Austin, TX: 5.4/10
We could be a top cycling town. The weather is very hot, but actually tolerable on a bike due to wind flow. We rarely get snow or ice that sticks.
e-bikes have really changed the dynamic for cycling as transportation. Hills are flattened, sweat is minimized.
The issues with biking in Austin boil down to two parts in my view. Dicey or non-existent connections between excellent networks of bike lanes, and zero traffic enforcement for cars. Starting with the latter, Texas drivers have always been egotistical, selfish, and distracted. They buy the largest vehicles and drive however they want to get there first, even if "there" is just the next light. Since covid, APD pretty much stopped enforcing traffic violations. Imagine if you could drive 15 mph on -any road- knowing full well that you will not be pulled over for speeding.
There is some excellent infrastructure, with more being added frequently. We need to prioritize "connecting the islands." Going from one network to another often requires uncomfortable travel on roads that leave cyclists and pedestrians vulnerable.
Txdot controls many roads in Texas, notably Lamar which is a major north/south artery. In fact, we don't even have a solid north/south connection for biking and instead have what is known as the "hippie highway," a cobbled-together connection weaving between some quieter neighborhoods. Not ideal as it can be tough just to get to.
For Lamar, imagine riding in a
2.5 feet unprotected bike lane full of glass, trash, and uneven pavement next to a 45 mph posted road (now imagine the actual speeds driven). You often see giant trucks and SUVs riding for long stretches in the bike lane. I wonder if they even know there is a bike lane? No wonder most cyclists wouldn't go near it! Oh, and we have some
weird issue with road paint being difficult to see. Txdot has resisted meaningful updates to infrastructure on this road for years. Of course, they are gleefully widening I-35, which runs directly through the heart of Austin, creating excessive noise and pollution. After round-the-clock construction finishes in about 8-10 years, we'll be ready for another widening! It's almost as if car-centric thinking hasn't worked and we have accumulated decades of data to prove it.
Despite all of that -- when riding my bike through Austin I am always amazed at how enjoyable it is. In rush hour I get places much quicker. Within a 2-3 mile radius of downtown I get places quicker, often thanks to the excellent hike and bike trail that extends east to west on both sides of the Colorado River. Being outside of a metal box encourages human communication and reduces road-rage frustration.
The upside: excellent. Leadership in Austin seems to recognize the immense benefits of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. We even have a $600 ebike credit as of this year. If we keep building more protected lanes we could lead as a cycling city.
Oh, and let's legalize the
Idaho Stop. It's safer for cyclists (NHTSA), and saves everybody time.
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Can you spot the bike lanes? That photo might look tame, but this is the absolute mildest time of the day on South Lamar.
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And on the flip side, we have some truly excellent infrastructure!