If you never thought an 11-year old girl couldn't make a difference in the city then you haven't met Tori Pylypec.
"I've learned so much from this experience and it's amazing just being 11-years old to go through this and if you really believe in something fight for it because I really wanted to make a difference," said Pylpec.
The Trinity Episcopal 5th grader's experience began last year when she saw a ghost bike on State Highway 360 and RM 2222. A ghostbike is a real bicycle painted white that is a roadside memorial for a cyclist who was killed while riding at that spot.
When Pylypec's dad explained to her what a ghostbike was for, the youngster was saddened and wrote then Austin mayor Will Wynn a letter, asking him to make 360 safer for cyclists.
Pylypec never heard back from Wynn's office, so her dad encouraged her not to give up and to send new mayor Lee Leffingwell a letter with her concerns.
Pylypec's persistence paid off.
On Wednesday, Austin city staffers worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to erect a total of seven warning signs, six on 360 and one on Bee Caves. The square signs are bright yellow with the symbol of a bicycle.
"We have found that signs do cause behavior change spatially for motor vehicles when they see warning signs for cyclists," said Annick Beaudet, with the City of Austin.
Pylypec and her family were honored at Austin Cit Hall Thursday evening by council member Chris Riley who read a proclamation and presented the 5th grader with a certificate of appreciation.
