The following is a report by Sara Deshong-Baker, an LOBV Coordinator, on the June 24th Austin City Council briefing on the Nueces/Downtown Bike Blvd.

I apologize for taking so long to get this to y’all. Super busy!

-Tom

On 6/25/2010 11:27 PM, Sara Deshong-Baker wrote:

I took some notes on the questions:

There were some concerns with the legality of possibly taking the speed limit down to 25mph – Annick addressed this by saying they were re-doing speed studies regarding lowering the speed limit.

The council wanted to know if there would be an evaluation of the Rio Grande improvements before embarking on Nueces in 2012. Annick (AB) said there absolutely would be. The evaluation would include looking at ridership and motorized variabilities. UTC [Urban Transportation Commission] may do that evaluation??

Another repeatedly voiced concern from the council was if there was any conflict with the current bike plan and any need to amend the current bike plan. AB says they do want to make a formal amendment to include Rio Grande and to incorporate it into route 31, so that it may appear on formal literature and city distributed bike maps. They would like to amend it in conjunction with the AMATP [Austin Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan].

AB let the council know that there is currently an analysis being done regarding the removal of stop signs and the speed control associated with that. Expected results of the study are due Aug 15th.

Riley wanted to know of any plans north of MLK. AB says she is currently working with stakeholders in west campus to 29th st to possibly develop more “innovative” infrastructure. She also noted that she is trying to work with the Rail plans in the north venture. What a smart sexy woman.

Spelman wanted to point out that all the council recognized the difficulty this project has endured and thanked AB for all her work. He had concerns on parking removal. AB assured him that the removal would be minimal and pointed to the angled parking. She also noted that in the studies, at no time during the day or evening was every single parking space taken on the proposed routes. Also to note, they plan to paint the bike lanes burnt orange, which is pretty smart in gathering more support, although the color is putrid

At the end of the other members questions, Leffingwell wanted to reiterate that this plan would not cut into motorized vehicle capacity on those streets.

So that’s it for the council concerns part. Vince and I had to wait till f*ng 4 pm to hear them. I hope this helps.

Sara Deshong-Baker

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2010

CONTACTS:
Rob D’Amico, 627-1343

Bike boulevard project moves ahead

LOBV supports plan and awaits Nueces improvements after street project completion

The League of Bicycling Voters today offered its support for the final stage of the public process for the city’s “Downtown Bike Boulevard Project,” which will be presented to the City Council as a briefing this morning.

“The bicycle and pedestrian improvements on Rio Grande will make that corridor a great amenity for all Austin bicyclists, and we’re confident it will add to a network of improvements that will attract new riders,” said Tom Wald, LOBV executive director.

The project includes traffic calming on Rio Grande—such as median islands with speed cushions, traffic circles, stenciled streets and signage to promote it as a bike boulevard, and street “cutouts” for dropping off passengers at Austin Community College and Pease Elementary School. The Rio Grande improvements—intended to slow traffic and make bicycling safer—could be completed as soon as summer of 2011.

The city plans to include an evaluation of the project in about two years to gauge impacts, bicycle ridership and community feedback when implementing an additional phase of improvements on Nueces Street. Bike lanes on some segments, along with sharrows (shared lane markings that encourage motorists to share the lane with bicyclists) are recommended in the city plan, but no improvements can be made until a water line project with street reconstruction is completed. Completion date for the Nueces water line project could come as soon as spring 2012.

“We’re encouraged that the city is offering some flexibility on Nueces, since the bike boulevard improvements originally were planned for that street and it’s a street preferred by bicyclists,” said Rob D’Amico, LOBV president.

“With nothing able to be done for at least a couple of years on Nueces, we feel it’s important to move ahead and get these much-needed improvements in on Rio Grande now and look at the benefits before weighing in again on Nueces,” D’Amico said. “Additionally, there’s a planning effort underway for West Campus bicycle facilities, and we’d like to see where that effort goes and how connectivity will work so we know how Nueces plays into the overall picture.”

The official LOBV position has been to support the planned improvements on Rio Grande while still advocating additional improvements on Nueces above and beyond the bike lanes and sharrows now planned by the city. The Austin Cycling Association recommended the Rio Grande improvements, but also recommended that bike lanes be taken out of the plan for Nueces from MLK Blvd. to 13^th Street and replaced with traffic calming.

Wald noted that all bicyclists agree that one of the big benefits of the project will be a new bike/pedestrian bridge over Shoal Creek on Rio Grande just south of 5^th Street. “The bridge will let bicyclists connect easily to the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Lady Bird Lake, and eventually the redevelopment projects at the former Seaholm Power Plant,” he said.

D’Amico said that the city did a good job of responding to concerns of residents and businesses on Nueces and Rio Grande about potential impacts. The process included a series of three neighborhood workshops and several city board and commission hearings. “The Rio Grande segment will show that the traffic calming proposed for the area will enhance the streets for everyone and won’t cause any negative impacts to business. And I think that the downtown community will come to see that the prospect of future development is a reason to create bicycle facilities, since city officials note that arterials serving travel in and out of downtown are at capacity.”

This month bicycle advocates led a bike tour with four city council members and aides from two other council offices to highlight the plans for the project. “It was a great show of support to have elected officials get on two wheels and look at the issues on the street,” D’Amico said. “One council member—Laura Morrison—even signed up and participated in a bike repair workshop with the Yellow Bike Project. I think that signals good things to come for bicycling in Austin.”

For more information on the bike boulevard project, visit http://www.lobv.org.

The League of Bicycling Voters is Austin’s voice for bicyclists. LOBV is a nonprofit advocacy organization promoting better transportation policy decisions, justice for bicyclists, and more resources to increase the number of bicyclists in the Austin area.
###

RALLY for Austin bicycling at City Hall!

It begins with a ride from Caffe Medici on the Drag, i.e. Guadalupe St. Meet there at 10am, and depart at 10:15am SHARP. The ride will go down the beloved (if not “boulevard”) street of Nueces. We expect the ride to arrive at City Hall with time to spare.

The Nueces/Downtown Bicycle Boulevard briefing item is on the City Council agenda on Thursday, June 24th, at 10:30am or later: Item # 104

It is scheduled to be the second of three items between 10:30am-12noon. The best estimate is that it will start just after 11am. Keep in touch via Twitter: http://twitter.com/lobvaustin

Since this is planned to be only a briefing and not a council vote, there will be no public input (at the microphone) at this meeting. However, we still need to show our support for bicycling in Austin at the City Council Chambers. We can give public input with our presence. By showing the dedication and numbers of bicyclists at City Hall, we will remind City Council that more and better bicycling facilities must continue to come to Austin. Bring your bike pin, bike shirt, and/or other bike paraphernalia, and let’s fill the room.

AFTER the City Council briefing, we’ll head over to Halcyon Coffee Bar Lounge a few blocks away at 4th & Lavaca Sts. Halcyon is offering a special happy hour for us. Just make sure you pick up a League of Bicycling Voters sticker to identify yourself for your happy hour discounts. (Look for Vince.) No, you don’t have to drink (alcohol), but it will be an opportunity to plot, plan, share, and socialize with your fellow interested cyclists.

I would have liked to have been there, but I’m currently in Copenhagen at the Velo-City Global 2010 (bicycle conference). Indeed, here there are many bike boulevards and cycletracks, and indeed, people on bikes, as well. So too in Austin, with dedication from all of us, we will create the Austin of our dreams, the Austin of our future: an Austin full of bikes and public people.

From the City of Austin Bike Program:

Subject: Downtown Bicycle Boulevard Date Change
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:08:25 -0500
From: Barrera, Nadia

The City Council has requested that the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard Briefing be moved from this week to the June 24 Council meeting at 10:30 AM at City Hall.
Please contact Annick Beaudet (512) 974-6505 with any questions.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/publicworks/bicycle.htm

Annick C. Beaudet, AICP
Program Consultant – Planning
Neighborhood Connectivity Division
Department of Public Works
City of Austin
505 Barton Springs Road, Suite 900
Austin, Texas 78704
office 512-974-6505
cell 512-784-3085

I attended the city’s Downtown Austin Plan Town Hall last night at the Waller Creek Center. Most of the usual Bike Blvd. opponents were there. However, nary a word was said against keeping both Rio Grande St. and Nueces St. as bike priority streets in the Downtown Austin Plan (DAP) for the Northwest District (of downtown). Perhaps the audience was too winded after finding so many other components of the plan so objectionable.

The only questioning about the bike boulevard or the bike priority streets was when one gentleman inquired about the diameter of the traffic circles planned for Rio Grande St. (as specified in City staff’s recommendation). The city’s response was that the DAP does not cover such details. The opposition has repeatedly brought up their concern that traffic circles may be so wide that they will calm traffic, which, of course, is the intent of the traffic circles when four-way stop-signs are taken out. At Nueces Bike Blvd. Steering Committee meetings, City bike program staff has made it clear that the diameter of the traffic circles will be mostly dependent on engineering concerns, not political concerns (from any side).

The Austin City Council will be voting on the Downtown Austin Plan later this month, likely on June 24th (the same date as the briefing on the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard).

The staff’s recommendation (of spring 2010) for the Nueces/Downtown Bike Boulevard will be making its last visit to Austin’s city commissions this Tuesday. The Urban Transportation Commission will receive a briefing on the recommendation this Tuesday, May 11th, at 6pm. It is likely that the UTC will follow the suit of the other commissions, and make a decision regarding the staff recommendation.

Note that the Austin City Council briefing on the matter, originally scheduled for May 13th, has been postponed to June 10th.

More information can be found on the city’s bike program website, here:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/publicworks/bicycle-public-input.htm

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/publicworks/bicycle.htm

The approximate text of my (Tom’s) speech at the city’s Planning Commission meeting of April 27th follows. The italicized text below reflects the explicit position of the LOBV board.

From the Planning Commission, April 27th, says Tom Wald, Executive Director, League of Bicycling Voters:

The League of Bicycling Voters supports the staff’s recommendations for improvements to Rio Grande Street.

And we still support the original vision and plans for a Nueces Bike Boulevard that uses significant traffic calming to achieve a safe corridor for moving bicyclists of all ages and experience levels to key downtown destinations.

A Nueces Bike Boulevard should be a signature bicycle facility that will serve as a foundation for a network of improvements that encourage bicycling and its benefits, which will help Austin achieve its goals for mobility, climate change, environmental protection and health. A Nueces Bike Boulevard should be a shining example of our commitment to achieving greater balance in our transportation modes and celebrating Austin’s efforts to be a world-class bicycle city. The proposed improvements on Nueces St. in the staff recommendation do not yet reflect that vision.

We have accrued the explicit support of 2000 Austinites for a Nueces Bike Boulevard, and these people are following this process to see that adequate bicycle facilities are implemented on Nueces Street.

——

We encourage this commission to examine the questionable foundation for shifting the bulk of the proposed improvements and, to some extent, the proposed bike boulevard itself to Rio Grande Street.

The staff’s recommendations are based on…

1) That future development and redevelopment could possibly increase traffic volumes on Nueces to the level that is incompatible with a bike boulevard.

The League of Bicycling Voters finds this argument disturbing, since it’s planning for what may happen, instead of what Austinites and city leaders would like to occur. The potential for increased auto traffic should be the catalyst for initiating the original vision of serving new destinations, such as Seaholm, the new central library, and new residential development with a safe corridor for bicyclists. Motorists would still use the street, which will connect to Cesar Chavez, but with the expectation that they will simply drive slower and share the road with bicyclists.

2) That a bike boulevard on Nueces could shift traffic to Rio Grande and pose safety concerns for pedestrians and bicyclists there, and that Rio Grande has schools that will serve as better destinations for bicyclists.

The League of Bicycling Voters finds this argument lacking, because it doesn’t include an analysis of impacts on Rio Grande if improvements — particularly those for pedestrians — also are made, such as bulb-outs. As stated in the first HDR traffic study, the amount of traffic shifted would be nominal and not significant. We also object to the idea that Rio Grande Street will serve as a route to bicyclist destinations any more than Nueces Street will. The schools, particularly ACC, are key destinations, but there’s a reason why twice as many bicyclists already use Nueces instead of Rio Grande despite no existing special measures to improve bicycle mobility… they are using Nueces as part of their commute and trips to downtown and other connected destinations. With the significant development planned near Seaholm, those desired destinations will increase dramatically.

We specifically ask staff to respond to:

Why are we planning for the eventuality of too much auto use on Nueces, instead of fulfilling the vision outlined for a Nueces Bike Boulevard in the City’s Bicycle Master Plan, Downtown Planning process and Street Smarts Task force recommendations?

——

Whatever the merits of the staff recommendation, indeed the Bicycle Advisory Council voted to support the staff plan at the April 15th meeting, nevertheless the draft plan fails at this time to propose an adequate bicycle boulevard on Nueces Street, which is what downtown Austin mobility needs to help reduce overall congestion.

Thank you for your time.

Goal of maintaining auto capacity and Nueces as a car thoroughfare nixes
vision for moving new bicyclists downtown by pedal power

The League of Bicycling Voters (LOBV) said Monday that it will continue to pursue a bike boulevard on Nueces Street, despite a City of Austin staff recommendation instead calling for new traffic calming on Rio Grande and a watered down mix of bike lanes and sharrows on Nueces.

“First they took the word ‘Nueces’ out and began calling it the ‘Downtown Bike Boulevard Project,’ and now with this plan, they’ve essentially removed the word ‘bike’ as well,” said Rob D’Amico, League of Bicycling Voters president. “What once was a vision for defining a key corridor to move Austinites in and out of downtown by bicycles, has turned into a plan for pushing bikes to side to make sure cars aren’t burdened. Luckily we have thousands of bicyclists—including some 2,000 signing a petition for a Nueces bike boulevard—and a lot of momentum in our city leadership and planning to carry on the vision. ”

The City started its process in December by inviting the public to look at what types of traffic calming and design elements would be best for a Nueces Bike Boulevard, which was already a component of the Bicycle Plan that passed City Council last June, and the Downtown Plan process. LOBV also created its own plan for a Nueces Bike Boulevard that calls for a variety of traffic calming measures—such as traffic circles, pinch points, partial diverters, signage, stenciling and more—to slow auto traffic and make the boulevard more appealing to beginning bicyclists and families on bikes. Motorists would still be able to access the entire street with all
of the plans, but with the understanding that they would need to drive slower.

However, city officials will release a plan today that calls for bike lanes on each side of Nueces, instead of a mix of innovative tools to open up the street to cyclists, after property owners with eyes on future development on the street pressured the city to take a new look at their plans. The bike lanes on the northern segment of Nueces will require removal of all on‐street parking on one side of the street.
The city plan also provides for improvements on Rio Grande that will make the street somewhat safer for bicyclists and hopefully much safer for students and pedestrians. “The city plan does have a lot of great things going for it on Rio Grande, but unfortunately, it’s at the expense of doing what’s right on Nueces,” D’Amico said. Plans call for traffic circles, cutouts for car drop‐offs at Austin Community College and Pease Elementary, resurfacing the road, speed cushions to reduce auto speed and a bike/pedestrian bridge over Shoal Creek just south of 5th Street that will connect to the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Shoal Creek Trail and Lady Bird Lake.

“We love the idea of improving Rio Grande, but it’s still a street with hills that will deter many beginning or young cyclists, while the perfectly flat corridor on Nueces, the obvious choice for a great bike boulevard, gets a bike facility that can be intimidating and is definitely less attractive,” D’Amico said.
“Much of the debate over the Nueces Bike Boulevard has been the idea that redevelopment at Seaholm and along the western edge of downtown will make Nueces an important thoroughfare for auto traffic when it connects to Cesar Chavez and that auto capacity needs to be preserved for development in that area,” D’Amico said. “This runs counter to Austin’s rather ambitious goals for climate protection, air quality, mobility and public health.”

D’Amico also said that misinformation campaigns, intimidation and harassment by those opposing the bike boulevard on Nueces also took its toll on city officials trying to coordinate a public process. “Threats to a city official, nasty letters, misinformation printed and spread throughout the area, and threat of lawsuits all have taken their toll,” he said. “I think the thought from some in city government is that it’s best to just get something done and move on. Our thought is, ‘Think big, get big results, follow through on our vision, let our leadership express confidence in what’s right, and do not stand for intimidation in civic life.’”

The Austin Bicycle Advisory Council—which reviewed an outline of the city staff plan—instead passed the following resolution at their March 25th meeting:

The Bicycle Advisory Council supports a full and expedient implementation of a bike boulevard on Nueces Street with significant traffic calming, with the specific devices and locations to be discussed at future BAC meetings. The BAC also supports roadway improvements, including traffic calming, on Rio Grande Street to provide safer access to Pease Elementary, Austin Community College and other chools and destinations for cyclists and pedestrians.

PDF press release link: http://lobv.org/docs/LOBV_NuecesAbandon.pdf

We’ve taken the time to respond to each of the many stated concerns of the opposition. Our responses are available online. Many of their concerns are based on misinterpretations of the project, while other concerns are alarmist. We have sent our responses to these concerns to the Urban Transportation Commission and City Council. I encourage you to send your own emails to the UTC and City Council to reiterate the points you find most striking.

Throughout the discussion, it is notable that the opposition has offered no alternative solution to a Nueces Bike Blvd. to meet the city and community goals of a more bicycle friendly Austin. One thing is clear for those, including the downtown business community, who have studied the situation: For downtown and central Austin to meet its basic transportation needs into the future, Austin will need to create a better multimodal transportation system, and bicycling will be an important part of that mix. Because the opposition chooses to ignore or deny the problem, it will be difficult to get their support for any real solution.

Be explicit about your support for Austin’s first bike boulevard. Sign the Nueces Bike Boulevard Petition, if you haven’t already, and ask your friends, family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, and the person sitting next to you right now to sign it as well. Check out our Nueces page for more info, including our recommended plan for a successful bike boulevard on Nueces St.

And so that we can continue to support the implementation of Austin’s Bike Plan, join the League of Bicycling Voters today. Your financial support really is essential to keep us going so we can work for you every day.

Sign the Nueces Bike Boulevard Petition:
http://tinyurl.com/nuecesbikeblvd

And if you haven’t already done so, send an e-mail to your City Council:  http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm

Spread the word:  Tell your family, friends, coworkers, classmates, and neighbors to sign the petition and contact City Council.  We can have better bicycling facilities, we can have a Nueces Bike Boulevard, but we’ll need to have a strong voice.

(Download a PDF version of the petition.)

• The basics…What is the Nueces Bike Boulevard?
• Read the LOBV Nueces Bike Boulevard Plan (PDF)
• Download the full plan map (PDF)
• Take Action!
• Talking points for supporting the LOBV Plan
• More on bike boulevards
• LOBV Plan News Release (PDF)

The basics…What is the Nueces Bike Boulevard?

The Nueces Bike Boulevard has been a no-brainer for bicycle enthusiasts, downtown boosters and area planners for quite some time. You take a flat street with relatively low auto traffic and scores of existing bike riders looking to get from the UT area to downtown and simply make it a bike-priority street that discourages through auto traffic. Add quicker travel for bicyclists by removing many of the stop signs, some identity with signage and public art, and things get even more exciting. Phase I would go from 3rd Street to MLK Boulevard, with Phase II possibly heading north to Guadalupe/29th Street.

Unfortunately, some businesses along Nueces are objecting to the idea–saying that it will kill their business, make them liable for bike accidents and even ruin the historic nature of existing buildings. What? Have you ever had to go a block or two out of your way to get to a business on a one-way street? This is what some auto drivers may face with the changes.

So please take a moment to contact City Council members and let them know the benefits of the bike boulevard. You can email them all from:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm

LOBV Action Alert!

1) Email the City Council Now to support the Nueces Bike Boulevard …
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm (see below for talking points and more info)
The next few weeks are critical, so please do not hesitate.

2) Sign the petition:  http://tinyurl.com/nuecesbikeblvd
(Download a PDF version of the petition.)

3) Show up to the City of Austin Nueces Bike Boulevard Workshops
WHERE: Pease Elementary School, at 1106 Rio Grande St .

WHEN: February 24, 6-8 PM: Design Presentation and Final Commenting

Please contact the City of Austin’s Jason Fialkoff at (512) 974-7060 or Jason.fialkoff@ci.austin.tx.us with any questions or concerns or if you can not attend one of the meetings.

Talking points:

* The bike boulevard is a key corridor connecting UT with downtown, and hundreds of cyclists already use it each day. The bike boulevard’s safer and more convenient facilities would attract new and inexperienced riders

* Removing time- and energy-wasting stop signs for bicyclists and calming the traffic by discouraging “through” auto traffic will attract scores of new riders.

* It’s time that Austin recognized that to maximize the benefits of bicycling–climate and air protection, health, and reduced traffic congestion–it must step up to the plate with significant new bicycle facilities.

* The bike boulevard will have a negligible impact on accessibility for autos to businesses and residents. The bike boulevard is worth autos traveling a block or two out of their way!

* Both the Downtown Austin Plan and Bicycle Plan list Nueces as a bike boulevard.

More on Bike Boulevards
For more on bike boulevards, see:

http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/99-4/bicycles.php
http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/faqs/answer.cfm?id=3976
http://www.nycsr.org/nyc/video-view.php?id=39
http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/27/another-model-berkeleys-bicycle-boulevard-network/

The LOBV has released its official recommendations for the proposed Nueces Bike Boulevard.

Download the LOBV’s Proposal now.

LOBV Action Alert!

1) Email the City Council Now to support the Nueces Bike Boulevard …
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm (see below for talking points and more info)

Make your e-mail thorough… spill out everything about why you believe more bicycling is the best thing for your community and Austin…
… or just say that you’re in support, but do it right now. If you support, do not hesitate to express your support.

2) Show up to the Nueces Bike Boulevard Open House next Wednesday, January 13th (see below)

∞) Have a see at the multimodal compromise of a Nueces Boulevard serving the needs of pedestrians, walking shoppers, bicyclists, bicycling shoppers, and motoring shoppers…
i.e. How to increase property values and benefit bicycle and pedestrian mobility simultaneously (a win-win solution):

The Skinny…
The Nueces Bike Boulevard has been a no-brainer for bicycle enthusiasts, downtown boosters and area planners for quite some time. You take a flat street with relatively low auto traffic and scores of existing bike riders looking to get from the UT area to downtown and simply make it a bike-priority street that discourages through auto traffic. Add quicker travel for bicyclists by removing many of the stop signs, some identity with signage and public art, and things get even more exciting. Phase I would go from 3rd Street to MLK Boulevard, with Phase II possibly heading north to Guadalupe.

Unfortunately, some businesses along Nueces are objecting to the idea–saying that it will kill their business, make them liable for bike accidents and even ruin the historic nature of existing buildings. What?

Have you ever had to go a block or two out of your way to get to a business on a one-way street? This is what some auto drivers may face with the changes.

So please take a moment to contact City Council members and let them know the benefits of the bike boulevard. You can email them all from:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm

Talking points:

* The bike boulevard is a key corridor connecting UT with downtown, and hundreds of cyclists already use it each day.

* Removing time- and energy-wasting stop signs for bicyclists and calming the traffic by discouraging "through" auto traffic will attract scores of new riders.

* It’s time that Austin recognized that to maximize the benefits of bicycling–climate and air protection, health, and reduced traffic congestion–it must step up to the plate with significant new bicycle facilities.

* The bike boulevard will have a negligible impact on accessibility for autos to businesses and residents. The bike boulevard is worth autos traveling a block or two out of their way!

* Both the Downtown Austin Plan and Bicycle Plan list Nueces as a bike boulevard.

Open House and Design Workshops
The City is asking the public to help design the bicycle boulevard at an upcoming Open House series.

WHERE: Pease Elementary School, at 1106 Rio Grande St .

WHEN:

* December 9, 6-8 PM: Project Discussion and Public Design Exercise

* January 13, 6-8 PM: Project Discussion and Public Design Exercise

* February 24, 6-8 PM: Design Presentation and Final Commenting

Please contact Jason Fialkoff at (512) 974-7060 or Jason.fialkoff@ci.austin.tx.us with any questions or concerns or if you can not attend one of the meetings.

More on Bike Boulevards

For more on bike boulevards, see:
http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/99-4/bicycles.php
http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/faqs/answer.cfm?id=3976
http://www.nycsr.org/nyc/video-view.php?id=39
http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/27/another-model-berkeleys-bicycle-boulevard-network/