Over
400 leaders from the bike industry including bike shop owners, advocacy
groups, researchers, and bike manufacturers gathered in D.C. for the
2007 National Bike Summit March 14-16.
Texas Bicycle Coalition's national counterparts in the cycling world
such as International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), National
Bicycle Dealers Association, Bikes Belong Coalition, Adventure Cycling
Association, and various state federations and coalitions gathered to
collaborate on ways to improve bicycling in America.Hosted
by League of American Bicyclists (LAB), the summit sessions covered a
variety of angles including national leadership, legislative
communication, federal policy, and funding addressed many ways to
promote cycling.
The Texas Bicycle Coalition turned out a good attendance of staff to attend this worthwhile event.Local
outreach coordinators Durwood Mayfield, Sherman Phillips, KC Jones and
Brenda Chuleewah, now head of the Teacher Training Program in Austin,
all attended Safe Routes to School specific sessions.
Action Alert! Call for attendance at the next TxDOT Enhancements meeting!
The next TxDOT meeting is in Austin, Texas, on March 22 at 9:00am at the TxDOT Headquarters: 125 East 11th St. (In the Greer Building across from the State Capitol).
We are asking our Austin-area members and interest groups to make an
appearance at the meeting to show support of the Enhancements issue.
Texas Bicycle Coalition will be on-hand to speak on behalf of Texas
cyclists. We need to show that cyclists are against the decision to
rescind funds from Enhancements. Our presence is pertinent in getting
the decision reversed and bringing funding back to projects that will
allow alternative transportation to be more viable in communities
throughout the state.
Longtime
TBC friend Senator Rodney Ellis led fifteen undergraduate, graduate and
law students from his Texas Legislative Internship Program on a bike
tour of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Ranch near Johnson City on Saturday,
March 10. TBC staff organized transportation to the ranch, provided
bicycles and accompanied the group on the tour of the ranch, conducted
by Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of the former United States President.
The group was completely surprised when Luci’s mother, Lady Bird
Johnson, now 94, stopped by to say hello.
Update 4/19/2007: HB 1790 passed the House Transportation Committee and will go to the Calendar Committee to be added to the House Calendar for a floor vote. We will be sending out further action alerts to contact your State Representative for their support of HB 1790.
The Senate companion bill, SB 248, authored by Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), and co-sponsored by Senators John Carona (R-Dallas) and Senator Liticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and Kirk Watson (D-Austin) remains stuck on the Senate floor. Having passed the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee 6-0, only 16 Senators have confirmed their position on the bil. 12 Senators have not confirmed their positions either yes or no to the scores of consituents who have called.
Concerned cyclists are encouraged to call their Senators and ask their position on SB 248 if they have not called yet. Unconfirmed Senators are:
Senate District 1: Senator Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)
Senate District 5: Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan)
Senate District 7: Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston)
Senate District 8: Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano)
Senate District 11: Senator Mike Jackson (R- Pasadena)
Senate District 12: Senator Jane Nelson (R-Grapevine)
Senate District 17: Senator Kyle Janek (R-Houston)
Senate District 18: Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy)
Senate District 19: Senator Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio)
Senate District 22: Senator Kip Averitt (R-Waco)
Senate District 24: Senator Troy Fraser (R-Abilene)
Senate District 30: Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls)
Senate District 31: Senator Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)
Senate District 15: Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston)
Senate District 20: Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D- McAllen)
If your State Senator is on this list, it is not too late!! Call or write them to gain their support of SB 248 for Cyclists!
Update 4/4/2007:
HB 1790, Safe Passing bill was left pending in the Transportation Committee.
Montgomery County District Attorney Mike McDougal and Texas Bicycle Coalition Executive Director testified Tuesday evening April 3rd at the House Transportation Committee on HB 1790, authored by State Representative Linda Harper-Brown (R-Irving). After the bill was "laid out" by Transportation Committee member Harper-Brown, the Committee Chair began reading card after card in support of HB 1790.
At the end of the 14-hour legislative day that included an 8-hour recess of the Transportation Committee, McDougal spoke to the benefit of the safe Passing bill as a tool for prosecutors to use to bolsster aggravated assault charges when a motorist intentionally runs down a cyclist.
Robin Stallings, Executive Director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition, pointed out that the current ambiguity in the Texas Transportation Code is a disservice to both cyclists and motorists. When a motorist unintentionally kills a cyclist by passing too closely, both lives are affected.
Harper-Brown and those testifying fielded tough questions from committee members. HB 1790 was left pending for one or two weeks as is common practice in Charman Mike Krusee's (R-Round Rock) committee.
The National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. is approaching in March. We are looking for your local organizations to send at least two representatives to help us lobby during the conference. For those organizations that need help financially, TBC can arrange homestays. We have looked to generous donors for frequent flyer miles in the past, and hope that we can once again have that opportunity. If your organization plans to attend, please contact us to get involved in this important event.
Action Alert! SB248 Scheduled for Committee Hearing February 14!
SB248: Senate Transportation Committee Hearing set for February 14!!
SB248, the Safe Passing Bill, which is co-authored by Senator Rodney Ellis and Chairman John Carona, will be presented to the State Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, February 14 at 8:15 am. Your attendance is needed to show support of SB248. The Hearing will take place in room E1.016 of the Capitol. Witnesses are ready to present their testimony; therefore, with respect to the Senators' time, we need only the presence of concerned cyclists as a show of support.
With the Senate Transportation Committee Hearing approaching next week, it is urgent and important that you contact your SENATOR if he/she is on the Senate Transportation Committee. The Senate Transportation Committee members are: Senate District 2 - Senator Bob Deuell (R), Senate District 3 - Senator Robert Nichols (R), Senate District 4 - Senator Tommy Williams (R), Senate District 8 - Senator Florence Shapiro (R), Senate District 10 - Senator Kim Brimer (R), Senate District 13 - Senator Rodney Ellis (D), Senate District 14 - Senator Kirk Watson (D), Senate District 16 - Senator John Carona (R), Senate District 25 - Senator Jeff Wentworth (R), Senate District 29 - Senator Eliot Shapleigh (D).
If you are not sure who your state senator is, follow this link: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ and enter your adress to find out who represents you.
Please send a letter and contact your Senator if you live in his/her district to show your support of SB248. This is the most important legislation for cyclists in Texas' history. We will be protecting the lives of cyclists throughout the state.
"Cyclists in Suits" date is set for April 23, 2007, at the Texas State Capital in Austin. We need volunteers to participate in lobbying for legislation that will affect cycling in Texas. The Texas Bicycle Coalition is currently working on SB248, the Safe Passing BIll, that will require a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and would require a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicycist.
BikeDFW has initiated a challenge to other cities throughout Texas to try to generate support for this event. They are scheduling buses and gathering committed people to participate in this educational experience. State legislators respond to their consituents and this is your opportunity to make a difference!!
IMBA
TxDOT
