Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Banning Bikes

11.29.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 6 Comments

Sometimes, cities try to deal with real or imagined bike problems by taking drastic measures. The Austin American-Statesman reported last week on an ordinance passed in Manor, Texas, that bans bikes from a stretch of road in the small city.

Manor is just east of Austin. The road in question is called Blake-Manor Road, and runs out of town to the southeast, giving bikers access to rural roads in the area. But it’s in bad shape, narrow, with large cracks and heavy traffic.

The Manor City Manager says the road is a “poor place” to ride bikes. He says there are other places for bikers to ride.

The map shows the road in question, marked in pink. There appear to be other city streets to ride, but getting out of town to the southeast — not so much.

The city has no plans to repair the road.

The ordinance passed after a cyclist filed a $250,000 claim with the city after being hurt in a bicycle accident on the road. The city denied the claim, since the accident happened outside the city’s jurisdiction.

Predictably, cyclists are claiming discrimination. They think the road should be fixed.

But in the meantime, enforcement of the cycling ban is expected to begin soon, and bikers could be in for a $200 fine if they ride the stretch in question.

Manor is on the opposite end of Austin from where I live, so I’m not familiar with the road in question, and I’m running this item simply to point out that sometimes, dealing with cyclists can take a drastic turn.

Have you run into situations in your locales where cyclists are prohibited from using public streets or roadways? How was it resolved?

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Categories // Odds 'n ends Tags // banning bikes, traffic laws

Comments

  1. Dave Moulton says

    November 30, 2009 at 8:21 am

    You might take it up with your State DOT, question the legality.
    I did when a local town placed a similar ban. In this case it was a private road owned by the city, not under state juridiction.

    Reply
  2. Jenni says

    November 30, 2009 at 8:39 am

    Kansas banned road: http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2009/07/de-soto-83rd-street-bicycle-ban-to-be-lifted/
    When cyclists asked for an alternate bike route the city thought it would be cheaper to lift the ban. I don’t know if they have followed through on lifting it yet.

    Reply
  3. ChipSeal says

    December 1, 2009 at 9:14 am

    The road is apparently not dangerous for motorcycles, so the ban is not about the safety of cyclists.

    If it were about safety, why delay the ban’s enforcement 90 days from enactment? The city says all ordinances are required to do so to make the public aware- but emergency powers can override such nonsense- which was not evoked.

    If the injured cyclist was not hurt in their jurisdiction, why the ban in the part of the road that is in their jurisdiction? None of this passes the smell test, and the city of Manor is lying to us.

    It would appear to me that this is all about the convenience of motorists.

    Where is the TBC on this? Trying to get redundant laws passed I assume- While cyclist’s liberties are under direct assault! Good God! We need better advocates!

    They did not ban pedestrians from the road, so I would suggest that those who live in the area make a point by walking their bicycles through the prohibited section.

    Reply
  4. musicmissionary says

    August 4, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Has there been any movement on this? I just discovered this situation during a bike ride from Elgin. I wanted to take Blake Manor Rd. down to Parsons and circle back to Littig Rd. There’s no other way to do this without Blake Manor Rd., not a reasonable one. I’ve read elsewhere that the ban is “temporary.” It’s not looking very temporary at this point is it? Maybe it’s time for some more pressure on the city of Manor? They have a new city manager…

    Reply
  5. musicmissionary says

    August 12, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    I spoke to the current city manager and he says the bike ban is a Travis County restriction, that the city of Manor doesn’t have authority over that section.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 259 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d