When it comes to the Texas Legislature, BikeTexas has one job–represent the interests and concerns of the thousands of Texans, of all ages and all abilities, who want safe places to bike and walk. In practice, this plays out in any number of ways each session, including: Our concerns with HB 715 After over 30 […]
Advocacy
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Bipartisan Bike Rides
Texas Bicycle Coalition works because Texans get involved.
Whether it's travelling to Austin to testify in a Senate or House committee hearing, visiting your school board and advocating for inclusion of the Texas SuperCyclist Curriculum in your child's school, or passing along our BikeTexas Today eNewsletter to friends you think should support our work, BikeTexas needs your help to build a better state of bicycling for all Texans.
BikeTexas represents you before our federal and state legislatures. We meet with the offices of our Senators and Congressional Representatives twice in March, participate in the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit, and the International Mountain Bike Association 24 Hours of IMBA. Typically on our BikeTexas Cyclists in Suits- Texas Lobby Day, dozens of advocates visit all 181 state legislators’ offices in Austin. BikeTexas testifies before several Texas Senate and House Committees and our members and volunteers place thousands of calls to the offices of legislators advocating important bicycling bills. Thanks to these efforts the voice of Texas cyclists are resounding in the ears of our legislators.
How to get involved with BikeTexas advocacy efforts:
- Join BikeTexas
- Order a BikeTexas License Plate for your vehicle.
- Write your local, state and federal legislators, informing them that you support the efforts of BikeTexas and the pro-bike legislation advocated by this organization. More information about contacting your legislators can be found here.
- Attend advocacy events like BikeTexas Cyclists in Suits, League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit, and International Mountain Bike Association 24 Hours of IMBA. Meet with other bicycle advocates and increase the impact of your legislative visit exponentially.
- Provide BikeTexas with your email address and we'll send you Action Alerts when we urgently need you to contact your legislators or submitt testimony for Committee hearings.
- Subscribe to the BikeTexas Today eNewsletter email list.
- Spread the word about BikeTexas. Tell your friends about us and our programs. Encourage them to purchase a BikeTexas sponsored License Plate to support bicycle safety education in Texas and advocate for cyclists' rights while driving.
HB 715 Electric Bicycle (ebike) Bill: Texas 88th Legislative Session
Register Now and Make Texas Better for Biking
Virtual National Bike Summit: February 28 – March 3, 2021 Make Your Voice Heard at the National Bike Summit! As we move into a new year, and a new administration in Washington D.C., there will be new opportunities for biking. A very important way for you to make an impact and advance biking access and […]
Virtual #TTAT2020 Registration is Open Now
Register now for the first all-virtual Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference October 14-16, 2020. No need for travel or booking a hotel room; you can join us from wherever you are and access all the recorded sessions afterwards, exclusively available to TTAT attendees. Although we will miss seeing everyone in person, we are […]
Durwood Mayfield
We are heartbroken at the loss of our friend and colleague, Durwood Mayfield, on May 13, 2020. See Durwood’s obituary here. Donate to Durwood’s Memorial Fund Here After owning and operating muffler shops and working as a professional owner-operator truck driver, Durwood found a new passion as a bicycle advocate. He started as a mountain […]
Mark Peña
Our hearts are heavy with the passing of former BikeTexas Board Member Mark Peña on March 29, 2020. Our thoughts are with his wife, Michelle, their children, Gabriel, Luke, Isabelle, Juliette, Anna, and Esteban, and his large circle of family and friends. See Mark’s obituary here. Donate to Mark’s Memorial Fund Here Mark leaves an […]
2019 Cyclists in Suits
Join us on February 25 in Austin to lobby the 86th Texas Legislature for better access, safety, and education for all people who ride bikes in Texas.
Join us for Cyclists in Suits 2017 – Please Reserve Your Spot
Online Form – Cyclists in Suits Registration 2017 HTML Form Generator
April 2015 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
In April, BikeTexas Executive Director Robin Stallings spoke to the TTC. Robin addressed agenda item 4B, the Unified Transportation Program (UTP), reminding the Commission that when the UTP is updated it’s also a good time to revisit the current status of bike and pedestrian facility funding in the state. To watch Robin’s remarks, click here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/04302015-615, […]
March 2015 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
In March, Timothy Ingalls of Share the Road Amarillo, Durwood Mayfield of BikeTexas, and Dr. Bill Forbes of Stephen F Austin University in Nacogdoches addressed the Commission regarding the benefit that the $35 million that TxDOT is currently flexing away from TAP into the general fund could have for small towns and their active transportation networks. […]
February 2015 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
In February, Jack Sanford of BikeTexas spoke to the Commission about potential TAP projects in San Antonio and Austin, using as an example a recent project in San Antonio that has generated economic development in San Antonio. See the meeting here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/02262015-660. Jack is the first speaker in the Open Comment Period (next-to-last item on the […]
January 2015 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
In January, Mark Beauchamp, Traffic Engineering Superintendent for the City of Wichita Falls; Chris Riley, former Austin City Councilmember; and Fernando Martinez of BikeTexas addressed the TTC about Transportation Alternatives Program funding. Watch the meeting video here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/01292015-541. Click on “Open Comment Period” and skip to 10:13 to hear from Mark, Chris, and Fernando.
December 2014 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
In December, the TTC discussed the Call for Projects under TAP funding (for small/rural MPOs), and pulled the TAP speakers in to hear what they had to say at the same time. BikeTexas Executive Director Robin Stallings responded to TxDOT’s presentation of its call for projects before the speakers were called to the podium. Steven […]
November 2014 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
Mark Stine (BikeTexas), James Steenhagen of San Marcos, Tom Wald (former Executive Director of Bike Austin), and Krista Sherwood of the National Park Service spoke to the TTC in November and urged them to keep all TAP funds in TAP instead of transferring that money to a flex fund. See the meeting video here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/11202014-586. Click […]
October 2014 TTC Meeting in El Paso
In October, Victor Cordero and Scott White of Velo Paso spoke at the Texas Transportation Commission meeting in El Paso. See the meeting video here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/10302014-548. Click on “Open Comment Period” at the bottom of the agenda and skip to 24:15 to hear from Scott and Victor.
September 2014 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
On September 18, the TTC voted to adopt the TAP rules as they were. While we were glad to see that TxDOT listened to people who ride bikes to some extent, by improving the rules for TAP funding so that communities will have an easier time building projects with TAP funds, the TTC declined to take […]
August 2014 TTC Meeting in Dallas
The August 2014 TTC meeting took place after the public comments received in response to our Action Alert, but before the TTC told us their decision. At this meeting, speakers presented the TTC with signed letters from ten mayors from across North Texas–communities that benefit from the Northeast Texas Trail–asking the TTC to keep all […]
July 2014 Texas Transportation Commission Meeting
This was the first meeting after we found out TxDOT would be writing new rules for the Transportation Alternatives Program funds. BikeTexas’ Jack Sanford spoke at this meeting. Watch the video here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/07312014-547. Click on “Open Comment” at the bottom of the agenda; Jack is the first speaker.
Update: Texas Transportation Commission Votes on Transportation Alternatives Program Funding
People who ride bikes in Texas have stepped up again and again to communicate with TxDOT and show that Texans who care about biking and walking are strong. And TxDOT keeps letting us down. Back in August, we told you about the public comment period for proposed new rules for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). […]
UPDATED Action Alert: Attend TTC Meeting or Contact TxDOT
UPDATE: The TTC’s office is redirecting comments to TxDOT’s standard comment form, which has a 350-character limit. That’s not a lot of space to say what you have to say. Therefore, we will print and hand-deliver your emails to the meeting for you to be sure that the TTC hears from all Texans who ride […]
TAP Comments: It’s a Waiting Game
Many of you responded to our call for comments to TxDOT regarding the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds that are intended for bicycling and walking projects. TxDOT’s proposed rules for TAP would have allowed them to transfer funds away from bike/ped projects and use them for other purposes. BikeTexas members took up the call and […]
