El Pasoans get first look at the city’s proposed bike plan.
On Thursday evening the city gave El Pasoans a first look at the city’s proposed bike plan.
For months city planners got expert analysis and community feedback on the plan.
The plan determines how bike lanes will fit alongside roads and explain long term projects.
Thursday afternoon’s weather made for a rather nice ride for El Paso cyclists but the riders weren’t just out for a ride on this day.
They walked into the main library, bikes and all, to catch a glimpse of the future of bicycling for El Pasoans.
“From Seattle, Washington, to Atlanta, Georgia we’ve done big bike plans,” Paul Wojciechowski said.
Wojciechowski is principle for Alta Planning, the company spearheading the comprehensive bike plan.
He tells ABC-7 the plan includes bicycle boulevards which are bike paths in low traffic areas and a network with 800 miles of connecting bike paths for all types of riders.
The plan isn’t just about bike paths throughout town.
“It’s about encouragement programs to get people excited about biking and wanting to bike for errands and transportation and fun. It also includes education programs,” Wojciechowski said.
“It’s implementable in stages so there’s things that we can do in the next 5 years, the next 10 years, in the next 20 years, as opposed to an all or nothing plan,” said City Rep. Peter Svarzbein.
“It’s not going to happen over night but it’s going to happen,” Scott White said.
Bicycle advocate and bicycle commuter White says it’s largely up to the city to make it happen
“The city leadership has to get behind this… behind all these people here tonight and say yes we’re going to get behind this plan and fund it,” White said.
White tells ABC-7 with all the great weather El Paso has to offer, bicyclists need to take to the road and make the plan worthy.
“There’s no excuse not to be outside and enjoy all that El Paso has to offer and part of that is, if you want to get out and ride your bike get out and ride”
The final bike plan will be released in May.
