Coalition Advocacy Roundup

Cycling advocacy news from Anna, Galveston, Austin and Florida.

Anna Bike Ban Update

Texas Bicycle Coalition has been fielding calls from attorneys who share our concern that there may be legal or even constitutional issues with the bike ban in Anna, Texas. Thankfully, we have heard of no one being ticketed. Working closely with BikeDFW, the Coalition will keep a keen eye on this issue. If you have not already done so, please write a respectful letter to the Mayor of Anna. Please see last month’s article on how to contact the Anna Mayor.

Galveston Offers Pedestrian & Bicyclist Plan Public Workshop

Wednesday, August 16, 2006
6:00 – 8:00pm
Rosenberg Library Wortham Auditorium
2310 Sealy Avenue
Galveston, Texas

Using input gathered from two rounds of public workshops held in May and June 2006, the City of Galveston and Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) have developed a list of potential projects to improve and enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility on Galveston Island. The City and H-GAC are holding a public workshop to present the proposed projects for discussion and comment.

The potential projects provide possible solutions to local needs and concerns such as:

• Improving and creating new sidewalks and crosswalks
• Increasing access for persons with disabilities
• Establishing safer routes to schools
• Designating new or additional bicycle routes
• Improving signage, striping and intersection treatments for pedestrians and bicyclists

At this workshop and via the project website, www.walkbikegalveston.org, the public will have the opportunity to submit comments and vote for the projects they feel would be the most beneficial to the area. Voting will begin on the website August 12 and will close September 4, 2006.

If you would like more information about the project, please visit the project website or contact Dan Raine, AICP, H-GAC’s Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator, at 832-681-2525 or dan.raine@h-gac.com.

Capital Metro Becoming a Model for Bicycle Accommodations in Texas

The Austin area’s transit authority, Capital Metro, is in the planning stage of a new 32-mile rail with trail commuter line from Leander to downtown Austin. Texas Bicycle Coalition staff was invited on a high-rail tour of the new commuter line along with planners, rail operators and other special guests to discuss the possibilities and challenges of the rail line.

Most of the route has plenty of room for right of way and will be a beautiful bicycle facility when it is finished. There are some bottlenecks that will require using city streets to connect the trail. Construction funding for the trail has not yet been identified, but Capital Metro has found funding for planning and engineering.

Capital Metro has a long-standing commitment to accommodating bicycles. The rail cars for the commuter line will each provide capacity for six bikes. The stations and buses also have bike racks. This commitment makes it possible for the central Texas area to have a more complete mobility plan, involving all modes of transportation.

Texas and Florida Bicycle Groups Share Ideas

Executive Director Robin Stallings had the opportunity to sit down with the chair of the Florida Bicycle Association, Mighk Wilson, in recent weeks. The Association has been a national leader in both education and Share the Road efforts.

Florida has enviable bicycle facilities and more than 13,000 Share the Road license plates on motor vehicles. Texas currently has only 2,700 Share the Road Y’all license plates on automobiles.

Florida has set the bar for Share the Road license plate sales, and Texas Bicycle Coalition wants to surpass them! If you haven’t yet applied for a Texas Share the Road Y’all license plate, you can download the form on the BikeTexas website.