COLLEGE STATION: Sign up for the Safety Bling Video Shoot!

BikeNews; Advocacy

Mobile Sessions Get TTAT Moving

BikeNews; Community

Complementary four-dollar daily pass in hand and sheltered under one of Vía's graffiti-proof bus stops, Abigail Kinnison began our afternoon multimodal tour of the King William Historic Neighborhood during the 2012 Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference in San Antonio, Texas. 

Participants in this mobile session enjoyed a panoramic VÍA Metropolitan Transit trolley ride from the intersection of Lexington and Avenue A to within a short walk of the Anton Wulff House serving as headquarters to the San Antonio Conservation Society and the gateway to the homes on and around King William Street. The trolley ride over took us past the recently inaugurated San Antonio B-Cycle's headquarters, with its rows of commuter/tourist friendly bicycles at the ready.

Before setting off on a self-guided tour of the historic district, we were treated to a brief but informative presentation on the grounds of the Conservation Society's headquarters. 

Most of the grand homes along King William Street and adjoining streets were built in the 1800s by prosperous German business owners. However, due to housing shortages as the military population grew during World War II, many of the homes were divided into apartments for military spouses. Many homes suffered from disrepair and abandonment in later years.  The restoration of these homes back to their single family, original design was possible due to the momentum started by Walter Mathis and many others who shared his vision up to the present. 

While there is still some work to be done, the neighborhood has been largely restored to its former splendor, and today's residents include many successful businessmen and professionals such as HEB grocery empire chairman Charles Butt. All participants found something to admire along our architectural/historical walk-most of the homes along the walking tour have been beautifully restored. 

AUSTIN: Sign-Up for the Safety Bling Video Shoot!

BikeNews; Education Fund

TTAT Conference: Highlights from Texas’ main event for walking and biking

BikeNews; Education Fund

Professionals and advocates that create, promote, and use active transportation (i.e. walking, biking, transit, etc.) convened at the Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference in San Antonio from February 1 to 3, 2012. They shared ideas and momentum to make Texas a great place to walk and bike. Building upon the success of the first TTAT Conference held in Austin in 2010, well over two hundred participants attended from forty-seven Texas cities, as well as Califonia, Kentucky, and Canada. The conference was jointly hosted by BikeTexas and the Texas Trails Network.

A full and distinguished schedule of presenters addressed active transportation in Texas from every angle. One day was dedicated to almost entirely to in-depth workshops, including the Texas Bike/Ped Advocates Workshop, a gathering of advocates from around the state facilitated by Charles Gandy, which dealt with different approaches to creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly streets.

Thursday and Friday were largely dedicated to breakout sessions that covered a wide range of topics. More than thirty different topics were addressed. Speakers covered everything from their city’s master trail and bike plans to “How Urban Design Affects Property Values.”

Notable in the lineup were the sessions on San Antonio’s efforts to create and encourage a bicycle and pedestrian culture. Fighting urban sprawl and poor public health, the city has made numerous, notable attempts to improve quality of life by promoting active lifestyles to its citizens.

Not a minute was wasted, and during meals, there were many keynote speakers.

John Burke, CEO of Trek Bicycles spoke on his vision for a better America, one that includes dramatic increases in bicycling for transportation, recreation, and health.

Keith Laughlin, President of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, addressed “Active Transportation and the Charisma of Place.” He made the case for biking as “cool,” and for “cool” as the driving force behind attracting young, enthusiastic workers and creating a vibrant public culture in cities.

Two keynote speakers approached bicycling from a legislative perspective; State Senator Rodney Ellis and retired United States Congressman James Oberstar addressed the group.

A unique feature of the TTAT Conference were the Mobile Workshops, which got attendees out of the conference rooms and onto the streets (and trails) of San Antonio. Each afternoon, conference presenters led groups on walks, rides, runs, and even paddle tours of different neighborhoods and features of the host city. The knowledgeable local guides brought the principles discussed that morning to life as they led their groups through tours as varied as an introduction to the new local bike share system to viewing the San Antonio River Improvements Project.

A complete list of presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors, as well as the detailed schedule, can be found on the TTAT Conference website.

ACT NOW to Save Biking and Walking in Texas!

BikeNews; Action Alerts

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

ACTION ALERT: Contact Texas Senators to Save Recreational Trails

BikeNews; Action Alerts