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Cyclist Resources; Improvements |
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In March of 2005 we took our first step in overhauling our electronic communications by sending our first news update in HTML format allowing us to regularly update our members with a graphic rich email. This monthly email provides quick information about BikeTexas legislative efforts and education events, relates interesting stories from the cycling world, and features details about upcoming BikeTexas Events & Rides. This member-supported email is distributed to thousands of email addresses and is a great way to advance the message of Texas Bicycle Coalition. We partnered with Groundspring.org to assure our members that their donations were being made securely and to use Groundspring's ability to track the effectiveness of our emails with click-through statistics. First we wanted to improve our email effectiveness and then overhaul our web presence.
In July of 2005 we launched a new BikeTexas.org. For the site we chose a content managment system that greatly increases our staff's and member's ability to contribute and build an online community. This site features the ability of members to submit information (after it is reviewed) directly to our site news columns, events calendars, forums, galleries, and local outreach pages for towns and cities participating in our BikeTexas Safe Routes to School Program. Our new site features our first online store. In addition to the community and member benefits, we are excited about lots of little technical improvements such as our BikeNews RSS feed and reader. Please join in our excitement for the Texas cycling community by looking around, loging in, and joining as a member.
In addition to our email and website improvments, the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School grant helped us hire half a dozen Local Outreach Coordinators. We armed these representatives with laptops and handhelds to access our online database of Safe Routes supporters. Help us welcome the Texas Bicycle Coalition in to the 21st century, email us ideas about how we may make better use of technology.
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