Benefits to children: http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/children/ Benefits to health: http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/health/ Creation of livable communities: http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/livable-communities/ Economic revitalization: http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/economic-revitalization/ Minimize future costs by implementing bike and pedestrian lanes: http://www.completestreets.org/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/costs/
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.
Where can I find out more information about Complete Streets?
Which complete streets laws have other states passed or are attempting to pass?
Here is a link to a chart that details complete streets efforts in other states: http://www.completestreets.org/webdocs/policy/cs-state-policies.pdf
What would this law do?
This law would encourage agencies constructing new or renovating existing roadways using State and/or Federal funding to include bicycle, pedestrian and transit accommodations. Accomodations include sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, curb cuts, bike lanes, cycletracks and other separated bicycle facilities, traffic islands and safety medians, and transit waiting area improvements, just to name a few. The Complete Streets Law […]
Why do we need complete streets policies? For Health
Complete streets encourage walking and bicycling for health. The National Institutes of Medicine recommends fighting childhood obesity by establishing laws to encourage construction of sidewalks, bikeways, and other places for physical activity.
Why do we need complete streets policies? For Safety
Complete streets improve safety. A Federal Highways Administration safety review found that streets designed with sidewalks, raised medians, better bus stop placement, traffic-calming measures, and treatments for disabled travelers improve pedestrian safety. Some features, such as medians, improve safety for all users: they enable pedestrians to cross busy roads in two stages, reduce left-turning motorist […]
Why do we need complete streets policies? For the Economy
Complete Streets foster strong communities – and strong economies. Complete streets play an important role in livable communities, where all people – regardless of age, ability or mode of transportation – feel safe and welcome on the roadways. A safe walking and bicycling environment is an essential part of improving public transportation and creating friendly, […]
Why do we need complete streets policies? For Traffic Congestion
Complete streets would mitigate traffic congestion and improve air quality. The potential to reduce carbon emissions by shifting trips to lower-carbon modes is undeniable. The 2001 National Household Transportation Survey found 50 percent of all trips in metropolitan areas are three miles or less and 28 percent of all metropolitan trips are one mile or […]
What does a complete street look like?
Each complete street is unique. Ingredients that may be found on a complete street include sidewalks, bike lanes, cycle tracks, wide paved shoulders, special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible transit stops, frequent crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, and more. {loadposition CompleteStreets}
What are complete streets, and complete streets policies?
ACTION ALERTS 1) The House Transportation Committee heard HB 1105 on March 16, and is currently considering the bill. Read about the hearing here and ask the Committee members to vote YES on HB 1105 if you are a constituent. 2) Please contact Senate Transportation Committee Chair Tommy Williams to ask for a […]
Help Spread the Word – Link to Petition from Your Site
Just right click on one of the petition buttons below to copy and save it and then link it to www.BikeTexas.org/petition Or, place the following HTML code into your web-page or in an e-mail! <a xhref=”https://www.biketexas.org/bikebans”><img xsrc=”https://www.biketexas.org/images/stories/static_content/programs/advocacy/petitions/No-Bike-Bans-Peition-Banner-580.png” border=”0″ alt=”Fight Bike Bans in Texas!” title=”No Bike Bans – BikeTexas Banner” hspace=”5″ vspace=”5″ width=”580″ height=”132″ align=”right” /></a> […]
Copper Canyon Bike Ban – Latest BikeTexas Actions
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010, 5:20 pm – BikeTexas has a call in to the City of Copper Canyon asking for details on this bike ban, because the change in the ordinance does not appear to have been posted yet on the city website. We will contact them again Friday morning. We are also looking into […]
Bartonville Bike Ban – Latest BikeTexas Actions
Please sign the petition in response to the Bartonville ordinance. September 16, 2010 – Update: Comments per September 9 meeting between BikeTexas and Bartonville officials BikeTexas Executive Director Robin Stallings met Thursday, September 9, 2010, with Bartonville Mayor Ron Robertson, Chief of Police Dave Howell and Town Administrator Debbie Millican. BikeTexas posted a thank-you letter […]
Safe Passing Talking Points
Safe Passing Talking Points The language for the Safe Passing Ordinance is identical to that of SB 488, which passed in the 2009 Texas legislative session by a unanimous vote in the House, and a vote of 25-5 in the Senate. The bill was then vetoed by Governor Rick Perry. SB 488 was authored […]