A picture perfect welcome: Bike leaders aim for trail station to be a photo op

Published 8:00 am Monday, September 7, 2015

It’s been a busy couple of months for Austin cycling enthusiasts and now they’re working on a trail welcome station.

Vision 2020 Bike/Walk Trail Committee Chairman Steve Kime has his sights set on a bike trail welcome area near 21st Street Northeast on the Shooting Star Trail as a welcome to Austin.

Kime has light-heartedly called it the “selfie station” and envisions it being a place bikers and trail users can stop to take a picture as they enter Austin. The spot will feature a bench, landscaping, a decorative stone, a map and QR codes with details on Austin destinations.

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“I think that will be a nice addition to Austin trails,” Kime said.

Anderson Memorials owner Jeff Anderson is preparing the stone, which will feature art of a jogger and a cyclist. If all goes according to plan, the station could be mostly completed this fall.

Bike leaders have been busy in recent months. Vision 2020 leaders are working on the Red Bike share program. Volunteers would gather bikes through donations, police forfeitures and other means, and paint them bright red after Rydjor Bike Shop fixed them up. The bikes would then be stationed around town in designated racks for anyone to borrow.

In August, the Austin City Council approved a $500 donation to help Vision 2020 in its efforts for Austin to earn a Bike Friendly City designation.

Austin will also host a National Interscholastic Cycling League competition at Todd Park on Sept. 20.