Action Alert: Contact Congress Now About Cycling Deaths

In recent weeks, people who ride bikes across Texas have been shocked and saddened by the loss of even more of our own to collisions. 2013 has been a terrible year for bicyclist deaths in Texas. 

We want a better future, and we know you want that, too. BikeTexas is proud to join with our colleagues at the League of American Bicyclists to ask Congress to act. We want to make sure that every life of every road user matters and is counted.

Please contact U.S. Congress, including your representative and senators, to ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 3494 / S. 1708, which requires the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) and state DOTs to account for and reduce bicyclist and pedestrian deaths. 

Last year, Congress mandated the US DOT to set performance goals, including safety goals. We believe that those goals should include a plan to make biking safer. However, the US DOT has refused to set a safety goal for non-motorized transportation. 

These bills give US DOT the flexibility to determine the best method to meet these safety measures, and call on our leaders to reduce the number of people who are killed or injured while biking and walking on our streets every year.     

We’ve found this format to work well with elected officials. Please adjust as needed for your House member and Senators:

1. 1. My name is ________ and I live in [your District or city].
   2. I (and/or family member) ride a bicycle and walk in [District]. The current rate of cyclist and pedestrian deaths on our Texas roads is unacceptable.
   3. HR 3494 (or S 1708 for Senators), the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act, states clearly that the lives of all roadway users are important, and creates accountability toward ending needless deaths.
   4. Will the [Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator] cosponsor HR 3494 / S 1708?

BikeTexas wants to give a special thanks to Representative Michael McCaul of Texas for taking leadership on this bill and being an original cosponsor. Please ask your representative to join Rep. McCaul in sponsoring this bill. If you live in TX-10, please call or email to thank Representative McCaul for his support. 

It’s time for our transportation officials to stop ignoring pedestrian and bicycle deaths and start working to prevent them. Please contact Congress today and ask your representative and our senators to cosponsor HR 3494 and S 1708.

Thank you for making Texas a great place to bike and walk!