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Austin To Consider Allowing Some Parks To Stay Open 24 Hours

City council will vote Thursday on an ordinance creating a pilot program to authorize walking and biking on certain trails on a 24-hour basis.

Councilman Chris Riley developed the solution to reduce the number of traffic fatalities across the city.

According to Austin Police, in 2011 48 fatal collisions resulted in 54 deaths. Of those 22 were pedestrians. The majority occurred at night.

Riley's proposal includes the Ann and Roy Butler hike and bike trail, the Shoal Creek greenbelt trail and the Johnson Creek greenbelt trail.

Some are concerned about the lighting on the trails, which the proposal doesn't include.

As for safety, if this passes The Public Works Department would develop a plan to govern the trail system.

The experiment would last one year start January 1, 2013 if council approves the measure.

Currently Austin parks and trails are closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

By Christie Post