Now that it is officially spring, the Austin City Council’s bike committee is looking to its 2001 goals.

Thursday, March 22, 2001

Now that it is officially spring, the Austin City Council’s bike committee is looking to its 2001 goals.

On Wednesday, the group met and focused on a brochure to be completed by this summer, the Cedar River Trail and preparing bike racks for the downtown area.

Jon Erichson, director of public works and city engineer, presented a preliminary example of the pedestrian and bike trails brochure. When completed, the brochure will contain existing and future trails, bike road safety tips, pictures of trail sites around Austin and city information.

Erichson will be creating a revised trail map immediately and will send it out to committee members. Over the next two months, revisions will be made to the map and the layout.

The bike committee’s budget for 2001 is $3,000, which will pay for the costs associated with the printing of the brochures.

Calling the brochure a "promotional tool," Erichson said, "The key to it is more of an educational tool for people."

A number of suggestions for future trails were discussed during the meeting, including an extension of the trails south to Lyle.

"Our goal would be to go to Lyle," he said. A suggestion to create a trail along the Turtle Creek in the southwest section of Austin was scrapped during the meeting because of acknowledged problems with topography, water and acquisition.

Erichson said the Cedar River Trail project will be complete by Sept. 1. The route will connect the park area around the Mill Pond with Community Park, along the Cedar River.

Before the next meeting, Erichson will send a letter to Mower County, emphasizing the importance of developing a pedestrian system along 18th Avenue NW.

In addition, Erichson will try to get a bike storage rack for outside the public bathrooms downtown.