The Next Debacle

Dear Editor,
   In this week's issue ["Postmarks," Oct. 1], Michael Bluejay comments that the Shoal Creek Boulevard process fell over on its basic premise, one which should have been non-negotiable for bicyclists (and was for me at the time) – car-free bike lanes. In fact, after the dust settled, several people commented (see Michael's site for details, www.bicycleaustin.info/shoalcreek.html) that they'd wished they'd listened to me at the time.
   Now, four years later, I'm finding myself in the same position. Well-meaning people with whom I agree on nearly everything are swallowing their objections and abandoning the positions which should be non-negotiable, and are reluctantly falling in line behind the Mike Krusee-designed commuter rail plan which, even if it beats all the odds and proves that suburbanites are eager to transfer to shuttle buses as part of their daily commute, shortchanges Austin and prevents rail from ever happening in any meaningful way on the true dense urban corridor in this city (no, streetcars which are stuck in traffic behind automobiles don't count).
   One debacle down, one to go.