Denton City Council approves updated bike plan

Oak and Hickory streets were identified as priorities.

The Denton City Council was met with applause when it unanimously passed an update to the pedestrian and bike amendment Tuesday night at Denton City Hall.

The updated plans call for redesigning of 70 miles of roadway over the next 10 years. Shared lanes and dedicated bike lanes will connect the busiest sections of Denton, including the UNT campus, the Denton Square, and the A-train station.

The council chambers were filled with cycling enthusiasts, environmentalists, and students from UNT and TWU. The public waited three hours into the meeting before the public hearing began.

“I’m thrilled, I’m proud, and I’m inspired,” said Amber Briggle, member of the Bike Plan Focus Group. “The citizens did this. It was our passion, our dedication and stubbornness, that pushed this through.”

The first year of the plan is funded by the city and two county commissioners with more than $200,000. Many supporters expressed concern that a lack of funding for the plan could derail its implementation.

“We have an operating [city] budget of $587 million this year. Two hundred-fifty thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket,” Briggle said. “I’m worried this [bike] money will be allocated elsewhere.”

Mayor Mark Burroughs lauded UNT’s efforts in adding bike racks and repair stations over the last six years.

“Without that commitment from UNT, I don’t see us getting as far as we have.”

Start dates for construction were not discussed, however, Oak and Hickory streets were identified as priorities by councilman Dalton Gregory.

“This will hopefully bring bikes to the forefront as a legitimate form of transportation,” said Kati Trice, a volunteer at Querencia, a nonprofit community bike shop in Denton.