Austin businesses urge the city to create bike lanes on 6th Street

AUSTIN, Texas — Several Austin businesses are asking the city to consider bicyclists as they work through new designs for Sixth Street.

Back in September, the city of Austin asked the community to weigh in on three new design options to improve traffic flow on East Sixth Street between Congress Avenue and I-35.

All options would include vehicle drop-offs and loading on one side the of the street, but the first has bike lanes on both sides of the street, the second has a westbound bike lane, and the third would not include any bike lanes.

Last Monday, Safe Streets Austin and more than 50 local businesses sent a letter to Mayor Watson and Austin City Council members urging them to implement bike lanes in the Sixth Street revamp. 

The wrote that in addition to increasing safety for bikers and pedestrians, it would also be good for local businesses. Robin Stallings, the executive director of BikeTexas, said it would make a huge difference for business owners on Sixth Street. 

“Think about your workers and the customers you haven’t even seen yet,” Stallings said. “Customers that would get to your business by bike if they had a choice.”

He also said over the years that engineers have learned about the safety of protected bike lanes, it’s something Sixth Street cold benefit from.

“It’s an iconic street in Austin, and if you want people to get to your business from all the different modalities, whether they’re walking, they’re on a scooter, a bike, it should be safe,” Stallings said. 

The survey on the design input closed in October, but city officials said a preliminary engineering study is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. They also said design work should start in 2026, with construction starting the following year.