Federal funding for bicycling is under serious attack
This is a message from PeopleForBikes.org. Below is a link to an easy online form that helps you contact your local US Senators.
Federal funding for bicycling is under serious attack. Today or tomorrow, Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma will introduce an amendment to eliminate dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements, which is the main source of funding for bike projects of all types. We need you to take action today by emailing your U.S. Senators to urge them to oppose and defeat Mr. Coburn’s amendment.
If Senator Coburn’s amendment succeeds, bicycling in the U.S. will become less safe and more difficult. Twenty years of consistent, cost-effective investment in beneficial bike projects will stop.
When we launched peopleforbikes.org, we promised you that we would only ask for your help when we really needed it. This is one of those times.
We need every U.S. Senator to hear from hundreds, if not thousands, of their constituents who value government support for bicycling. A strong vote against Coburn’s amendment will be a convincing statement of how much Congress and Americans value bicycling, and will influence all future votes on bike and pedestrian programs and funding.
Please email your U.S. Senators today and tell them to oppose Coburn’s amendment and preserve funding for bicycling. (You can find your Senators, review basic suggested text for your email, and send your note directly from this link.)
Thanks for your support and your quick response to this call to action.
Tim Blumenthal
Director, Peopleforbikes.org
Slow Down!
A few weeks ago, I made an observation about the new guard rails, along Arapaho Road in Garland. Through not very attractive, it was agreed that their functionality was much more important than their aesthetics. The rails were built to serve as a safety barrier for the adjacent homes, from the speeding traffic. This morning, I made a discovery that illustrates the importance of that functionality.
If you look closely at the top left of this shot, you can see that new guard rail. Unfortunately for this sign, that guard rail falls a bit short. Also, even though I had no way of gauging their speed, those cars were speeding by as I took this shot.
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Ride of Silence – Wednesday, May 18
The mission of the world wide Ride of Silence is to honor bicyclists killed by motorists, promote sharing the road, and provide awareness of bicycling safety. Click here for more info.
You can find ride event locations and times for Dallas, Plano and Fort Worth here.
Here is their Facebook page.
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New Group Formed – Friends of White Rock Creek Trail
Image © Friends Of White Rock Creek Trail - please visit their site
Friend of BRF, Magnus, sent us a link to an article in Lake Highlands Today about the new Friends of White Rock Creek Trail group. From the article:
The purpose of FWRCT, of course, is to support the betterment of the White Rock Creek Trail.
Current President of the advocacy group Bike DFW, Marc Mumby, is leading the charge on forming the FWRCT organization.
Read more…
What does that mean for Richardson folks? If you aren’t already using the White Rock Creek Trail to access White Rock Lake (or other parts of Dallas) perhaps you will once the Cottonwood Creek Trail and the Central Trail are complete. Having an organization like Friends of White Rock Creek Trail will help keep the trail maintained, improved and upgraded for many years of continued use.
If you would like to become part of the group or help them out, perhaps you should try to make it to their first meeting on February 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Mariano’s Hacienda on Skillman Avenue in Lake Highlands.
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Richardson’s Point-Of-View On Different Types of Bicycle Users
With all the new trails and bike lanes in Richardson, (which we love) one might think that the city is trying to get cyclists off the road. That’s not true. One of the things that impressed us about the City of Richardson is their open point-of-view towards bicycle users. Instead of focusing on one specific type, they’ve taken into account that not all riders are the same.
Here is what is on the Richardson web site:
Types of Bicycle Users
There are several types of bicycle users and it is understood that some avid bicyclists do not like bike lanes. The City’s goal in providing an overall Bicycle Route Plan is to accommodate all types of users. Some recreational users may prefer to use trails in the City’s Parks. Vehicular bicyclists may prefer to commute on arterial streets and do not want their “right” to occupy any travel lane jeopardized by having bike lanes. The City will also be implementing “Share the Road” type signs on Renner Road where hundreds of cyclists travel many evenings and weekends despite the higher speeds and traffic volumes. On collector roadways and residential streets we may simply provide a Bike Route sign with or without a dedicated lane.Bicyclist’s Rights
The Texas Transportation Code states that “A person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle”. To summarize the legal code: bicycles have the right to ride on public roadways because they are deemed a legitimate transportation vehicle by legislature. The City does not have the authority to restrict bicycles from local roadways, but TxDOT may restrict them from certain limited access highways. Below are a few links to the Texas Transportation Code that deals with bicycle operations.
- CHAPTER 551. OPERATION OF BICYCLES, MOPEDS, AND PLAY VEHICLES
- CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES
In order to provide a safe environment for bicyclists, the City of Richardson is in the process of implementing a long range plan to provide bicycle facilities and to designate preferred bicycle routes on lower-volume, lower-speed collector roadways. Even though the City will not be encouraging bicyclists to ride on major arterial thoroughfares, we will be providing “Share the Road” signs at strategic locations to inform motorists that bicycles have the legal right to occupy the roadway.
There has been a dramatic increase in bicycle activity in the past few years, including a larger number of bikers who commute to work. Several other Cities including Dallas, Plano, and Frisco are also enhancing their bicycle trails and on-street routes with new signage. The City anticipates the trend in bicycle usage to increase in the future and will endeavor to provide as safe of an operating environment as possible. Click here to see more.
This is why we believe their bike plan (pdf) is one of the best in the DFW area. Combine that with some of the efforts that are happening in Dallas, and you can see a great future for cycling in DFW.
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2011 Dallas Bike Plan: Bikeway System Draft Network Maps now available online!
Here’s some exciting information from our neighbors to the south.
From their email:
On September 23, 2010 over 200 people participated in our second public meeting at Dallas City Hall. At this meeting, the maps showing the proposed draft network and facility type recommendations for the Dallas Bikeway System were presented. We received a lot of great feedback that will help improve the Bikeway System Master Plan, and the period for further public comments on these draft maps will end at 5PM CDT on October 15th, 2010. For your convenience, the draft maps have been added to the Dallas Bike Plan website.
To view and download the maps, as well as other materials from the public meeting, please click on the following link or paste the web address into your internet browser: http://dallasbikeplan.com/maps.
In just a few days a comments function will be added to the website where you can provide us with your thoughts and reaction to the proposed bicycle facility recommendations, bicycle network alignments.
The 2011 Dallas Bike Plan Project Team thanks you for your patience and continued participation!
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Dallas Bikes To City Hall – October 15, 2010
Image From Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
As part of Bike Friendly Oak Cliff’s Cyclesomatic 2010, cyclists are promoting bike advocacy with another Dallas Bike To City Hall ride.
We hope to make it out to this one to support our neighbors and get a look at the Dallas Bikeway System Draft Network.
Date: October 15, 2010
Time: 8:10 am
Place: Union Station
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2011 Dallas Bike Plan Public Meeting
We’re spreading the word for our neighbors – just in case you haven’t read about this on another local blog.
From their poster:
What: Dallas Bike Plan Public Meeting
Description: To review facilities proposed in the Draft Network Plan
Where: Dallas City Hall L1FN Conference Center (located at the NW corner of City Hall on L1 Level)
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010
Time: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
From their site:
The draft Bikeway System network plan will be available for public review and input. Attendees will be encouraged to provide feedback on the alignment of the proposed on-street and off-street portions of the network, as well as the facility type assignments for the on-street portion of the overall network. An introductory presentation will provide an overview of the methodology for creating the proposed Bikeway System network, and will show the various draft street profile types that have been developed for the Bike Plan in connection with the City’s Complete Streets Initiative. More.
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Stop The Bike Bans In Texas
No matter what type of rider you are or where you ride, it’s inevitable that you will need to take a road in Texas. Because of recent changes to city ordinances in Bartonville which restricts the number of cyclists passing through their area, Bike Texas has put together a petition to stop any more bike bans in Texas. Read their post about it here.
If you would like to show your support, please go to their site and sign their petition.
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DON’T FORGET Veloway Public Meeting – Tonight
IF bicycle movies aren’t your cup of tea and you happen to be curious about the East Dallas Veloway Master Plan, don’t forget about the public meeting tonight:
Veloway Trail Phase 3 and YMCA, Public Meeting/Workshop is scheduled:
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: The Ridgewood-Belcher Recreation Center, 6818 Fisher Road at Trammel Drive
The purpose of this meeting is to present “East Dallas Veloway Master Plan” and provide updates to funding and schedule. Please plan to attend.
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Bike Friendly Richardson 
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