The Austin Transportation Department (ATD) has nominally improved safety for cyclists & pedestrians on Barton Skyway from Barton Hills Drive to Skyway Circle by adding traffic calming measures and extending the protected bike lanes along Barton Skyway and Lightsey Road from Skyway Circle to Cody Court.

These additions have created a safer avenue for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate while not needing to worry as much about being run over and possibly killed. However, comments from residents show that this is not enough, and that more measures are needed to keep cyclists & pedestrians safe from drivers. 

“As a bicyclist I always fear being run over by a vehicle. These measures are a good step, but as vehicles continue to become larger and more dangerous I feel the city needs to do more to stop them from running rampant.”

"At night driving home I felt like I was on an airplane runway!  But it's confusing & disorienting especially if you need to make a turn! As it becomes narrower & dangerous!  I’m gonna end up running them over!" 

"The sticks are already black from collisions with cars, numerous ones have already been crushed by large trucks. It's a terrible design"

”This is incredibly unsafe”

“When the driver in the other lane gets distracted by their phone or crying child they are just inches from crossing into your lane. No one is slowing down.”

"This is absolutely ridiculous and incredibly dangerous!  As a cyclist, I would seriously hesitate to cross over!  Especially with the hills!"

”My child was almost run over by an SUV on the way to his school. Do people really think this is okay?”

”If these bicyclists think they can come into an established, wealthy neighborhood like Barton Hills and make our streets ugly, they can think again! This is a classy place, not some urban jungle, and we will not tolerate this destruction of our wonderful street. You can see by all of the signatures on this petition that we won't put up with pushy bicycles trying to change the character of Barton Hills. They can get on the sidewalk if they don't feel safe. We pay taxes and will do whatever it takes to protect Barton Hills from these two-wheeler whiners. Vroom vroom!”

The only way to stop angry drivers from running over cyclists and pedestrians is to strengthen our measures against them having free reign to do so. The city is making great first steps to reclaim what were once safe streets, but the safety of our citizens and our children requires more measures to take place. 

Please accept this request to employ even safer ways to allow cyclists and pedestrians to navigate these streets again with more traffic calming measures to protect against the 4000-5000lb vehicles that can easily crush human bodies. Our city is a vibrant and beautiful city, and our residents deserve to be able to appreciate it without worry of being run over by a truck or SUV.