The City of Tyler added a bit more credence to the city motto, “On a New Horizon.” Mayor Joey Seeber introduced Tyler’s first designated bicycle route, a 6.25 mile loop through the southeast corner of town. The Tyler Bicycle Club was on hand to celebrate the occasion. The new route, which connects cyclists to Golden Rod Park, is part of a revised bicycle plan to connect neighborhoods to city parks. Mayor Seeber has been an ardent supporter of the bicycle community in Tyler, and recognizes that providing bicycle routes will facilitate residents’ enjoyment of the city.
Approval has been granted to establish other routes through Tyler with the goal of building a bicycle network. The Tyler Bicycle Club notes that they have already received a commitment from TxDOT to erect signage along Hwy 131 between Tyler, Kilgore, and Longview. Residents of Kilgore, Longview, and Gregg County are encouraged to contact their officials and ask for support of “Share the Road” and “Bicycle Route” signs.
Although bicyclists should not be confined by designated routes, studies indicate that the presence of facilities such as bicycle lanes boosts ridership numbers and instills confidence in novice cyclists. Tyler Bicycle Club President, Butch Willingham, notes that “while ‘hard-core’ roadies may not use the new route much, many citizens have been spotted enjoying the loop.” Communities that provide facilities for cyclists certainly have their eyes on the horizon…way to go Tyler !
