ACT NOW to Save Biking and Walking in Texas!

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

Staff Transitions at BikeTexas

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' 

BikeTexas Receives Award from Texas NAACP

Wednesday, 07 December 2011 13:03

On October 7th, 2011, the Texas NAACP presented BikeTexas with Texas President Award at the 75^th Annual Texas NAACP State Convention.  Gary Bledsoe, President of the Texas NAACP, handed the award to Robin Stallings, Executive Director of BikeTexas. Inscribed on the award are the words “For going above and beyond the call of duty to develop interest in biking and green benefits from biking in the African American Community”. 

BikeTexas has a history of nurturing diversity, and bringing leaders into the bike culture.  Texas Legislators host bike rides at the annual National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) meetings around the country. With their fleet of bicycles in tow, Bike Texas conducts these rides for our Texas Legislative hosts.  Since 2005, Bike Texas has used opportunities like this to bring our Leaders and future leaders to cycling.  

The following morning Bike Texas coordinated a bike ride for NAACP Leaders and attendees. Leaders from several NAACP chapters participated, including an enthusiastic group of collegiate chapter leaders.  NAACP President Gary Bledsoe and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price also participated in the ride.  The ride commenced shortly after dawn on a beautiful fall morning, touring Downtown Fort Worth and the Trinity Trail.  Brenda Chuleewah Bike Texas’ Teacher Training and Program manager was impressed with all of the women on the ride, saying the group was a broad mix of gender and age.  

A special thanks goes out to the Fort Worth Bike Police who did a fantastic job of escorting our cyclists.  Bike Texas has also co-hosted rides with the NAACP in Kileen and Houston. 

This is the first time in the history of the NAACP that a bike advocacy group received an award for helping to create more diversity in the cycling culture. Bike Texas is honored to be a part of this historic moment.