"It's bigger than a ride" - The Unpredictability of the Texas Legislature and Events at the Capitol

It's fantastic to have local advocates on the ground all working toward the same global mission. Unfortunately, sometimes those very efforts can have implications on work already in progress. BikeTexas has over 20 years' experience lobbying in the state Legislature. Over these years, relationships have been nurtured and networks have been formed, leading to progress on behalf of all cyclists in Texas.

Getting laws passed in Texas is very tricky. Many lawmakers have little--if any--experience regarding cycling, cyclists, and our concerns. A large portion of our work is to educate those lawmakers on the difference between law-abiding cyclists and law breakers. Critical Mass, for example, gets their attention in a negative way. To break through those barriers, BikeTexas must be diligent and respectful on how and when to approach the Capitol.

Cyclists' presence at the Capitol is important, but should be planned for specific timing and support of key legislation. A good example is when a large group of cyclists turned out for a press conference in support of 2011's Anti-Texting Bill. This presence was coordinated with the bill's author by BikeTexas and other bill supporters. General rallies without coordination among groups working on state-wdie bicycle legislation are at best unproductive, and can even damage efforts already way and jeopardize support from legislators.

Tonight, Nov. 29, 2012, Please Be Kind to Cyclists is rallying at the Capitol to express outrage regarding the number of cyclist deaths on our roadways. We support this cause and we support rides of this nature, but not when these rides are stopping at the Capitol rather than riding through it. The danger to our shared cause is that lawmakers who see angry cyclists gathering at the Capitol may feel that cyclists are a threat and become entrenched in a refusal to work with cyclists – a sentiment BikeTexas has worked for decades to overcome.

We expressed these concerns to the Executive Director of PBK2C before plans were solidified. A rally through the Capitol without stopping there can keep the message on point without muddying our progress with the legislature. Lawmakers locally and statewide may feel that BikeTexas is behind this rally, and understandably so; our bike lights are being distributed at the rally, and reducing bicycling traffic fatalities to zero is a cause we all support. BikeTexas will feel the consequences of these actions moving forward, and this rally will make our 2013 legislative session even more unpredictable.

In addition, this ride conflicts with a previously planned fundraiser for an injured cyclist that is scheduled for 7pm tonight. Bike Austin, Social Cycling Austin, Cyclist Law and other advocates are supporting this fundraiser, and BikeTexas has offered our Tax Exempt ID for this event.

We ask as a courtesy that local groups notify us when rallies are planned at the Capitol, due to the sensitive nature of our legislative strategy. We're very lucky in Austin to have so many passionate local advocates, but it's important that Austin not be the only bike-friendly Texas city. We want our legislators to know that cyclists are an asset, not a problem. Let's make sure all Texans have the same opportunity to ride!

Election Bond Results Across Texas

We asked you to vote and the results are in!

Austin Props 12-18

Over 230,000 people voted on Austin's 18 bonds that were on the ballot. Propositions 12-18, promoted by the non-profit LoveATX and supported by BikeTexas, passed overwhelmingly with the exception of Proposition 15. This proposition for more affordable housing lost by less than 7,000 votes. Proposition 15 would have funded critically needed home and safety repairs for seniors, built rental housing with support services to help homeless families and individuals get back on their feet, and created homes for low income families so children can succeed in school and life. Many who followed the election closely are baffled as to how only this proposition was defeated.

Proposition 12, the transportation bond will fund $143.3 million improvements for construction and design of sidewalks, bridges, and roads to help ease traffic. These improvements include Interstate 35, MoPac, and North Lamar Boulevard. The bond will also fund new traffic signals and pedestrian beacons to improve safety, and will help pay for a portion of the Violet Crown Trail, a 30-mile hike-and-bike trail from Zilker Park to Hays County.

The other quality of life bonds included in Props 12-18 pertain to watershed protection, parks and recreation, public safety, health and human services, and library, museum and cultural arts facilities.

Corpus Christi Prop 1

Corpus Christi’s Prop 1 passed overwhelmingly. The road measure won with the greatest margin of all the propositions — 73.8 percent to 26.1 percent — underscoring a theme hammered during city council and mayoral campaigns: Voters are fed up with ugly, crumbling, suspension-pounding roads.

"Roads are symbolic about the way Corpus Christi feels about itself sometimes," said Joshua Ozymy, associate professor of political science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

One project is a narrow stretch of McArdle Road where a woman was killed earlier this year. It will be widened and have sidewalks, a bike lane, curbs and gutters added.

Houston Proposition B

The City of Houston passed Proposition B: The issuance of $166 million in park improvement bonds for the conservation, improvement, acquisition, construction and equipment of neighborhood parks, recreational facilities, and bayous to create an integrated system of walking, running, and bicycle trails.

This proposition passed with over 60% of Houstonians supporting the bonds. The non-profit group Parks By You worked hard in the months leading up to the election to rally volunteers, gather supporters for the proposition, and educate the public about the benefits of green spaces in Houston.

Many thanks to all Texans who voted on November 6. Your vote makes a difference! Be sure to stay up with BikeTexas Action Alerts and emails as the legislative session gets underway on January 8. We have a lot of work still to do to make Texas a great place to walk and bike!

Transportation Experts Speak in San Marcos

On October 25, transportation advocates from around the area gathered at Texas State University for the "Great Streets in Small Towns" symposium.

Dr. Billy Fields, a professor of political science at Texas State, served as moderator for the evening. San Marcos City Councilmember John Thomaides spoke about the inititatives to make San Marcos more bicycle-friendly, including adding bike lanes on many city roads. San Marcos also has a bicycle map available for cyclists.

BikeTexas' Robin Stallings took the podium to talk about the things BikeTexas is working on for all Texans, including the BikeTexas CATS program, our educational materials, and the push for a Complete Streets bill in the legislature.

Tracy Hadden Loh of the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) spoke about the need for trails in small towns and rural areas. She talked about the push back that the Conservancy occasionally hears, and "nobody bikes here" reasoning that comes from many in more isolated areas. Tracy demonstrated the "Beyond Urban Centers" tool on the RTC site that holds valuable information about cycling and walking in areas outside of major cities (scroll down on the page to reach the interactive map). The map includes tools for finding fatalities, health data, infrastructure, and stories about great rural transportation across the U.S.

Finally, Dr. Jennifer Duthie of UT Austin's Center for Transportation Research spoke about her research on cyclist and pedestrian behaviors. She shared the results of a cyclist study conducted via smartphone app in 2011, which showed many desire paths where cyclists are choosing the path that seems easiest, rather than an officially designated path.

Attendees at the symposium were also entered into a door prize drawing for a new BikeTexas jersey.

Help BikeTexas Get Ready for the 2013 Legislative Session

My heart is heavy today. In the past two months, we've seen one cyclist death after another in Texas. Cyclists like Iris Stagner, who was a BikeTexas board member, a commuter, a racer, and a personal friend. Iris lobbied for Share the Road signs in Palo Pinto County and made a trip to the Texas legislature during the 2009 session to ask her representatives to support the Safe Passing Bill. Iris was a safe rider who obeyed traffic laws, but her life was tragically cut short in September when an inattentive driver struck her from behind. To date, the driver has faced no charges.

We all have stories like this one of a friend or loved one who did everything right but was still killed while cycling. Many Texas roads were not built with bicycles in mind, and worse, drivers are not being held accountable for killing cyclists. Like you and other cyclists across Texas, I am tired of the pain of losing friends. This fall, I’ve attended a series of grief-stricken memorial rides for fallen cyclists, but I dream of a day with no more memorial rides and no more white bikes. I want Texas to be safe for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

BikeTexas has the largest bicycle safety education program in the country, but it has become clear that we can’t educate our way out of this. We need strong, bipartisan action at the Texas legislature. We need our elected officials to join us in declaring that every cyclist or pedestrian life matters. We need to decide that allowing 400 pedestrian and 50 cyclist deaths in Texas every year is a nightmare, and it’s time to wake up.

Out-of-state highway interests don’t care about Texans’ health. They don’t care if your commute takes too long and you arrive at work already stressed. They don’t even care about reducing congestion: more congestion means they can make a case to build even more mega-highways and trap more Texans into driving everywhere they have to go. When many of our roads were built, these same highway interests insisted that there was no money for sidewalks or separated bicycle facilities. They insisted that car-only was the only way to build and they took away our mobility freedom.

My friend Iris fought for her mobility freedom and the mobility freedom of all Texans. She commuted by bicycle from Mineral Wells to Palo Pinto and back every day. Iris exercised her right to get to work as she chose, instead of letting poor infrastructure force her into a car-dependent commute. The car-centered infrastructure that is so beloved of highway interests is partly to blame for a driver knocking Iris off a highway that she had the legal right to ride on.

Now is the time for Texas to stand up and say, “No more!” It’s time to reclaim our freedom of movement and freedom of choice. It is time to demand that our legislature pass laws that will subject careless drivers to prosecution when they take cyclist or pedestrian lives.

Let’s do this for ourselves, our families, and our friends—especially for those who, like Iris, would have dearly loved to see Texans finally take our roads back.

1. Make an extra contribution towards BikeTexas' legislative efforts. Join BikeTexas if you aren't a member. Your membership supports BikeTexas’ efforts financially, but just as important, you become another voice demanding improved roadways in Texas. Legislators act for their constituents, and they need to know that you want them to support bicycling and Complete Streets in your district and across Texas.

2. Join our email list to receive our Action Alerts during the legislative session. Visit www.biketexas.org/email to sign up. In the heat of the session, a call or email from YOU could make a difference. Iris’ visit to the legislature in 2009 turned her senator’s “No” to a “Yes!” Never underestimate the power that constituents have in swaying elected officials. Don’t let the 2013 session go by without making sure your legislators represent you, your family, and your community.

3. Tell your family and friends about BikeTexas. Share the word about sharing the road, safety for cyclists, and saving Texas’ future. Tell others about the great work you support through your BikeTexas membership. Link to our website (www.biketexas.org), visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/biketexas), and follow us on Twitter (@biketexas).

Let's take on the 2013 Legislative Session together!