San Antonio City Council approved a rebooted Bike Network Plan Thursday that includes more than 600 additional miles in bike paths and could cost between $3 billion and $8 billion over the next 25 years.
“Some of our residents don’t have access to a car and rely on bikes,” said Cat Hernandez, the city’s transportation director. “Let’s give everyone an opportunity to use a safe, comfortable alternative mode of transportation.”
Nearly 8% of households in the city do not have access to a vehicle, she said, adding that, in 2022, San Antonio was ranked the “16th deadliest city for cyclists in the nation.”
Biking advocates say the 2011 plan did little to facilitate biking as a means of transportation or commuting, instead favoring recreational routes and paths aimed more toward tourists.
Of the 1,288 miles of bike lanes it recommended constructing about 523 are complete, according to a September presentation to the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The new plan, informed by community input and surveys, aims to fix policies that have “created a barrier to cyclists of all ages and abilities” and identify possible funding opportunities, according to city documents.
The city’s 2025 budget includes $3.5 million to start work on the plan.
Under the plan, not all intersections and bike lanes will look alike, as infrastructure will adapt to street widths, traffic flow and other considerations.
“The Bike Network Plan reflects our city’s commitment to creating a healthier community by making cycling another reliable and accessible mode of transportation,” City Manager Erik Walsh said. “By building safe, comfortable biking infrastructure, we’re creating a future in which residents can safely and conveniently travel throughout San Antonio on two wheels.”
The new plan passed with a 10-0 vote, with Councilman Marc Whyte (D10) abstaining. Whyte criticized the plan for being “too big” and “too broad.”
Senior Reporter Iris Dimmick contributed to this report.
