Cap Metro details 'Cap Remap' and dockless mobility plans return to Austin

As drivers know all too well, getting around Austin is a headache.  

The city grows and the traffic also...grows.

"It's basically a way to re-set all that and say 'how are people really moving in our community today?" said new Capital Metro CEO Randy Clarke.

Clarke points out that traveling patterns change over time too and that's the idea behind "Cap Remap."

"We have over 50 routes changing.  14 of which will now be high frequency transit so 15-minute service.  It's the biggest change in the history of Capital Metro," Clarke said.

That's happening on June 3.  Cap Metro describes the Remap as a simpler bus system with more frequent routes.  While 13 of Cap Metro's routes are being replaced, 2 routes are going away without replacements.  The 122 Four Points Limited and the 970 AMD/Lantana. .  

Cap Metro says there is a major education campaign underway making sure riders know about the changes...including colorful temporary signage at the bus stops 

Switching gears -- pun definitely intended.  Dockless bikes and scooters are just days away from being a legal transportation option again in Austin.

Council recently voted to set up a permitting process allowing dockless mobility companies to use the city's right of way.  

Starting Monday, companies can officially start the paperwork to hit the streets again.

Chad Jacobs is in town to do just that.  He's with the Boston-based Zagster.

No scooters, just bikes...Zagster is committed to making sure users don't just leave their dockless "Pace" bikes in the middle of the sidewalk, something that's been a big issue with dockless in other cities.

"We require that bikes actually lock to things and not just to themselves and because of that requirement our percentage of 'bike litter' that we've experienced is almost zero.  

According to the city's new rules, after August 1 all dockless units have to be capable of being locked to a bike rack or equipped with haptic technology that tells a user if they've parked in a designated, geo-fenced parking area. 

While some dockless companies like LimeBike and Bird just started operating this Spring without the city's blessing, Zagster felt it was important to serve the community not just themselves.

"While we feel that some companies are launching without permission because they have pressure to maybe gain market share, with Pace we'd much rather come in and do it the right way," Jacobs said.