Why Bicycle Paths on Williams Drive to Sun City?

City staff recently presented interim results of the Williams Drive corridor study to the City Council. The presentation raises several questions that were not asked at the workshop.

Here is the cross-section of the proposed changes between Lakeway Blvd and Jim Hogg Road.

Click on chart to enlarge

The first thing to notice is that the right-or-way will exceed 100 ft wide to accommodate roads, green spaces and bike ways. This will clearly be of concern to existing property owners. It is also planned to limit the driveways into/out of businesses from Williams Drive.

The second item to notice is that there is a bike way paralleling the road. This segment of proposed improvements is about four miles in length. There has been no cost-benefit analysis or data that indicates that there will be sufficient bicycle traffic to justify the cost. So, why is it included?

If one asks what is the principle impediment to increasing bicycle traffic, the answer comes back - hills! The terrain drops almost 150 ft. in elevation between Jim Hogg and Lakeway. That is great when you are going down Williams toward I35, but, not so great on the return trip. Particularly if you are over 55 years old!

It should also be noted that Sun City does not allow bicycles on the sidewalks, only in traffic lanes. Here is the rule:

"All wheeled vehicles, including but not limited to golf carts, bicycles, skateboards and motorized vehicles, are prohibited on all sidewalks, walking paths and nature trails." 

Because of the hills and the prohibition against riding on sidewalks, few of the 15,000+ residents of Sun City will likely use the bike path on Williams Drive. Likely only a few dozen competitive riders will use the paths.

Finally, even though staff did a yeoman's effort on outreach for this study, less than 150 people provided input, according to the city. Should a very small percentage of residents drive the expenditure of taxpayer funds on bike paths for the benefit of very few?

Most Georgetown citizens prefer to travel by automobile. They don't like to ride when it hot, cold, windy or raining. This leaves few days out of the year that would see any meaningful use of bike paths along the outer reaches of Williams Drive.

Let your city council and city staff know that you want Williams Drive optimized for vehicular traffic.