portland is “the most bikeable city in America”. Austin has Lance Armstrong, the greatest cyclist ever to live. In Portland, if you ride a fixed gear bike, you are rad. In Austin, if you ride a fixed gear bike, you are a badass. In Portland, “smart lights” sense a waiting cyclist and changes the light to green. In Austin, cyclists pretend the light is green. Portland and Austin BOTH have bike racks on ALL full size city buses. Portland has an intricate network of wide and continuous bike lanes which could route a cyclist anywhere within city limits safely ( arguably ). Austin has a unique infrastructure of creekside bicycle paths which are entirely separate from the streets and route the cyclists UNDER intersections. Portland has the Spring Water Corridor. Austin WILL have the Lance Armstrong bicycle highway one day eventually. If we are lucky… Austin, like Portland, will have a version of bycycle.org.
The Austin cycling community has expressed enthusiasm about the proposal for an interactive, user friendly, point to point, bicycle map. Let’s not let this opportunity slip past us.
Please feel free to chime in with any thoughts, ideas, or questions.
Bicycle everywhere !
- trevor ( trevor@bycycle.org )
Pingback: Trevor in Austin at byCycle.org Blog
As a member of the Austin Cycling Association, one of Austin’s cycling clubs, it would be great to hear more about this. Please keep this opportunity up to date, or better, let me know if there’s anything a fellow techie can do.
dcd
You said:
“In Austin, if you ride a fixed gear bike, you are a badass.”
I say:
“Yeah…either that, or a dumbass!”
Your statement is way too generalized. There are two types of fixie riders in Austin, at least.
One the one hand, you have the hardcore cyclists (perhaps competitive cyclists) who use a fixie to train on. Others use them for commuting because of their simplicity and low maintenance. THESE are the badasses.
On the other hand, you have the young, hip, fashion-conscious types who ride fixies only because it’s…well…fashionable. They think it’s really cool to ride around in city traffic with no brakes, lights, helmets, or any other safety gear whatsoever. Their only accessory is a (again, fashionable)’messenger bag’. These kids mostly don’t know a thing about the technical/mechanical aspects of the bike, nor of the riding itself. They ride them just to be seen riding them…period. And most of them also have no clue at all about bicycle traffic laws, safety, and just plain ol’ common sense (no brakes, remember?)
THESE are the dumbasses.