After two successive years of amazing gains in the Bicycle Friendly State Rankings, Texas is back where we were three years ago. We’ve fallen from #22 in 2013 to #33 in 2014. While we’re disappointed by this, we aren’t entirely surprised. After all, we knew we had a tough year last year with a struggle […]
BikeNews; Advocacy
Texas Falls in Bicycle Friendly State Ranking
National Bike Summit 2014
Every year in March, bike advocates from across the nation converge on Washington to swap stories, get inspired, and above all, to meet with their members of Congress. These three days of bike-loving madness are called the National Women’s Bicycling Forum and the National Bike Summit. BikeTexas is delighted to lead the Texas delegation every […]
Bike Month Proclamation: Sample Text for You to Use
For those of us who love to ride bikes, every month is bike month, and we’re not about to argue with that! However, ever since May was first declared Bike Month in 1956, it’s been a month of extra celebrations of all things two wheels– and we’re not going to argue with that, either. Check […]
APBP / NACTO Urban Street Design Guide Webinar Now Available Online
By Karen Dredge, APBP The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) and The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) provided a free webinar on the Urban Street Design Guide on November 6th. Over 1000 interested viewers registered and watched it live. APBP now has made the archival recording available to any interested viewer. Go […]
UPDATE: San Antonio’s Loop 1604
On August 21, 2013, in what was the culmination of a months-long process of advocating for bicycle accommodation on Loop 1604 access roads, the Alamo RMA Board unanimously approved the construction bid for re-striping the road to accommodate a wide outside lane and include signage to alert motorists to the presence of bicyclists. Prior to […]
El Paso Bike Share Forges On
El Paso cyclists have passed through yet another hurdle standing between them and a bike share program in the city: At the September 13 El Paso MPO meeting, a request from TxDOT to deprogram the bike share was on the agenda. Velo Paso swung into action, alerting local cyclists and BikeTexas to this new threat. […]
TTC Funds Transportation Enhancements Projects
In July, the Texas Transportation Commission announced 81 projects around Texas that will receive funding from the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program. These projects were selected from the nominations received after a TxDOT call in September 2012. BikeTexas is especially pleased about this round of projects because we fought to save this funding for bicycle and […]
NCSL 2013: Rolling Through Atlanta
BikeTexas traveled to Atlanta for the 9th Annual National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Bipartisan Bike Ride. This bike ride began in 2005 when Texas Senator Rodney Ellis suggested a bike ride for the NCSL annual meeting. It has grown every year since; this year’s ride brought out 80 legislators from around the country, 65 […]
2013 Annual Membership Meeting
The BikeTexas Annual Membership Meeting is just a week away! We’re excited to share news of the year’s triumphs and struggles with you on Sunday, September 15, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. We encourage members in or near Austin to travel to the BikeTexas office on 1902 E 6th Street for the meeting. If you can’t come to […]
Next Steps for El Paso Bike Share are Up to You
By Scott White Photo courtesy of El Paso Bike Month Facebook Page Just a few days ago it appeared the city of El Paso was well on its way to launching a city-wide bike share program. Now, some are asking if the program is dead. Earlier this week I was all set to attend the […]
BikeTexas Summer Interns
Every summer, BikeTexas hosts interns from the Travis County Summer Youth Employment Program. The students get a chance to learn about bicycle advocacy and gain some work experience, while BikeTexas benefits from having extra hands to help out. We’ve had exceptional students working with us every summer, and 2013 has been no exception! Rolando and […]
Bike Funding Approved for El Paso
On Friday, July 12, the El Paso MPO Transportation Policy Board approved $2.3 million in citywide bicycle infrastructure and programs over the next three years. Several bike advocates voiced their support for bike funding during the meeting, while countless others called and emailed their representatives ahead of time. “Infrastructure and bike programs will not only […]
BikeTexas Planning Survey: Early Results
You spoke—and we’re listening! Over 1200 Texans responded to BikeTexas’ planning survey. We’ll have the full report ready in August, but here are some early results: • Cycling is a recreational activity for most respondents, but over 60% also ride their bikes as part of their commutes • 95% believe BikeTexas should continue to serve […]
TTC Ignores Cyclist Safety, Issues Toll Road Ban
Yesterday, the Texas Transportation Commission listened to testimony from Texas cyclists asking the commission not to ban cyclists from toll roads. The Commission chose to ignore the testimony—that there is often no alternative route, that toll road shoulders can be the safest place for bicycles to be in an area, that cyclists need access to […]
TxDOT Proposes Banning Cyclists from Toll Roads
The May 30 Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) meeting included an agenda item regarding the possibility of banning cyclists from all TxDOT-controlled toll roads in Texas. BikeTexas heard about this agenda item at the last minute and was able to go to the meeting to testify against banning cyclists from toll roads. Watch the testimony here; […]
On the Lege: Sine Die
The regular legislative session came to an end on Monday, May 27, 2013. The traditional BikeTexas Sine Die (Last Day) Bipartisan Bike Ride drew the largest legislative crowd yet: about 40 guests. Eight legislators from across the political spectrum plus their staffs and family members joined BikeTexas staff on a four-mile loop down the Rio […]
On the Lege: HB 200 Signed Into Law
Building recreational trails along Harris County electrical power line easements became easier on May 16 as Governor Perry signed into law HB 200 by Representative Jim Murphy (R-Houston). The bill, applying only to Harris County, better clarifies liabilities for utility companies so that they are more comfortable permitting trails in their easements. This bill will […]
On the Lege: Update, May 13
The Safe Passing bill, HB 2225, failed to make it to the House floor before the midnight deadline on Thursday, May 9, for introducing bills originating in the House. There was hope that Safe Passing would be heard on the floor when HB 2225 was voted out of Calendars committee on May 7, but the […]
On the Lege: Electric Bike Day
April 30th saw an electrifying event at the Capitol. Outside the south steps under our blue and yellow tents, BikeTexas staff and Central Texas electric bike vendors set up over a dozen different models for legislators and staff to take out for a spin around the historic building. After being fitted for helmets and oriented […]
On the Lege: April Activities
The Texas Legislature is now entering crunch time: Saturday and Sunday floor sessions are being held as the end of the session (May 27) approaches. HB 2225 (Safe Passing) has passed out of the House Transportation Committee on a 7-2 vote with two absent. It is now in the House Calendars Committee, where an affirmative […]