‘We need public outrage about this’: San Antonio cyclists unhappy with vote that eliminated bike lanes on Broadway

Texas Transportation Commission voted 3-1 Thursday to reverse a planned hand-off of a 2.2-mile stretch, citing congestion concerns

SAN ANTONIO – The cycling community in San Antonio is outraged by the Texas Transportation Commission’s decision to nix San Antonio plans that would have added protected bike lanes to Broadway Avenue.

“We need public outrage about this,” Bryan Martin of Bike San Antonio said.

Martin was one of several cycling advocates who tried to convince the commission in Austin but their words weren’t enough.

The commission in a 3-1 vote reversed the plan to hand off the 2.2 mile stretch of Broadway between I-35 and Burr Rd.

The City of San Antonio has begun work already between Houston Street and I-35, which it owns. The city has spent $3 million on the redesign of the portion north of I-35, though work has not begun.

“This is the exact opposite of small government, TxDOT should trust San Antonians to make the decision that’s right for them in their community,” Martin said.

Cyclists have said safety was one of their biggest concerns as there is only a narrow sidewalk along that stretch of Broadway that is for pedestrian use.

“These roads need to go on a diet and they need to make it safe and better for pedestrians, bus drivers and cyclists,” Martin said.

Not everyone was against the vote, some local residents were pleased that Broadway would not be reduced to fewer lanes.

“To reduce down to bike lanes on each side and picturesque, that’s beautiful but it doesn’t serve the community we need to serve,” Susan Howard said.

Although the move likely means the end of the city’s current vision for Broadway, the commission said it’s not the end of all work on the roadway.

“So there’s nothing in this proposed action that would prevent us from working with the City of San Antonio,” commission chairman, J. Bruce Bugg said. “To the contrary, that’s what I would envision we do — is again, going forward, we sit down, we listen to each other, but the only stipulation is we cannot reduce capacity on Broadway.”

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About the Authors:

Erica Hernandez is an Emmy award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in the broadcast news business. Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. She's currently the court reporter and cohost of the podcast Texas Crime Stories.

Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987.