SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Transportation Department is encouraging residents to provide feedback on making the Alamo City more bike friendly.
The department has wanted to improve its Bike Network Plan since 2022 which hasn't been revised since 2011.
The plan is aimed at reducing traffic and improving safety for all residents.
The department has been collecting data since 2023 and has received a lot of community feedback on where they can build these facilities.
According to the department, there is currently more than 500 miles of bike lanes across the city and their goal is to add 1,600 more.
Cyclists like Muhammad McPherson bike in downtown San Antonio for work believes this plan will strongly benefit the city and expand bicyclists capabilities.
"When I leave outside of the city. I don't see the bike lanes and I don't feel too safe. If there were more bike lanes, I would venture out more outside of the city. The more bike lanes, the further I would go out,” said McPherson.
Bikes and cars share the road in San Antonio.
As cars zoom in one lane, cyclists like Chantal Harrison and David Stolarski cruise in their own.
"This area is just right for people to bike to come here and try to get by without using a car," said Stolarski.
Harrison and Stolarski remember when the bike facility in downtown San Antonio opened two years ago.
Harrison grew up riding her bike, but says she took a hiatus when she moved to San Antonio.
"Traffic! No safe place to bike. We have bicyclists that have been killed and and it's like they just ignore it," said Harrison.
"I got hit a couple times. Not to say flying, but, you know, a guy could pull right in front of me," said Stolarski.
This is what the transportation department is trying to fix.
"The bike network plan has been an effort to really ensure connectivity and safety for cyclists as they move throughout the city of San Antonio," said Harley Hubbard, San Antonio Bike Network Plan Project Manager.
The department is in its third phase of community engagement and it's looking at all suggestions.
"We got over 100 comments on our map, giving insight into where we should plan bike facilities. We also got comments on questions regarding policy that the city should consider, so we're having one more open house to make sure that we cover our bases," said Hubbard.
Stolarski lives 3 blocks from the downtown bike facility.
He rides with Harrison twice a week and sometimes with a group.
The transportation department wants to present the plan to city council in January 2025.
"I think we're in on the right direction. I hope the community supports it and keeps pushing for it," said Stolarski.
For anyone wanting to give feedback, the department is having their open house on Sunday at 2:30 pm at the Southside Lions Club.
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