My 1st Podcast

As this New Year started, I noticed that my passion has been doused with cold water and is currently not as fully alive as it once was.  It's been a month since I went to both meetings and I come back that it seems that the plan of SA2020 and SA Tomorrow 2040 really feel all talk and no action.  Meanwhile, the people who sit on the BMAC are currently trying to get San Antonio to the goal of #VisionZero.
 Now Normally I would be writing an entire blog on what happen, but not this time, today, you'll have to hear about what happened.  This is my first attempt at podcasting, so please give me a pass, it was recorded while I was at work.

Now in the podcast, I will be mentioning about the TIP, also known as the Transportation Improvement Program. And there will be several meetings taking place soon, so it's important that you get to at least one of these meetings and send in comments.  As you go through the list of projects (download spreadsheet here) make sure you tell them that no protected bicycle lane, then no project.  The projects that I recommend are the following.

Project #29:  

Loop 368 (Broadway) Complete Street (Reduces Road Capacity)

A TxDOT project from US 281 Interchange to Mulberry.  Construct separated bicycle and pedestrian facilities  between US 281 and Cunningham and intersection improvements between Cunningham and Mulberry.

Project #41:

MyLink Pedestrian Connectivity/ Safety

A VIA project on the various State roadway system around San Antonio. Construct curb ramps, landing pads, sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure and construct improvements to North Star Transit Center intersection for improved transit access.

Project #10:

Citywide San Antonio Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements

A City of San Antonio Project to Construct citywide pedestrian and bicycle projects to enhance safety  (Z-crossings, medians, surface, signage)

Podcast Notes:  
The SA2020 meeting I attended. 
Realizing the Dream of a World-Class City: Driving Action in San Antonio
Pannalist:
Andres Andujar, Hemisfair,
Molly Cox, SA2020,
Sandy Morander, YMCA,
Sho Nakpodia, DreamWCeek San Antonio,
Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio City Council – District 8.
Moderated by Robert Rivard of The Rivard Report.

My previous Blog Post: Why Bother Going and I give an answer to those pesky cars in the bike lane.

Mr Nirenberg, Ever think of Walking?

The Katy Freeway story from Streetsblog.net

What’s Up With That: Building Bigger Roads Actually Makes Traffic Worse Wired.com

#VIAware VIA Suspends Driver for Hitting Man Downtown

What VIA could do to cut down on Jaywalking.  Link of picture

Couldn't find the News story of the guy or Lady who chased a VIA bus and got killed.  If you do have a link, please share it with me. 

Why Bother Going

About a day or two ago, I got a lengthy message on my Facebook page from a fellow cyclist who complained about how nothing is getting done.  He posted his complaints on the Bicycle Collective Meeting photo which I posted on my Facebook page back in September 2015.

Quote:"I went to such a meeting and got nothing for my efforts. It was at the Via metro center on San Pedro. All the officials listened but gave no plan of action to address my concerns, What a waste of time."

He goes on to say quote: "Every month the San Antonio Event Center hosts the gun show. The attendees park in the bike lanes.  The additional traffic from the event make bike riding very difficult. The event center has a huge parking lot but the attendees choose to park in the street instead of paying the $3 fee to park. The main problem is on Meadow way. I called my Council person ,Ray Lopez and spoke to the president of the Meadow Village Neighborhood association but got no positive response."

Now he didn't attend the Bicycle Collective meeting, he attended one of the BMAC Bike Nights which happen 3 times a year.  BMAC, The Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee meet every second Wednesday at 8AM at the Alamo Area Planning Organization, 825 S St Mary's St, across from Rosario's.  All meeting are open to the public, so if you are unable to attend their bike nights, you can try to attend their morning meetings.

After reading his complaints, I got a notification of one of the three annual BMAC Bike Night meetings taking place on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, this time at the Westside Multimodal Center.  Also that night, SA2020 is holding their own meeting called "Realizing the Dream of a World-Class City: Driving Action in San Antonio" which is going to be held at the Pearl Stables. Now since I already spent the money to attend the SA2020 meeting, I guess I'm going there, sorry BMAC.

Now sorry for sounding like a conspiracy nut, but why are both meetings taking place on the same night? Wouldn't the people at SA2020 want the people who sit on the BMAC to be present and give their input?  Even though the person who sent me the message about the SA2020 meeting asking to get lots of cyclist to come to the SA2020 event, wouldn't it be better to have the people who already advocate for cycling be at SA2020 meeting?  It sounds like they don't want anyone who rides a bicycle for transportation to come. Now I'm certain there are legitimate reasons why they just happen to be taking place on the same night and at the same time, but it sounds like they want to keep the cyclist away and focus on what I think Ron Nirenberg wants his plan, SA Tomorrow 2040 to be focus on, alleviating traffic congestion for which I precluded to what SA Tomorrow 2040 was about in the first place back in September 2014.  

Now this is why you need to attend these meeting, because if you're not heard, you're complaints and concerns are not taken into consideration.  Representative Government don't work if you don't go out and vote and attend local government meetings on things you're interested in and effect you. But the question is which one? Just remember the BMAC meeting is free and open to the public while the SA2020 meeting cost $15.

Hemisfair Goes Backwards

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On Wednesday, Hemisfair took down its famous Arch that stood at the intersection of E Nueva and S Alamo, and today, Friday, they took down the Clockless Clock tower.(Image 35-1)   These structures are in the way of motor vehicle traffic, and sorry to say that once it was a safe place to walk is now just like any other downtown street, little room for people, plenty of room for cars and SUV's. 

It's been all over the local news about the famous arch, the famous Hemisfair Arch that was the backdrop for countless summer time movie times on the wall of the Magik Theatre, the New Years Eve celebrations, and other events. And as usual, our local media is missing the real story, which is that this is the first step in plans to bring automobile traffic to a pedestrian only zone.

While other cities around the nation and world wide are working on restricting and even making some streets car free, San Antonio is going back to the 1950's when we dreamed of endless roads of driving your new car on.  Hemisfair said they're going to make it safer,  but let's be honest here, you have a very safe place already because people don't have to look over their shoulders to worry about a car running them over. Their quote from the Express News says it all

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"The re-establishing of the street grid — pedestrian-friendly roads that will allow slow traffic and bicycles — is one of several facets of the park’s rebirth." 

Um here's the thing, Hemisfair is already a "pedestrian-friendly" place right now. I wrote back in July 2014, that you have a great place and that all you need to do is activate it. When you reopen it, you and I will have to worry about people texting while driving on how beautiful Hemisfair made the place to drive a car. This is like saying that we're going to improve La Villita by bring back cars to the old neighborhood.  There was a time as a matter of fact, that I've used Hemisfair Park on my way to St Philips SWC from their main campus on the Eastside BECAUSE THERE WHERE NO CARS TO WORRY ABOUT. As they reopen the park, I expect to see what I see on Houston St today and every weekend, people on bicycles running into people walking on the sidewalk because to many people are driving their cars causing a traffic jam.

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35-4

If it was true that improving public space is to allow cars into that space, then why isn't La Villita jumping up to allow cars down Villita St between La Villita and the Riverwalk? (Image 35-4) Why is it when they redid Brackenridge Park, they removed the roads through the park and left only one that is connected to Mulberry?  Why is it that when we close off a street to vehicular traffic, we celebrate it as a major event called Siclovia?  It is because cars take up a lot of space, and they destroy places that they're allowed in.  Every time we make room for automobiles, people walking and people riding bicycles suffer because there's simply no defense against a 1,000+ pound steel cage and a inattentive driver, drunk or otherwise operating the vehicle. When Cars are slowed down or removed, people feel simply safer to lounge about and to exercise.  There was a time in America's History when we thought about banning cars from our cities or restricting their speed limits to under 20 miles per hour for back then, the streets where meant for people.  When car enthusiast saw this a threat to their driving, they launched an ad campaign to change the saying from "the streets are for people," to the current saying that we all know "the streets are for cars." 

Andrew Price recently said in a Strong Towns Blog Post quote:

"If we don't change our habits, our obsession with treating cars as the dominant life-form of our cities, catering to their every needs with congestion-free roadways and ample parking, will be the downfall of American cities. They are our bread and circuses. We know it's making us broke, and we still continue. It does not have to be this way - it is just a matter of priorities."

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The good news is that despite the city's assistance to bring back cars to a people friendly area, is that you can bring back the friendly area for the people by simply remove the access for the cars.  It is a sad day for San Antonio for in other cities in North America and around the world are working tirelessly to restrict cars.  There was a time right after World War II that we thought of progress with the building of freeways.  Today, Dallas and Austin are looking into tearing down those freeways to revitalize the urban core, i.e. space for people.  San Antonio seems to be stuck in the 1950. It is sad to live in a city where progress is measured not by how many protected bicycle lanes that are available, but how much space is available to drive your car.  No Wonder there's a saying "Keep San Antonio Lame."

I'm not against the improvements being made, I'm against bad Ideals and this one just happens to be a bad Ideal. 

Image:
35-1: A picture of the famous Clockless Clock Tower that was right next to the Downtown All Around Playground being torn down.  Viewing South. 
35-2: A picture of what is left from the removal of the famous Hemisfair Park Arch.  viewing east.
35-3: A Picture of the famous Hemisfair Park Arch back in July 2014. viewing east
35-4: A Picture of Villita St in La Villita on the day that the they brought down the Clockless Clock Tower. Viewing West
35:5: A picture of Hemisfair way as it is currently is on Feb 20, 2014.  this time next year, cars will be traveling down this pedestrian space. 

Note About Story:  I'm going to start doing a on the clock blog posting every First and third Tuesday of Every Month.  And On top of all that, when breaking stories like this happen, I'll be posting them when they happen. 

Hemisfair: Too Much of a Good Thing

Hemisfair: Too Much of a Good Thing

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Now for those of you who have seen the posting of a meeting about the Hemisfair of the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation.   (Image 16-1) Some aren't aware of the fact that they're planning to do a whole lot of changes some of which changes are good to see like the destruction of the old convention center, while other decision to allow cars into the park are disaster waiting to happen.  But do we really need to spend so much money on a great park already? 

When I give some thought to the reason why we plan so much at so much cost, not just with Hemisfair, but with the Trans-Texas Corridor, the streetcar, and much much more, the answer I come up with, "this is Texas; big things come from Texas and that includes thinking big."  But is it also construction firms that is influencing these big decisions?   With so much cost being considered, the question should be asked, will we even see it all of it and do we even need so much?  There is a saying "too much of a good thing hurts." 

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16-3

Here is the thing, Hemisfair is already a great place, we just need to activate it.  You see we have all the elements of a great place which are people, buildings that are close together, a playground, (Image 16-3) and parkland.  You see the only group of people to come along and to activate the place was the Occupy Movement who went into the boarded old houses to set up camp.  Right now, it's a collection of City government buildings and boarded up Victorian homes. (Image 16-2)  The only part of Hemisfair that is activated is the Tower of Americas. (Image 16-5) It's not just an observation post, but also a place to sit and enjoy the the fountains, but to buy some ice cream and maybe enjoy some live music.

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16-4

As the planning firm looks out far and wide to "over" improve the park, they don't have to look far but across the stroad of South Alamo to La Villita. (Image 16-4)  There, they will find a place that is activated and thriving with businesses in each of the old buildings.  Take that successful place, and do the same thing with the old Victorian houses in Hemisfair.  Before we do this, lets bring the houses up to code.  That should take a least, what a Million, maybe two for all the abandoned Victorian homes?  Lets use the same rule that La Villita uses when choosing shops and restaurants which are locally own and artisan type places.  And then from there, let the place grow and flourish, and allow failure to occur and learn from that failure.  This old building sits next to the Federal building, wouldn't it make a good bookstore? (Image 16-6)

16-6

As the Federal Government moves out of Hemisfair, get those buildings to a developing firm and make sure they turn some of those floors of the big white building where I got my first Social Security card, as both offices and apartments and make sure the apartments are low rent for some of the units.  Don't stand in the way, only make sure that the  firm promises to deliver and if they don't, well fire them.  Let them decide what to do with the buildings and let the pieces fall where they may.  What we need here isn't an orderly, dumb direction from the top down, but chaotic and smart direction from the bottom up. 

16-7

I'm not against these big ideals that have been put forth like tearing down the old convention center and turning that into a park or their crazy playground concept.  But allowing vehicular traffic back onto Hemisfair will be the biggest mistake they will make. I guess they haven't seen the problems of traffic congestion that is experience downtown on numerous occasions especially during the spring holidays when traffic gets backed up on Commerce, Houston and even Market St.  Ask yourselves, do we really want to see a traffic jam on Houston St in Hemisfair?  In essences, we'll be taking a great place and turning it into a parking lot.  Last I check, parking lots aren't places we go specifically to visit unless they clear out the cars and put up rides and little tents with food stands and vendors, you know like the Pearl Farmers market or the Quarry Farmers market.  Like the Farmers Market in Austin with this car parked in the middle of it, (Image 16-7) it clearly shows how cars simply take up too much space and seems to ruin the greatness of  the event.

16-8

With cars allowed onto Hemisfair, we will be surrendering valuable space for pedestrians.  With that space gone, pedestrians will start to walk in front of cars, and thus an accident will occur where one shouldn't have occurred in the first place.  I guarantee that the solution will not be to remove the cars, but to remove the pedestrians by limiting their access on the the vehicle lanes, giving tickets out to pedestrians for jaywalking and putting up crosswalks with beggars buttons and having the pedestrians beg to cross the street. You call these buttons, "crosswalk buttons,"(Image 16-8) but lets face it, they really should be called beggar buttons because you the pedestrians are asking cars to stop so you can safely walk across public space.  

To me, these plans for a better Hemisfair seems to be very out of  proportion.  We don't need a nuclear bomb to destroy the whole place and then rebuild from scratch it to activate it, but make simple repairs and a willingness to to fail and learn from that failure.  With the citizens of San Antonio being allergic to high priced public projects unless it's a new freeway, chances are we'll not see the entire vision what is being presented by hemisfair.org.  When city of San Antonio is willing to take small steps instead of huge alternations, then and only then will San Antonio realize the greatness it processes.

Go Fund Me Campaign

It still up, and I could use the help to be able to take some pictures I need to illustrate the my story on the Streetcar issue.  It's going to be a three part story, and the first of these stories should be posted some time around August 6th.  If you want to help me out, please help pay for my Greyhound ticket at http://www.gofundme.com/b8rmq4

Via Picture Update.  

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Remember the picture of the Via Supervisor trucks parked on the sidewalk on Commerce St (Image 15-3) from my last posting?  Well since posting that picture on this blog and on my twitter feed, they have since stopped parking on the sidewalk.(Image 16-9)  So tweet to via and say, thanks for not parking on the sidewalk. 

Images:
16-1:  Hemisfair Flyer of the Meeting on July 29, 2014
16-2:  One of the Many Old Victorian Houses that are boarded up in Hemisfair Park, this one behind the Magic Theater. Looking Southwest. 
16-3:  The Downtown All Around Playground, Looking South
16-4:  A shop inside La Villita behind the Church there. Looking North
16-5:  A View looking south of people walking in front of the fountains that circle the Tower of the Americas. Looking South
16-6:  A building looking to be abandoned next to the Federal Building. Looking east.
16-7:  A car left parked on 4th St next to Republic Square.  The Farmers simply set up shop around the car.  Looking southeast. 
16-8:  The Crosswalk button which should be called a Beggars Button to cross S Alamo from Hemisfair to Nueva on the North side.  Looking South.  Thanks To @PedestrianError for the name of this device. 
 16-9:  A way a sidewalk should look, with out Via's Supervisor's Trucks park on it.  E Commerce St At St Mary's St, Looking South. 

 Up Coming Important Meetings
If you want to make a difference, please attend. 

Hemisfair Public Work Session:

When:   Tuesday, July 29, 2014  6PM-8PM

Where:  The Depot at Sunset Station, 1174 E Commerce, San Antonio, TX

What Should You Say:  The biggest thing is having cars come into the park.  This is the worse decision ever for if anybody know from experience, cars make a place unsafe and make people uncomfortable.  They don't let cars into La Villita, so why should cars be allowed here.  Also asking for La Villita types shops in the abandoned houses would be a plus too. 

 

Lee's Creek, Joe Ward and Sunset Hills Parks Plan Review Public Meeting

When:  Wednesday, August 20, 2014 6:00 PM

Where:  Joe Ward Community Center,  435 E. Sunshine, San Antonio, TX 78228

What Should You Ask For:  The thing to ask for at this meeting are good sidewalks,  20 mile per hour speed limits and safe ways to get to the park down Hillcrest and St Cloud such as bike lanes down those stroads.  

Up Coming Bicycle Events

 
 Cycle In-Cinema .  
When:   Every Thursday, June-August at Dusk, 8:45pm
Where:  Main Plaza, 115 N Main Ave, 78205
Description:  Out Door Movie.  

FrankenBike #51
When:   Saturday August 16, 2014  10AM to 4PM

Where:  Earn A Bike Coop ~ 2619 Guadalupe St ~ 78207

Description:  San Antonio's Bicycle Swap Meet and Flea Market

Too Busy This Week to type/ More Lanes=Worse Traffic

Sorry, I was going to write a story on the new Earn-A-Bike Co-op, but things have prevented me from doing that.  So this week, I'll simply write a story that confirms my status of reducing driving lanes.  My hope is that one day, the city of San Antonio will have a policy of only allowing two driving lanes of traffic down every stroad it has.  And so here is the latest story from Wired Magazine talking about how having more lanes of traffic simply makes traffic worse.  If you go drive down a freeway or ride your bicycle on Broadway where three lanes are available, you'll see every car racing each other trying to go as fast as it can by getting into not just the right lane, but the available lane that is free or reduce of cars.  For the whole story, please click here:  http://www.wired.com/2014/06/wuwt-traffic-induced-demand/?mbid=social_fb

On a side note, this story also confirms the city's findings on how it was getting safer to DRIVE down S Flores. 

Also Via is continuing its input for the the South/West Connector Corridor Study Area by having a online survey.  Please remember, to put in the ideas for Bus Stop Islands And Bike Lids like DART uses in Dallas, TX  at major bus stops while filling out the survey.  To connect the the Survey, please click here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=498P%2fFAtHTQYxMeDJNmk%2bK2DGZAQ9EtW4KyVtbaQkdQ%3d

Up Coming Bicycle Events

 
 Cycle In-Cinema .  
When:   Every Thursday, June-August at Dusk, 8:45pm
Where:  Main Plaza, 115 N Main Ave, 78205
Description:  Out Door Movie.  




Tour De Tube 2014
When:  Sunday June 29, 2014
Where:  The Slab, 414 W Cevallos, across the street from La Tuna
Description: A group bicycle ride from La Tuna to the Comal River.  For more information, click here:  Facebook

FrankenBike #41
When:  Saturday June 21, 10am to 4pm
Where:  SA Cycles 1804 S St Mary's St, 78210
Description:  A bicycle swap meet and flea market for bike parts and repairs. 

Keep San Antonio Lame

I don't think you have heard,  but the City of San Antonio is planning to use money that is set aside for bicycle lanes and other cool bicycle related infrastructure to remove the best job that they ever did, the S Flores Bike Lanes.

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Stuff like this goes to the saying I've used over and over again, Keep San Antonio Lame (Image 4.1) because I know of no other way to express my disgust at the stupidity this city does to something that's real cool. There's tons and tons of examples that I have yet to write about on how lousy this city is when it was comes to providing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.  But the blame should not go entirely to the government organizations that built the infrastructure, but the people who use the sidewalks and bicycle lanes on not speaking out against this travesty that has been built for you.
Over the years, I've attended a number of planning meetings ranging from parks to highway to general MPO long range planning meetings.  Most of the time, I've been the only one showing up by bicycle and the Via bus thus been your de-facto voice for these issues, but no longer.  Now being ever present and punctual to these meetings have come to a end. My job at the airport prevents me from attending these meetings that normally take place at 6pm.   It is up to the people reading this blog. to take my place and represent those who walk, use Via, and ride bicycle in this city.  If you don't think you have the power to make a difference, think again.  I've seen the changes and a lot of time it was because I attended these meetings.

The S Flores meeting will take place on May 19th at 6 pm at Morrill Elementary cafeteria. 5200 S Flores St, San Antonio, TX 78214    The CoSA is Presenting an Alternative to the existing bicycle lane which I guarantee you has nothing to do with a cycletrack down S Flores but useless sharrows. (Image 4.2)

4.2

When you go to these meetings do the following.... 

• Be courteous and polite
• When speaking to the meeting holders keep it short and sweet. Do not go off on tangents and stick to the points. The last thing you want to look is dumb, stupid and angry.  
• Also bring handouts of pictures and facts to more clearly get your message out. A good example of this is what the Toll Party hands out at Streetcar planning meetings
• Just follow these simple rules and your message will be heard. And be patient for the results.

From now on I'll be posting these meetings that cyclist and friends of cyclist should attend. And if you don't know what to say, contact me and I'll help.
I also need people to go to these meetings to take pictures and get me information on what is going on. With your help, I can write the stories and provide you with a point of view that you'll not hear anywhere else unless you live in a place New York or any where else Streetblog is representing a community because I am your streetblog here in San Antonio, TX.   This blog is my way of being that voice for cyclist and pedestrians.

Image 4.1:  The Classic Keep San Antonio Lame Sticker from Flight Gallery
Image 4.2:  A car parked over a Sharrow on Ashby next to the Temple Beth-El.

Up Coming Bicycle Events

Ride of SilenceWhen:  Thursday, May 15, 2014  6:30pm
Where: Halcyon/BlueStar Art Complex
Description:  A Bicycle ride honoring those who lost their lives. 

Frankenbike #48
When:   May 17, 2014  10am to 4pm
Where:  Red-D Bikes~ 120 Playmoor Suite B ~ 78210
Description:  FrankenBike (n) A free bike swap meet held once a month in San Antonio, Texas that is open to anyone who wants to buy, sell or trade bicycles and bicycle related gear or parts.

Bike Beat Festival

When:   Sat, May 17, 3pm – 11pm
Where:  Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX Description:   The 2nd Annual BIKE|BEAT features bike demos, live music, roller races, food trucks, giveaways and much more!

 Up Coming Important Meetings
If you want to make a difference, please attend.

Walk & Roll Night (BMAC & PMAC joint meeting)
Where:  VIA Metro Centre, 1021 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, TX
When:  Wed, May 14, 5:30pm – 8pm
Description:  The MPO Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee and the Pedistrain Mobility Advisory Committee talking about the current projects related to pedestriand bicycle related. 

Open House - Improvements to US 90 from Loop 1604 to I-410
Where:  Mary Lou Fisher Elementary School Cafeteria,  3430 Barrel Pass, San Antonio, TX 78245
When:   Tuesday, May 27, 2014, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Description:  TxDOT invites you to an open house on proposed improvements for US 90 From Loop 1604 to I-410. The project staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide information. No formal presentation will be given. Attendees are invited to come and go at their convenience.
Proposed improvements along US 90 from LP 1604 to I-410 on the west side of San Antonio are designed to improve operations and safety along this section of US 90. The proposed improvements include:

• Conversion of the two-way frontage roads to one-way operations
• Relocation of entrance and exit ramps
• Intersection improvements
  

What Should you say?  Ask for bicycle lanes/Shoulder or a mix use sidewalk along the proposed Frontage roads and Safe bicycle lanes that stay to the right of the lane intersection.

Open House: Improvements to I-35   (I might be able to attend this meeting.) 
Where:   Central Catholic High School Elizondo Center (corner of Wilmington Avenue and Dallas Street) 1403 St. Mary’s St.  San Antonio, TX 78215
When:  Wednesday, May 21, 2014  5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Description:  TxDOT invites you to an open house on proposed improvements for Interstate 35. The project staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide information. No formal presentation will be given. Attendees are invited to come and go at their convenience.
TxDOT proposes improving I-35 between North Flores and New Braunfels Ave. and between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engelman Road. The proposed project includes auxiliary lanes, ramp adjustments and other improvements to improve mobility and enhance the operation and safety of I-35 in this area

What Should you say?   Ask for Bicycle lanes along the the frontage roads and make sure they use the City of San Antonio Bicycle Master Plan when making improvements. 


Upper Woodlawn Drainage Project Public Meeting
When:    Tuesday, May 13, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:   Joe Ward Community Center  435 E. Sunshine, San Antonio, TX

What Should you Say?  Ask for a hike and bike trail along the drainage all the way too Woodlawn lake as well as any increase size in the sidewalks that cross over the drainage....  Contact:  Peter Rodriguez at 207-8154

Skyplace Boulevard Extension Project Public Meeting
When:   Thursday, May 15, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Northeast Service Center, 10303 Toolyard, 78233

What Should You Say?   Ask that the city makes sure that there is sufficient access to the Salado Creek Trail and 6 ft bicycle lanes on each side of this street.  Contact: David McBeth  at 210-207-6342 or david.mcbeth@sanantonio.gov.

Bronco Lane Bridge Project Public Meeting
When:   Tuesday, May 20, 2014 6:30 PM
Where:  Virginia Gill Community Center,  7902 Westshire Drive, San Antonio, TX

What Should You Say?    Ask that the Bridge has a minimum 6ft width sidewalks across with 25mph speed limits.  contact:  Peter Rodriguez at 207-8154

Shaenfield Road Bridge Public Meeting
When:   Wednesday, May 28, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Burke Elementary School Cafeteria, 10111 Terra Oak, San Antonio, TX

What Should you Say?   Ask that the Bridge Contain 6ft bicycle lanes on either side with extra stripping between the bicycle lane and the traffic as well as 6ft sidewalks.  Also ask them to remove the Turn Center lane and add that space to the sides of the rd for bicycle lanes.   Also Ask that they abide by the Bicycle Master Plan as well.  contact:  Peter Rodriguez@ 207-8154

Frio City Sidewalks Public Meeting
When:   Thursday, May 29, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Collins Garden Branch Library  200 N. Park, San Antonio, TX

What Should you Say?   Ask that the Sidewalks are at least 6ft wide with neckdowns at every intersection on the streets that connect with Frio City Rd.  Demand that a protected Bicycle lane is also added and that they abide by the Bicycle Master Plan.  If parking is added, demand that they put in the parking as a barr.ier so that the bicycle lane is along the curb, and the parking is a natural barrier to the bicycle and sidewalks
contact:  Peter Rodriguez at 207-8154

West Huisache Project Public Meeting
When:   Monday, June 02, 2014 6:00 PM
Where:  Young Women's Leadership Academy  2123 W. Huisache, San Antonio, TX

What Shold you Say?  This time, no bike lanes, this is a neighborhood street.  It should have neckdowns to keep traffic flowing slow with islands and speed humps.  It should also have 25MPH on this street.  Putting a bicycle lane down this street is just a waste of paint.  
Contact: Peter Rodriguez@ 207-8154 or David Pulido @ 207-8128