BikeTexas CATS Celebrates Year One

BikeTexas' new College Active Transportation Safety, CATS program ended its pilot year on a high note with the distribution of 7,200 pairs of bike lights to seven college campuses around the state.  

The overall goal for the first year of the CATS program was to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities by promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety and motorist awareness among incoming students at seven Texas colleges and universities.  We hit the mark!  

Here's what we did!

• Surveyed BikeTexas SafeCyclist and  other college contacts
• Marketed CATS program materials via the BikeTexas website and a series of 'webi-gnarrrlies'
• Communicated via What's New blog posts, emails, newsletter articles, and facebook posts about bike safety
• Trained  presenters -- 4 faculty members, 5 staff persons, and 6 students, in person and online
• Helped the pilot campus coordinators schedule 22 presentations that reached a total of 3,133 student participants
• Distributed 7,200 pairs of bike lights

...BikeTexas CATS also produced a three-minute, music video, Safety Bling! 

Safety Bling! highlights the importance of wearing a bike helmet and using lights  -- a white light on the front, and a red light or reflector on the back, and wearing high visibility clothing when you ride at night or in lowered visibility conditions.  We distributed a DVD copy of the video to 52 contacts at 29 Texas colleges and universities and the video received over 3,200 hits on Youtube.  So that's a good amount of people getting the message reinforced to protect their brains with a bike helmet and make themselves visible when they ride their bikes at night!

Most importantly, the BikeTexas CATS program reached out to students, faculty, and staff to develop expertise and cultivate enthusiasm in the campus leaders who rose to the challenge with already full schedules.  Thank you for delivering the training to new college students!

 We feel like the first time presenters -- juniors and seniors with cycling experience, are taking away a sense of the importance of teaching bike safety and, from the experience, the capacity to teach.  The veterans -- BikeTexas SafeCyclist kinesiology professors, and the bicycle and alternative transportation, recreational sports, sustainability, and student affairs staff members are taking away enthusiasm for their ongoing efforts.  

Is there an increased sense of awareness between schools of the cycling movement on Texas college campuses?  There's a great question for a graduate thesis.

Thank you to our campus hosts, and presenters at the seven pilot schools!  

We appreciate you!

• Aaron Block, Tex Ruegg, Abdurrahman Allawala -- Austin College, Sherman
• Susan Wagner, Patsy Kott, Ron Steedly, Jesse Hall, Kyle McDaniel -- Texas A&M College Station
• Vincent Nguyen, Lauren Tyler, Mike Metke -- Tyler Junior College,Tyler
• Blanca Juarez, Sam Cortez, Teresita Ramirez, Beth Rosenbarger, Victor Harris, Jackson Archer -- University of Texas, Austin
• Charles Hart, Susan Hart, Mari Fuentes-Martin, University of Texas, Brownsville
• Marianella Quiroga-Quintanilla, Cheryl Medrano, Linda Matthews, Alex Spishakoff, University of Texas Pan American, Edinburg
• Chauncey Deller, Bob Hepler, Howard Patterson,  at the University of Texas, Tyler and the late Butch Willingham for introductions.

Thanks, Erin Hodgess at University of Houston Downtown for training and being prepared for next year.

And finally, thanks to LaGina Harris at Huston-Tillotson University, Austin and Jacek Jonca-Jasinski at Texas Tech University, Lubbock for coordinating bike light giveaways on your campuses along with the pilot schools.

Stay in contact with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and download updated materials on November 1!

CATS Bike Light Giveaway

BikeTexas’s College Active Transportation Safety program is preparing to distribute 7,200 free bicycle and pedestrian lights on Texas college and university campuses. We’re prioritizing pilot schools and expect there will be lights to share on additional campuses until we get them all out there. So…

If you would like to distribute free bike lights on your college campus, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will need: a NAME and contact information for who will coordinate your giveaway; a brief description of your PLAN to distribute either 600 or 1200 lights-- that can be as simple as a couple of sentences describing Who/What/When/Where/How; and your shipping ADDRESS. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your Bike Light Giveaway Coordinator's NAME, whether you want 600 or 1200, your PLAN, and your SHIPPING ADDRESS. Thank you!

There are a lot of fun ways to do a bike light giveaway and raise awareness at the same time of the need to be visible walking or cycling at night. For example, Brenda Chuleewah with BikeTexas’s SafeCyclist program suggests:

• • A couple of your bicycle club team members with several lights attached to themselves could circulate around your campus at night giving lights to bike riders and walkers.
  • You could set up a table near your school’s student center with additional bicycling info (the CATS brochure!) and the lights.

However you decide to do it, we appreciate that you will be helping your college’s cycling community become more visible and safer on the streets at night. Thank you!

EVALUATION:

We would love to receive everyone's feedback on what went really well with CATS on your campus and what can go better next time. If you hosted or presented BikeTexas’s CATS program this summer or fall, please take a moment to click here and complete this brief five-question survey. Thank you!

More news and unabashed praise for our eight CATS Pilot Campuses -- Austin College Sherman; Texas A&M College Station; Tyler Junior College; University of Houston; and University of Texas at Austin, Brownsville, Edinburg (Pan American), and Tyler, plus kudos to Texas Tech, coming in our next BikeTexas newsletter!

RSVP for a CATS Train the Trainer Session

This isn’t Hollywood Squares...

It is a screen shot from the all-new BikeTexas College Active Transportation Safety (CATS) Train the Trainer summer sessions!

You’re not too late to train online to present CATS at your college this summer or fall. Next sessions are August 2 or 6 at 10 AM. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

So far, University of Texas (UT) Austin, UT Brownsville and Tyler Junior College have presented the CATS PowerPoint on bicyclist safety and motorist awareness to a shining 1,961 incoming Texas college students.

Nine additional CATS pilot schools are preparing to follow suit and provide BikeTexas CATS' bicyclist safety and motorist awareness information at their schools this summer or fall (dates TBA unless listed):

• Austin College
• Huston-Tillotson University
• Texas A&M - Aug. 23 during Gig 'em! Week
• Texas Christian University
• Texas Southern University
• Texas Tech
• University of Houston
• UT Pan Am - Aug 25 at Bronc RoundUp
• UT Tyler

BikeTexas CATS Train the Trainer summer sessions recommenced July 18 with professor Aaron Block of Austin College (front and center) and Kyle McDaniel of Texas A&M (right of center) showing up at our 75-minute ‘webi-gnarrly’.

Also pictured are CATS Program Manager Donna Hoffman (left), BikeTexas Communications Assistant Juliana Furioso (2nd to left), and BikeTexas Intern Rudy Debillis (right).

RSVP today to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for the next Round of Train the Trainer sessions -- August 2nd or 6th at 10 AM. Thank you!

Meow.  ROAR!!!!  Meow.

CATS Debuts at UTB & UT

BikeTexas is delighted to announce that University of Texas at Brownsville and University of Texas at Austin campuses debuted BikeTexas' new College Active Transportation Safety (CATS) program at the first in a series of new student orientations at Texas colleges and universities this summer.

Many thanks to Charles Hart, lecturer at UT Brownsville (UTB) for delivering the very first BikeTexas CATS presentation, and Beth Rosenbarger, graduate student in Architecture for following suit at UT Austin (UT) in the afternoon yesterday June 7, 2012.

This spring, BikeTexas staff traveled to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. We learned about the growing bicycling culture there and reconnected with BikeTexas’ Safe Cyclist Certified Instructor Susan Hart at UTB. This summer, Dean of Students, Dr. Mari Fuentes-Martin and her staff placed the CATS curriculum on the UTB Orientation agenda. We hope the program encourages even more UTB students to ride the trails along Brownsville’s beautiful resacas!

At UT, BikeTexas CATS presentation compliments some great bicycling programs already underway on UT campus sponsored by the Parking & Transportation Services (UT-PTS) Department and the UT Bicycle Campaign. We’re delighted to be working with bike-friendly campus pioneers at UT -- Bicycle Coordinator, Sam Cortez; Director of Alternative Transportation, Blanca Juarez; BikeTexas Safe Cyclist Certified Instructor & Lecturer in Education-Kinesiology, Teresita Ramirez; as well as two very helpful graduate students, Kate Bedford and Beth Rosenbarger.

We are excited to see the program evolve during the summer orientation sessions each week. We’re now ready to bring the program to 5 more Colleges and Universities across the state of Texas this year...looks like the Aggies are next!

If you would like the BikeTexas CATS presentation to be a part of your school’s incoming student orientations this Summer or Fall, we have a 15-minute Overview, as well as 7 more in-depth presentations on specific subjects available.

Contact us, and we’ll be more than happy to work with you and your school to set this up!

Blanca Juarez, UT Austin Alternative Transportation Manager; Teresita Ramirez, Lecturer - UT Austin Kinesiology & Health Education; Donna Hoffman, BikeTexas CATS Program Manager; Beth Rosenbarger, UT Austin Graduate Student and CATS Presenter; Juliana Furioso, BikeTexas CATS Communications Assistant & Student Coordinator; Samuel Cortez, UT Austin Bicycle Coordinator

Thursday, 26 April 2012 15:43

Safety Bling! Music Video Release

Tuesday, May 1st 

BikeTexas launches our new College Active Transportation Safety program, CATS with a new music video Safety Bling!

BikeTexas kicks off Bike Month 2012 on Tuesday, May 1 with the online release of a new music video produced for our TxDOT-funded, 'CATS' presentations on College Active Transportation Safety.

Safety Bling! features comic rap duo The Rhymanese Twins, aka Jon Steinmeier and Noah Tabakin. This hilarious two-headed, three-legged rap team pumps out the BikeTexas safety message with phat beats, a hysterical, while educational plot line, and the help of rival UT and A&M college students on bikes.

Find Safety Bling! on BikeTexas' Facebook page here and share it with your friends!  Not on Facebook?  No worries -- watch and share the fun on YouTube here.

Safety Bling! complements a set of bicycle and pedestrian safety presentations currently under construction at BikeTexas and destined for freshman orientation at seven to thirteen pilot colleges and universities in Texas this Summer and Fall 2012.

Read more: Safety Bling! Music Video Launches May 1

College Active Transportation Safety

Seven Texas colleges and universities will pilot BikeTexas new College Active Transportation Safety presentations at new student orientation sessions in the Summer and Fall 2012.

Funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, BikeTexas CATS addresses the need for information and education and for reducing motor vehicle-related pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.

Here are 5 Easy Steps to Bring CATS to your campus.  Texas colleges and universities are promoting walking and cycling. They're solving parking problems, accommodating economic abilities, addressing sustainability and air quality concerns, and encouraging active, safe and healthy lifestyles for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Texas has the third highest number of annual bicyclist fatalities in the U.S. The majority (70%) of those fatalities occurred in urban areas. College students moving into urban areas to begin post-secondary studies are more economically and socially inclined to walk or cycle – some for the first time and without knowledge of campus area roads or safe riding techniques. Education about pedestrian and bicycle safety is important for increasing awareness and safety.

BikeTexas CATS offers relevant content and imagery for college students in PowerPoint presentations: a 15-minute Overview of our main topics:

• Motivating active transportation lifestyles
• Texas bicycle and pedestrian law
• Bicycle and pedestrian safety
• Motorist sensitivity to cyclists and pedestrians
• Bicycle safety equipment
• Using mass transit
• Prevention of alcohol, drug-influenced, or distracted driving accidents.  

BikeTexas CATS also offers extended presentations on:  Walk & Roll, motivating active transportation lifestyles;  The Five O, Texas Bicycle & Pedestrian Law;  Mass Transit, Taking the Bus or Train; plus, a 3-minute Safety Bling! music video on bicycle safety equipment. 

BikeTexas recommends that college Orientation, Transportation, Education-Kinesiology or Recreational Sports departments select incoming Juniors or Seniors or graduating Seniors who are preparing to be teachers and who have trained in the BikeTexas SafeCyclist curriculum to present the CATS program to their younger peers. BikeTexas can assist college sponsoring departments to connect with SafeCyclist-trained students or other potential presenters on your campuses.

For more information or to register as a CATS presenter and access these materials, contact BikeTexas CATS.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to everyone who provided input, reviewed, or otherwise collaborated in the creation of BIkeTexas new CATS curriculum.  We appreciate your insights, talents, and contributions!

CATS Advisory Team

BikeTexas Staff -- Executive Director Robin Stallings, Program Manager & Curriculum Developer Donna Hoffman, Communications Assistant/Student Coordinator Juliana Furioso, Photographer Ann Harkness, Jack Sanford, Emma Cravey, Mark Stine, Brenda Chuleewah, Fernando Martinez, Leslie Luciano, Susan Wilcox

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Safety Division Staff -- Program Manager Lydia Bryan-Valdez, Traffic Safety Director Terry Pence, Programs Director Jim Hollis

League Cycling Instructors-- Regina Garcia, Jerrel Wallace, Brian Hatt, Julie Doheny, Cliff Molloy, Justin Moore

SafeCyclist Faculty  -- Teresita Ramirez, University of Texas Austin, Susan Hart, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Brownsville, Charles Hart, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Texas Brownsville, Susan Wagner, Texas A&M College Station; Dr. Joel Bloom, Associate Professor, Health Education, University of Houston

University Faculty/Staff & Consultants -- Charles Riou, TxDOT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator; Joan Hudson, Associate Research Engineer, Texas Transportation Insitute of Texas A&M;  Ron Steedly, Alternative Transportation Manager, Texas A&M College Station;  UT Austin Parking & Transportation Services -- Blanca Juarez, Alternative Transportation Manager & Samuel Cortez, Bicycle Coordinator; Officer Roberto Gonzalez, UT Austin Police Department;  UT Brownsville -- Dean of Students Dr. Mari Fuentes-Martin, Orientation Melissa de la Rosa;  UT Pan Am -- Marianella Franklin, Director of Sustainability Programs; Attorney Mark Peña, Ciclistas Urbanos; University of Texas Tyler -- Howard Patterson, Director Herrington Patriot Center, Bob Hepler, Head Coach;  George 'Butch' Willingham, BikeTexas Board of Directors;  Huston-Tillotson University -- Dr. Rozena McCabe, Kinesiology, LaGina Harris, First Year Experience Coordinator;  Texans Standing Tall, Nicole Holt, Executive Director & Alex Tapias, Strategy Specialist; Cynthia Schiebel, LPC, LCDC, AAC, ADC3, CPS;  Alyssa Simms, Capitol Metro

Students/Youth -- Texas A&M -- Tucker Cullum, Liz Carrera, Edward Matthews;  UT Austin -- Kate Bedford, Chandler Gandy, Beth Rosenbarger;  UT Brownsville -- Edgar Covarrubias;  UT Pan Am -- Alex Spishakoff;  UT Tyler -- Chauncey Deller;  Huston-Tillotson University -- Angela Gallimore, Peer Learning Counselor.

CATS Stars - Photography & Video Talent

CATS Presentation Photos -- April Aliermo, Adam Butler, Fidel Campbell, Laureen Connelly, Alfredo Fierro, Juliana Furioso, Jettie Koen, Daniel Lee, Melody Liao, Megan McDonald, Patrick Beyer, Liam Robarth-Laye, Jack Sanford, Kaya Sumer

Safety Bling!  The Rhymanese Twins -- Jon Steinmeier & Noah Tabakin.  TxDOT Travel Division video team -- Benard Stafford, John Clawson, Michael Amador, Chris Lewis, Debbie Snyder. Crew -- Donna Hoffman, Juliana Furioso, Purly Gates, Ron Beal, Alan Koda, Ed Fuentes, BikeTexas staff.  Actors-- Lee Arnold, Daniella Baird, Patrick Beyer, Jason Butler, Fidel Campbell, Shannon Crane, Andre Denais, Jennifer Denais, Jessica Duffy, Karen Gause, Landon Gillett, Bethany Hamilton, Derek Hansen, Laura Higgins, Sandy Hines, David Hudson, Heather Kouros, Paul Kim, Anna Kong, Maeve Kent, Pamela Larson, Rachel Laye, Tyler Mainz, Edward Matthews, Brandon McKinney, Marah Nomack, Andre Pelaez, P. Monroe Patterson, Tim Pipe, Hilda Ramos, John Randall, Mark Rausch, Jesse S., Cameron Schultz,Tyler Shaffer, Imani Shanklin, Gilbert Slade, Mark Sullivan, Sarah Swinney, Maegen Valdez, Daryl Wade, Jermaine Walker, David Westenbarger, James Woodring, Christine Yager

Thanks also goes to...

Farideh Dassi, Engineer;  Mark Peña, Irma & Ramon Hermida, Edinburg Ciclistas Urbanos;  Alfonso Vallejo, Transportation Planner, City of Brownsville;  City of College Station Parks & Recreation; City of Austin Parks & Recreation; Jeremy Phillips; Austin Bike Zoo; Brownsville City Commissioner Rose Gowen, MD and Jeffrey Gowen; University of Texas at Brownsville, School of Architecture -- Dr. Murad Abusalim & Erick Darbo-Diaz;  Brooks Goldsmith and the Hump Day Nooner Ride; Jim Walker, UT Austin Office of Sustainability