SAN ANTONIO — The City of San Antonio has been creating plans to construct a safer, more connected network for cyclists. By improving streets, they feel everyone will be safer with the network of pathways and facilities that will span throughout the city.
On Wednesday, the city’s planning commission approved the next steps into a comprehensive $2.7 million Bike Network Plan that’s two years in the making.
Harley Hubbard, assistant to the director of the City of San Antonio’s transportation department says the city is hoping to implement more bike lanes like the ones across from the Central Library downtown.
“This is kind of what we call a five-star bike lane," Hubbard said. "You can see we have maximum separation between vehicles over here, cyclists over here, and pedestrians over here. Which means there’s less likelihood of a crash between anyone of those three.”
Mother of three, Emily Hutcheson says safer streets for her family who rides their bikes throughout the week including her little ones ages five and seven, is appreciated.
“We take our bikes almost everyday," Hutcheson said. "The kids bike to school. If not on their own bike, on our cargo bike. It makes it so much more comfortable so we actually want to bike and I feel safe having my kids bike. To know that it’s not just a painted line protecting them from the lines.”
Thanks to community input throughout the planning process, Hubbard says these are the goals for the bike system come January 30.
"They can expect a plan and a policy and a framework and kind of next steps the city can take, the community can take," Hubbard said. “And make San Antonio a more bike-friendly city.”
