Help Send Coalition Staff to National Advocacy Conferences
Please consider donating your frequent flier miles or points to support Texas Bicycle Coalition staff development. The Coalition needs frequent flier miles to send staff members to two upcoming national bicycle advocacy conferences: the Thunderhead Alliance Retreat and the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, both in September.
By participating in these conferences and networking with other bicycle advocacy and education professionals, the Coalition staff gains valuable advocacy skills that they can then implement in Texas to improve bicycling conditions and education throughout the state. With the upcoming legislative session, it is even more important that staff receive the quality advocacy training that these two conferences provide.
Texas Bicycle Coalition recently hired new membership director, Sona Shah. Sona is a bicycle commuter and has been working in the nonprofit world since college. Her short-term major goal for the membership program is to increase participation in all membership categories by the end of the year.
On Tuesday, June 13, 2006, cyclists filled the room at the
Anna City Council public hearing about the bike ban on FM 455 in
Collin County, north of Dallas. The Herald Democrat newspaper estimated
that almost 100 cyclists gathered for the hearing.
ACTION UPDATE: We need
all DFW-area cyclists to attend the Anna City Council public hearing on
the bike ban on Tuesday, June 13 at 7:00 pm. Please RSVP to BikeDFW’s Event RSVP page as soon as possible. Please note that the meeting location has changed. It will now be held at Anna High School at 1201 N. Powell (Hwy 5) which is north of FM 455 on Hwy 5.
In fall 2005, it was brought to the attention of Texas Bicycle
Coalition that two communities in north Texas had posted bicycle bans.
The ban in Keller (Tarrant County) was temporary, due to construction
on Keller-Smithfield Road, near FM 1709. Bike ban signs in Keller were
removed once the construction was completed.
The bike ban in Anna (Collin County) on FM 455, however, remains
posted despite requests to the City of Anna from local cyclists and
Texas Bicycle Coalition that the city repeal the bike ban. Texas
Bicycle Coalition is working with local bicycle advocates to resolve
the bike ban issue.
In a disappointing and major reversal, Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) lawyers have re-interpreted the Texas Attorney
General’s 1989 opinion (Opinion No. JM-1109)
to say it could imply that municipalities may ban bicycles on any
roadway. The re-interpretation by TxDOT and the ambiguous wording of
the Attorney General's opinion make this particular bike ban a much
more serious threat to Texas cycling.
BikeTexas to Celebrate 15 Years with Live Auction at Hotter’N Hell
This year, Texas Bicycle Coalition turns 15! To celebrate
its 15th year of providing Texans with professional bicycle advocacy
and safety education, the Coalition will hold a live auction with great
bicycle collectibles at the Hotter’N Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls. The live auction will occur on Friday, August 25, during the spaghetti dinner.
Here’s your chance to bid on incredible auction items such as an
autographed 2003 U.S. Postal Team Flag donated by former Wichita Falls
Postmaster Robie Christie. Other items include a five-night stay for
four at an historic Colorado lodge and a Texas Bicycle Coalition ball
cap signed by famous cyclists including Lance Armstrong, Miguel
Indurain and Sally Edwards.
TxDOT
