Coming February 1-3, 2012 – Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference
We met some of the Bike Texas folks at BFOC‘s Bicycle Fair last October and they were promoting an event that they helped organize in San Antonio next year. It’s the biennial Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference, aka the Texas Bike/Ped Summit.
Here is the info from their site:
Register Now! The biennial Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference, aka the Texas Bike/Ped Summit, is coming up fast! Engineers, planners, advocates and anyone interested in active transportation is invited to join us in San Antonio February 1-3, 2012, at El Tropicano hotel downtown on the Riverwalk.
Organized by BikeTexas and the Texas Trails Network, we have the strongest line up of Keynote Speakers in our history.
- Former congressman Jim Oberstar, a true champion for bicycles over his 36 years in the U.S. Congress
- The renowned Danish architect and urban design consultant Jan Gehl, who prioritizes bicyclists and pedestrians in his designs
- John Burke, President of Trek Bicycles and life long dedicated bike advocate
- Senator Rodney Ellis, Houston, a cyclist, and a friend of all Texas cyclists
This conference has something for everyone: Bike/Ped Coordinators, Advocates, Cycling Enthusiasts, Trail Builders/Advocates, Safe Routes to School Coordinators, Traffic Engineers, Public, and Private partnerships, Urban Planners, Teachers, and more. Earn education credits! For more details, click here to check out the conference website for daily updates, and “like” the conference Facebook page.
The full registration price is $350 and includes all meals and access to dozens of on- and off-site workshops, breakout sessions, and keynote speakers – everything you need to recharge your batteries and be inspired to make Texas a great place for trails and active transportation. I’d really like to make it out to this conference just to get a glimpse into what’s happening for cycling in Texas. I just hope that I can get the time.
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
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Way To Go, Plano!
Ohio Drive Under The PGB Tollway
Here’s some great news from our neighbors in Plano. Bike Friendly Richardson friend Howard M, posted this on the BFR Facebook page.
Fwd: City of Plano City Council to approve On-street Bicycle Signage project 8/8 7 PM
From: “Renee Jordan”
Date: August 2, 2011 2:37:09 PM CDT
To: Plano Cyclists
Subject: City of Plano City Council to approve On-street Bicycle Signage project 8/8 7 PMHello,
I wanted to let you know that on Monday 8/8 our City Council has on its agenda 2 items that might be of interest to you.
1.) Bid No. 2011-194-B for the Citywide On-street Bicycle Route Signage, Project No. 5858
This is a project to install bicycle route signage along 168 miles of roadway in the City of Plano.
2.) To approve an Engineering Services Agreement by and between the City of Plano and BW2 Engineers, Inc. for the design of the Preston Ridge Trail connection.
This is a project to place trail in the right of way of Ohio Drive from the Bush Tollway north to Tradition Trail making an off road connection to Preston Ridge Trail in Dallas at the Tollway.
On the close of business Thursday, the City Council meeting agenda will be posted here:
http://plano.gov/City_Hall/agendas/Pages/CityCouncilAgendas.aspxAdditionally, the City of Plano has launched a new program called Fix It Plano. It is a tool to report problems such as pot holes. Problems can be reported by phoning in, texting in, using the web portal or a smartphone. Here is a link:
http://plano.gov/Pages/fixit.aspxPlease share with your contacts. Thanks!
Renée Burke Jordan, AICP
Plano Parks & Recreation
Trail System Planner
972-941-7168
This is GREAT NEWS for those of us who use the Preston Ridge Trail or ride through Plano. The missing link under the PGB Tollway (between Dallas and Plano) is probably one of the biggest misses in the north Dallas trail system. Making this connection will get cyclist closer to a complete multi-purpose trail that will run from North Plano (almost Frisco) all the way into Dallas.
There is still a trail gap at Tradition Trail, but it’s all side streets from there to Plano’s Preston Ridge Trail (to the north). There’s also a gap at the southern end of Dallas’ Preston Ridge Trail, where it doesn’t quite connect with the Cottonwood Trail.
The signage will be a nice plus as well. Hopefully, they will remind drivers to share the road with cyclists.
Start Of A Multi-Purpose Trail Under The PGB. Looks like the tollway planners took into account a need for a MPT. Now it's just a matter of continuing it up Ohio Drive.
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Trail Under Renner Road – Progress
Just wanted to post a quick pick of the progress on the trail that will go under Renner Road (just east of Central). I doesn’t look like much, but there is actually quite a bit being done here.
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B-Cycle – Bike Sharing Might Come To Fort Worth
Image © B-Cycle. Please Visit Their Site
The folks over at Fortworthology have a great report on the possibility of bike sharing coming to Fort Worth. You should really check it out.
B-Cycle is a bike sharing service that is making it’s way across the country – giving communities an alternative mode of urban transportation that’s inexpensive, healthy, fun and environmentally friendly. Cities like Denver, Boulder, Chicago and even San Antonio have already started using this system. Hopefully, it will make it’s way to north Texas.
Since Richardson isn’t large enough to justify a system like this, we hope that Dallas would consider pairing up B-Cycle with it’s new 2011 Bike Plan. How cool would it be to ride your bike and lock it up at the DART Red Line station, catch a train to downtown, and have another bike waiting for you when you arrived at the West End? If you’ve ever tried bringing your bike on the train during rush hour, you’d really appreciate a bike sharing system.
We can only hope.
Image © B-Cycle - Please Visit Their Site
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Finally, Bike Parking At The Cottonwood Art Festival
We really enjoy going to the Cottonwood Art Festival. It’s probably one of the best artisan events in the Metroplex and it happens in one of our own neighborhood parks. Our only complaint about the festival is the insane automobile traffic and limited car parking during the event. There is no reason an event like this couldn’t have bicycle parking available to help ease some of those issues. Personally, I can’t think of a better way to attend a local, outdoor event, than to arrive on my bike. Reader and bike enthusiast, Brad M. also sent in the suggestion for a bike rack last year.
Well, it looks like event coordinators feel the same way. This year, at the front of the festival, there was a bike rack that was in full use. It was the only one, but it’s a great step in the right direction.
If you feel that bike parking is a good idea at this event, please contact the event coordinators and let them know. While you’re at it, tell them you would like more.
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Oncor Transforms Rights-Of-Way In Richardson
Several folks have been sending us information about Oncor and their efforts to improve north Texas cities through the creation of hike and bike trails through their transmission rights-of-way. As reported through Pegasus News, the Oncor Texas Trails SM program will produce trails that “will help create pathways that will be integral parts of the communities Oncor serves.”
What does that mean for Richardson since we already have hike and bike trails on Oncor rights-of-way throughout town? Here’s a bit from the Oncor press release:
Oncor has engaged la terra studio, inc., a Dallas-based landscape architectural firm, to assist with developing the design templates for the Oncor Texas Trails projects. In addition, la terra studio will assist with work on the inaugural Oncor Texas Trails project, a hike and bike trail in Richardson. In the coming months, Oncor will work with the City of Richardson to design and complete the landscaping on a portion of Owen’s Trail, an existing trail on a section of Oncor’s transmission right-of-way. As part of the planning, Oncor will work with the City of Richardson to determine how Oncor employees will be able to volunteer their time to be part of this project.
“The Richardson Trail will be the first of many trails that Oncor and its employees will work on to help create a destination for our customers to gather with their friends and family, “said Jackson.
“Oncor has always been an important partner in our community, and its Oncor Texas Trails program will be a very welcome enhancement to our city and our trail system,” said Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel. “We have done a lot of work recently in partnering with local companies and volunteers to create the type of environmental improvements the Oncor Texas Trails program will bring, and we are especially excited to see these improvements focus on the highly used paths which many of our residents enjoy on a daily basis.”
On a personal level, this is great news for me since the Owen’s Trail runs through my neighborhood. I’m also hoping more folks will see these trails as destinations to gather – and not just pass through (and hopefully clean up after their dogs).
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Trail Under Central – Serious Progress
Looks like the forms are up on the southern underpass (just south of Renner Road). It usually doesn’t take them long to pour the slab once it’s at this point. That doesn’t mean the trail will be open, yet. There is a bunch of finishing work that needs to be done before it will be open for riders. We’ll keep you posted.
I didn’t get a chance to check the northern underpass (just north of Renner Road) – but until the Renner Road underpass is complete, that section is far from useful.
Follow our coverage of this trail construction:
November 28, 2010
September 26, 2010
August 28, 2010
August 21, 2010
July 25, 2010
June 13, 2010
May 8, 2010
April 3, 2010
March 11, 2010
December 5, 2010
February 13, 2011
March 6, 2011
April 2, 2011
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Opening Soon! Switching Gears Cyclery
There’s a new bike shop coming to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It’s called Switching Gears Cyclery. If you’ve been on any of the 75208 or BFOC rides, you might have met local bike enthusiasts Colin Clark or Andee Pittman. Colin and Andee have decided to join the ranks of other great Dallas bike shops like Oak Cliff Bicycle Company and Transit Bikes and offer a more personalized bike shopping experience.
Their shop will be located in between Fallout Lounge & Amsterdam Bar in Expo Park across the street from Fair Park (just off the DART Green Line). To find out more about Switching Gears Cyclery and what they will be offering, jump over to their Facebook page and Like them. We can’t wait to visit the shop as soon as they are open.
Switching Gears Cyclery
833 Exposition Ave
Dallas, TX, 75226
Also, please remember to support your neighborhood bike shops and buy local. You might be able to save a few bucks online, but it will be at the cost of our city’s bike culture. As with all the DFW bike shops, we wish Switching Gears Cycley great success.
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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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Bike Friendly Richardson 
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