AUSTIN, Texas — On Tuesday morning, Austin City Council will be discussing some changes to the current parking ordinances, including some recommendations to make it safer for bikers in the city.
The city code relating to parking hasn’t been amended in more than 15 years.
Austin Transportation and Public Works said these updates to the parking code will better reflect how the city has developed over the years.
As stated in the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, “Over time, traditional parking regulations fail to meet the current needs of residents and businesses and being to lack connection to current initiatives and processes.”
Last year, city council passed the Bike Lane Enforcement Resolution, and started to look at amending the city code in regards to parking. In that resolution, the city said even though parking in a bike lane was illegal, leaders were still seeing many violations.
The resolution directs the city to amend the code “to prohibit motor vehicle parking in bicycle lanes and off-street bikeways.” It also recommends that the city provides more signage to remind drivers about not parking in bike lanes, and to add more painted markings and install physical bike lane barriers.
Council is considering other changes during this work session, as well, such as restricting people from using electric vehicle charging spaces if they don’t have an electric vehicle. Members are also considering making it simpler for musicians to load and unload their music equipment by not requiring them to put a placard on their car, and increasing some fine amounts.
The city said it has been analyzing parking violations over the last three years, and it’s going to be raising the price for the violations with the highest potential to affect safety. Some of those include raising the fine for parking in a crosswalk or a bus stop from $40 to $75, and increasing the fee for parking in a handicap space from $300 to $500.
Austin City Council will start discussing these changes during its work session at 9 a.m.