BikeTexas Today: January 2016

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Here’s to You:

BikeTexas Supporters Make a Difference!

Thank you! 2015 was full of ups and downs for people who walk and ride bikes in Texas, but through it all, BikeTexas supporters once again proved their determination to make Texas a great place to ride a bike! Here’s a sample of what you did in 2015:

Fought back against anti-bike legislation a the state level, and again at the federal level
Gave hundreds of kids a chance to fall in love with riding a bike
Made a splash on the Bicycle-Friendly lists with seven new Texas businesses, one new university (A&M), and three new Texas cities being designated as Bicycle Friendly by the League of American Bicyclists! Congratulations to Brownsville, Plano, and Richardson for your new Bicycle Friendly designations, and to Austin on upgrading to GOLD!

Thank you, Texas! Here’s to you, and here’s to a fantastic 2016 together!

It’s Electrifying! #TTAT2016

The 2016 Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference is only six weeks away! You don’t want to miss this chance to hear from and network with engineers, city planners, elected officials, advocates, and others who are doing great things for trails and active transportation in Texas and around the world.

As an added bonus, all TTAT attendees will get an exclusive sneak peek at the Electric Bike Expo to learn more about electric bikes, ask questions of industry leaders, and take a test ride on the latest e-bike models, all before the Expo opens to the general public! Texas has been a nationwide leader in passing laws governing electric bikes. See how e-bikes can benefit our cities and communities at TTAT.

Don’t miss out! Hotel rates increase on February 9 and conference fees go up on February 15. Take advantage of early bird rates and secure your spot at TTAT 2016 today!

Learn more, Register, and Reserve your hotel room here

Attend the National Bike Summit

Join the Texas Delegation at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., March 7-9! Hear from inspiring speakers and see what’s happening for bikes around the country. On Lobby Day, visit the office of every Texas member of Congress and tell them how important bicycles and active transportation are to you. Let us know you’re going so we can connect you with the Texas coordinator. Don’t miss out!

Learn more and register for the National Bike Summit.

The Texas NBS delegation with Senator Cornyn in 2015

BikePedEd is Here!

Now is the time to order bike lights for your whole bike club, and From A to Z By Bike and other great activity books for your classroom. Do you know a Boy or Girl Scout troop, an after school club, or other group that needs bicycle and pedestrian education and safety materials? We have you covered!

Learn more and order BikePedEd here.

Nominate a Local Leader for a Trails of Texas Award

Has someone in your community gone above and beyond to support, plan, implement, or promote local trails? Is there a trails hero you know who is going unsung? Now’s the time to start singing! Nominate your local trails leader for a Trails of Texas Award, presented by the Texas Trails Network and awarded at the Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference. Hurry– nomination deadline is February 15.

Please note: while we’d love nothing more than for you to be present when we surprise your nominee, your attendance at TTAT 2016 is not required for you to nominate someone. So get creative and think of who you could recognize!

Find the Trails of Texas Awards nomination form and more details here.

2014 Texas Trails Award Winner Dr. Rose Gowen and other Brownsville delegates

Rent a bike for SXSW in Austin!

Are you headed to Austin for South By Southwest? Do you know someone who is? Traffic is traditionally gridlocked during spring break in Austin, but getting around doesn’t have to cause you stress headaches! Rent a bike from BikeTexas for SXSW and you’ll be soaring around town with ease all week long. Plus, all rental proceeds benefit bicycle advocacy in Texas. Everybody wins!

Learn more and reserve your bicycle for SXSW here.

Meet Spring Intern Brent Voyles

I’m from a really small town called Lindsay, TX. I’ve been in Austin for 8 years. I’m about to graduate from Texas State, where I’m majoring in Health & Fitness Management, with a degree in Exercise Sports Science. My goal after graduation is to work for a sports team as an equipment manager, locker room manager, or something along those lines.

During my time at BikeTexas I want to learn all I can about how BikeTexas manages their equipment and how an organization is run.

We’re excited to have Brent with us this spring. If you stop by the office or see him at an event in the next couple of months, be sure to say hello and congratulate him on his soon-to-be graduation!

Keep in Touch!

Don’t forget– there are plenty of ways to keep in touch with BikeTexas! Join us most weekdays around noon for our Lunch With BikeTexas Periscope, and be sure to swing by our website every Friday for our News By Bike linky list of news from around the world of active transportation. And we’re always available by email at mail@biketexas.org, as well as on our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

It takes a lot of people to make Texas a great place to walk or bike.The BikeTexas Advisory Board makes it possible to educate more legislators, work with more city officials, and provide more materials to teachers around the state! Many thanks to Dr. Bill Shea, Trammell S. Crow, Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin, Senator Rodney Ellis, and Gail and Jim Spann.