ACT NOW to Save Biking and Walking in Texas!

BikeNews; Action Alerts

Wednesday, 15 February 2012 10:10

AT THIS VERY MOMENT, the U.S. Senate and House are taking action to eliminate key programs that fund walking and biking

LET'S TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE WALKING AND BIKING IN TEXAS

 

MAP-21 in the Senate and H.R.7 in the House - as they stand now - represent the forces that want to spend all our tax money to build expensive highways and leave biking and walking in the dust.

Across the country, groups are mobilizing to ensure Americans have the freedom to choose healthy, economically beneficial transportation options. Your help is needed RIGHT NOW

 

1) Ask Senators Cornyn and Hutchison to support the Cardin/Cochran and Kloubacher Amendments

 

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR U.S. SENATE CONTACTS: Dear Senator YOUR MEMBER'S NAME, I am a Texan voter and a cyclist/pedestrian/parent/teacher/member of BikeTexas/city transportation planner/parks official/etc (STATE ANY AND ALL RELEVANT AFFILIATIONS). Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements are very important to me because of the Texas obesity epidemic/I have been hit by a car/my roads are unsafe for my children/etc. (USE YOUR OWN WORDS) I urge you to support the following amendments to MAP-21: Cardin/Cochran Amendment #1549 to restore TE funds Klobuchar Amendment to restore the Recreational Trails Program I am very upset that MAP-21, as it was voted out of the Environment and Public Works Committee, fails to provide dedicated funding that we can count on to support trails, walking and bicycling. Through inclusion of expensive new eligible projects like roads, activities like routine maintenance of vegetation and compliance with regulatory requirements, the newly defined Transportation Enhancements (TE) program will no longer be used by my state transportation department to fund trails, walking and bicycling. These transportation opportunities are absolutely necessary for our communities--and our nation--to continue creating jobs, providing affordable transportation, bettering our energy security, improving health and safety, and more. As this bill is also about creating jobs, it is worth noting that a recent study by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials found that TE projects, like building trails, create more jobs per dollar than do highway projects like road resurfacing. Thank you for your continued service.

2) Ask your Member of Congress to support the Petri Amendment

IT IS NOT TOO LATE - These key amendments would prevent shortsightedness and special interests from ruining our transportation future for decades. 

Senator Hutchison:

202-224-5922

Email form

Senator Cornyn:

202-224-2934

Email Form

 

 

Find Your Member of Congress

Click here

BikeTexas KidsKup wraps up 12th Year

BikeNews; Education Fund

Thursday, 01 December 2011 01:20

With the conclusion of the Fall Series, BikeTexas has just wrapped up the 12th year of the BikeTexas KidsKup. The BikeTexas KidsKup is a family oriented program and it is a great way to introduce kids to bicycle safety and handling skills in a fun off road environment. This year was the best year ever. BikeTexas KidsKup had over 400 kids participate in 12 races in the Spring and Fall Series of 2011. Boys and girls of all ages put on their helmets and rode whatever wheels they had: tricycles, scootbikes, bikes with training wheels, single-speed kick brake bikes, and even a few bikes with gears and disc brakes! Whatever the ride, everyone had fun and received goodie bags including Clif bars, water bottles, stickers, safety materials with videos, and shiny Shimano medals for their participation. At the BikeTexas KidsKup, everyone is a champion!

The next KidsKup race will be held on February 10, 2012 in conjunction with the TMBRA Warda Race in Warda, TX, with several more Kids Kup events following in the Spring 2012 series. 

Read more: BikeTexas KidsKup wraps up 12th Year

BikeTexas 2011 Bike Giveaway Winner from Pearland, TX receives Trek 7.2FX

BikeNews; Member News

Thursday, 01 December 2011 00:07

Congratulations to this year's lucky winner of the BikeTexas Member Bike Giveaway was John Olin of Pearland, TX. John has been a monthly Patron-level member of BikeTexas since 2008. This year's prize was a Trek 7.2FX hybrid road bicycle donated by Texas Trek Dealers. The drawing was held during the Kids Kup race on October 1, 2011 at the Dave Boyd Huntsville Classic TMBRA event in Huntsville State Park. John donated his prize bike to his granddaughter Grace. They picked up the Trek bike from the Bike Barn in the West University neighborhood of Houston. 

Last Chance to Win a New Trek Bike!

BikeNews; Advocacy

Thursday, 29 September 2011 10:38

BikeTexas Members! Renew your membership now to be entered in the raffle to win this 2012 Trek 7.2 hybrid bike! Drawing will be conducted at Kids Kup Huntsville this weekend but you don't have to be there to win!

This is your last chance!  Join BikeTexas or renew your membership now!

This Saturday, October 1, we will be raffling off a new Trek bike at the BikeTexas Kids Kup, at the TMBRA Huntsville Classic. Join BikeTexas or renew your membership by noon tomorrow, September 30, and you could be the owner of this shiny new 2012 Trek 7.2 hybrid, donated by Texas Trek dealers.

Note: If you have joined or renewed since August 1, 2011, including at Hotter'N Hell Hundred, you are already entered in the raffle!

Monthly members are automatically entered, but remember that we need your updated information - if you haven't updated your information in the last two months, we need it from you again!  Click here for details.

If your membership hasn't yet expired, renew now and your renewal date will be moved ahead one year! If you renew as a monthly member, your membership will renew automatically each year, and you will be entered into the raffle each year we can offer it! 

If you win, you can pick up the bike in your size at your favorite Texas Trek dealer. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Staff and Board of BikeTexas

Staff Transitions at BikeTexas

BikeNews; Community

Thursday, 08 December 2011 10:29

Fall in Texas provides a dramatic example of how good change feels.  Change is inspiring because there's the challenge of learning and growth.  At BikeTexas, we are excited about this Fall's changes...

We are pleased to announce two new staff members at BikeTexas!

Leslie Luciano, our new Communications Director has been a friend and close BikeTexas partner for over three years as the Director of Advocacy for Bicycle Sport Shop.  Leslie will be working on Safe Routes to School and looks forward to expanding our social media outreach, networking with Bike Retailers around the state who are not yet members, and increasing sales of our Share the Road, Y'all and Texas Trails license plates.     

Donna Hoffman, our new Program Manager comes from a successful seven year run at the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. Donna met BikeTexas when we helped with the 2009 Clean Energy bicycle rally and ride.  Donna is excited about networking with Texas college faculty, staff, and students to create a new initiative at BikeTexas -- a College Freshmen Active Transportation Safety Course supported by a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) grant.    

Freddie Summer Moves to TxDOT  When TxDOT recently went looking for someone with Safe Routes to School experience, they found their expert at BikeTexas.  As a new Program Manager in the Traffic Safety Office of the Traffic Operations Division, Freddie Summer, our former Grant Compliance/Office Manager, will be involved in administering traffic safety grants for motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicle occupants.  

Emma Cravey & Jack Sanford on the Move   In addition to our new staff members, we are shifting duties amongst our 10-member team.  Emma Cravey, after building membership to an all-time high as Membership Director, has stepped up to serve as our Grant Compliance and Office Manager.  Emma is excited to embrace the challenge!  Jack Sanford, who was our Graphic Designer, will now take over as Membership Coordinator.  By the looks of the new members he's brought on board in just the last month, we have no doubt Jack will successfully build BikeTexas' 

Boltage Program Increases School Biking and Walking

BikeNews; Education Fund

Thursday, 01 December 2011 00:12

Read more: Boltage Program Increases School Biking and Walking