My comment is to Running to Stand Still: The Politics of Texas: “Bikes.”
I extremely enjoyed this blog. I found that it is an informative blog that everyone should read and be familiarized with. I agree with the proposal to allow only bicycles to occupy the streets of Austin for three or four days a week. While it would bring positive change to the city, I do not believe it to be a realistic proposal, and it leaves me with one question. What about the people who live outside of the city limits?
A lot of people live outside of the city limits of Austin, and commute to their job in the city. There are other ways to cut down the cost of gasoline. Carpooling (for ex: in DC most everyone carpools, I believe they call it “slugging,”) invests in more fuel-efficient cars, renting the Austin Car-2-Go. From my point of view, I currently live in Kyle, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to school everyday. As much as I would love the exercise, I do not want to even imagine how long and the heat stroke (or freeze) I would have riding a bike to school three or four days a week.
Mr. Downing’s blog was a well organized, put together and most importantly an interesting but attention getting. I really enjoyed the fact that you had multiple topics to support your proposal. I only hope one day there will be a realistic and helpful way for people outside of the city limits to be able to travel to place within the city limits, to contribute to your proposal. Overall, you did an excellent job and I enjoyed every piece of your work. Have a great summer!