Bridge over Barton Creek would keep bikes off MoPac in Austin
from the Austin American-Statesman (full article)
by Ben Bear
Confusion over the law about riding on the south MoPac in Austin has riders off a stretch around Barton Creek. The plans to build a bridge and some no biking signs have riders confused. Ben gives the background and future directions.
“The city says it wrote rules (not a law) in 1982 making it illegal to ride a bike on certain parts of MoPac. But a 1986 agreement put MoPac regulation back in the state’s hands, the city maintains, thus voiding those rules.
The state disagrees that the 1986 agreement did that but agrees that it is legal to bike on MoPac. But Bob Daigh, the Austin district engineer for the state Transportation Department, said it strongly advises against biking on MoPac anywhere where there isn’t a wide shoulder and that only the strongest, most experienced cyclists should even go there. The signs, he said, will stay up…”