For the second year in a row, Texas has jumped five spots in the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly State rankings! We’ve moved up from #27 in 2012 to #22 in 2013. Once again, our highest score came in the Education and Encouragement category. Thanks to programs like Safe Routes to School and the accompanying […]
BikeNews; Advocacy
Texas Moves Up in Bicycle Friendly States Again
Cyclists to receive bike lanes on Loop 1604 Access Road in San Antonio
During a recent construction project overseen by the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, wide shoulders were removed from the access road of Loop 1604 between US 281 and Blanco Rd in San Antonio. BikeTexas immediately began to hear from cyclists who previously used these shoulders regularly and now had no way of navigating safely in this […]
Shifting Gears 2013 a Great Success
John Pucher wowed audiences in three Texas cities during the Shifting Gears Lecture Series, sponsored by BikeTexas, Partnership for Healthy Texas, Campaign for Healthy Kids, and AARP. Dr. Pucher is an engaging speaker with a vast knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing our transportation system, and his talks were well received in Irving, Austin, […]
You May Be Missing Something!
Are you signed up for BikeTexas Action Alerts? We sent out targeted emails when your influence can make a difference with your senator or representative. So far this session, we’ve sent emails to Texans who live in the House Transportation Committee member districts, and we have more targeted emails coming soon. Additionally, there are times […]
Support BikeTexas at H-E-B and with Reliant Energy
Here are two ways to support BikeTexas through EarthShare programs! H-E-B Tear Pad CampaignBikeTexas is pleased to announce that H-E-B has selected EarthShare of Texas to be the April beneficiary for its in-store coupon promotion. As an EarthShare partner, BikeTexas will benefit from this promotion as well! Whenever you shop at H-E-B from now until […]
On the Lege: March Activities
After a successful Cyclists in Suits Bike Lobby Day on Monday, March 25, BikeTexas legislative staff members look to take the next steps on the two primary bills on the BikeTexas agenda, Complete Streets (HB 1102 / SB 565) and Safe Passing (HB 2225 / SB 1515). Each bill has been referred to the appropriate committee: […]
Texans at 2013 National Bike Summit
Eighteen Texans, including four BikeTexas staff, were in Washington, D.C. this week for the National Bike Summit. Texas sends a strong delegation every year, and 2013 was no exception! This year’s theme was “Bicycling Means Business,” and many speakers addressed the ways in which cycling benefits businesses and local economies across the nation. In addition […]
Complete Streets is Filed in the Legislature!
The 2013 Complete Streets bill has been filed in the legislature! The bill has a bipartisan range of authors in each chamber. After the bill ran out of time in 2011, it was decided to use the language for the bills that was negotiated in committee in 2011 to accelerate the bills’ progress through the […]
On the Lege: February Activities
The Complete Streets bill has been filed (HB 1102 and SB 565)! The Complete Streets Bill has a bi-partisan range of authors: House Reps Harper-Brown (R), Keffer (R), Morrison (R), Martinez (D) and Lucio III (D), and Senators Ellis (D), Duell (R), Davis (D), Lucio, Jr. (D), Rodriguez (D), Uresti (D) and Watson (D). You may remember […]
Cyclist Accommodation on Loop 1604
Loop 1604 is a major corridor for many San Antonio cyclists, who rely on the eight-foot shoulders on the road to stay out of harm’s way. In recent months, during a interchange construction project (at US 281), those shoulders were removed from the road in favor of wider car lanes. San Antonio cyclists, alarmed and […]
National Bike Summit – Texan Round-Up!
Join the Texas Delegation of cyclists at the National Bike Summit, March 4-6 in Washington D.C. The National Bike Summit is the premiere advocacy event of the year. More than 800 advocates, government staff, and cycling enthusiasts of all types come together to tell Congress about the benefits of bicycling. Meet with advocates, share ideas and be a […]
AARP and BikeTexas Bring Liveability Expert Dan Burden to Legislature
Walkable and Livable Communities Institute Executive Director Dan Burden traveled to Austin on January 23 to address a luncheon meeting of legislators and staffs, and to give a talk to the general public in the evening. Mr. Burden spoke about Complete Streets and how they can help a community. Specifically, Mr. Burden talked about the elderly […]
On the Lege: January Activities
BikeTexas staff had an engaging first month of the Texas Legislature, reestablishing relationships with returning members and staff and meeting legislative newcomers. Our primary focus this month has been soliciting authors for the Safe Passing and Complete Streets bills. BikeTexas staff started working before the session even began, with a January 6th bike ride in […]
Ride Your Charity Miles!
By Beth Nobles, Texas Mountain Trail Next time you head out for a long training ride or a jaunt around town, you could be logging miles and earning dollars for your favorite charity, through a new iPhone or Android app called Charity Miles. A brainchild of a leading volunteer for the Michael J. Fox Foundation […]
Two Interns Join BikeTexas
Many university students have called BikeTexas home for a semester or two, and this spring is no exception. BikeTexas is happy to welcome two interns to our midst this semester: Steffi Scholer and Max Williamson. Steffi Scholer is a senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. She is a mechanic at Bicycle Sport Shop on Parmer and […]
New Legislative Interns Enjoy Bike Ride
On a beautiful Sunday morning before the start of the 83rd Texas Legislature, 18 legislative interns joined Senator Rodney Ellis and BikeTexas staff for a bike ride around downtown Austin. The interns include young men and women from around Texas and the world looking to gain legal or political experience as part of a higher […]
What Can I Do: On the Road
Ride right! Often, the best ambassador for bicycling is a friendly person on a bike. It’s ridiculous that a motorist who thinks nothing of speeding or rolling through a stop sign will rant about a someone on a bike scooting through a red light a few seconds early, but unfortunately, that’s where we are right […]
What Can I Do: Education Events
Each session, BikeTexas hosts and invites Legislators and their staff to Legislative Luncheons at or near the Capitol, featuring a highly regarded expert in bicycle/pedestrian issues. We’ve already hosted the legislative luncheon for 2015, but if you’d like to thank your legislator for attending & remind them of how important Gen. Weber’s message was, email […]
What Can I Do: Cyclists in Suits
You are cordially invited, and in fact, respectfully urged, to join us at the Eighth Biennial Cyclists in Suits – Texas’ Bike Lobby Day on Monday, March 30, at the Texas Capitol. In late March, bicycle and pedestrian legislation is often at a point in the process where citizen-lobbyists can influence a favorable outcome, as […]
What Can I Do: Action Alerts
At crucial moments during the session, we’ll send out Action Alerts via email, Twitter, Facebook, and the BikeTexas website. However you choose to receive alerts, make sure you’re getting them. Frequently, BikeTexas specifically targets Action Alerts to folks whose legislator is in a position to affect (for good or bad) bills important to people who […]