For more information, contact:

Ted Burton, Public Relations Manager, 389-7550

Scott Centers- 476-4368, Ext: 307

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2000

AUSTIN MAYOR PEDDLES THROUGH TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK

Watson Bikes to Work for Commute Solutions Month

WHO: Kirk Watson- Austin Mayor

Karen Rae- Capital Metro General Manager

Preston Tyree- Texas Bicycle Coalition

WHAT: Bike to Work Friday

Dozens of Austin cyclists, including Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, will meet for breakfast Friday morning before riding to work. They’re together to promote Commute Solutions Month (September). Every Friday in September offers a different commute solution to promote options to driving alone in cars to work.

September 1: Bus to Work Friday

September 8: Tele-Commute Friday

September 15: Bike to Work Friday

September 22: Vanpool to Work Friday

September 29: Carpool to Work Friday

On Friday, Mayor Watson will join Karen Rae and an army of hungry cyclists for juice and donuts to talk about the commitment from the City of Austin and Capital Metro to making bike commuting as safe and easy as possible.

WHERE: Wheatsville Food Coop, 3101 Guadalupe

WHEN: 7:30 a.m., Friday, September 15

BIKE FACTS:

-Austin has 652 miles of designated bike routes

Every Capital Metro bus (301) and vanpool (144)

is equipped with bike racks or carriers

-Capital Metro was the first public transit agency

in Texas to add bike racks to buses

-Bike commuting reduces traffic congestion and

air pollution caused by cars

-40% of the Netherlands use bikes as their primary

mode of transportation compared to less than 1% in Austin

-Austin has installed 1,900 bike racks around town

Commute Solutions Month is a statewide program. In Austin, it’s sponsored by Capital Metro, the Texas Natural Resources and Conservation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Clean Air Force, the City of Austin, and the Downtown Austin Alliance.