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Sign the Safe Passing Petition! |
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Advocacy
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Monday, 29 June 2009 |
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Letter from the Executive Director |
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Advocacy
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 |
Dear Fellow Texas Cyclists,
BikeTexas staff and board thank so many of you for your hard work on behalf of bicycle advocacy during the now-ended 81st Texas Legislative Session. We had hoped we could do so in light of a new Safe Passing Law in Texas. As you all know, Governor Rick Perry chose to veto SB 488 on Friday, June 19, 2009 at a time when the 176 supporting Texas Legislators (out of 181 total) had no opportunity for an override.
Our disappointment runs profoundly deep. We had worked very closely and very carefully with legislative members opposed to the Safe Passing Bill to address their concerns and to promote an amended bill that brought them on board. There were a number of twists and turns, but we were always able to work with them to navigate SB 488 successfully through the Legislature. In the end, the willingness of these legislators encompassing such a broad range of views to work with us was not enough.
Please show your displeasure with Governor Perry's veto by signing the Safe Passing bill petition.
BikeTexas has always worked with a big picture view of how to make Texas a better and safer place to cycle for all Texas cyclists, from the traffic-savvy "A" cyclists to the family, young and beginner "C" cyclists with the many "B'' cyclists in between. In the coming years, we envision a steadily improving cycling environment in Texas that includes a Safe Passing Bill. It will still take time and continued effort to bring this picture to fruition. BikeTexas will be unwavering as it continues this quest.
Successes for Cyclists in the 2009 Session
We did see success in the session. BikeTexas worked toward the passage of SB 2041, which requires questions about motorist actions around bicyclists on drivers' tests. This forwards the understanding of a bicycle as a legal vehicle on Texas roadways. Passage of SB 161 will provide funds through "God Bless Texas" and "God Bless America" special license plate sales to go to the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School program. BikeTexas successfully worked with the author to eliminate a clause in HB 736 that would have given county governments authority to designate bicycles as a nuisance and ban them.
Our other big success is the organization that Texas cyclists are building. This "legislative machine" functioned better than ever. We had major resistance from powerful members of both houses to the Safe Passing bill and a couple of very bold initiatives. In spite of the challenges we faced, we were able to combine thorough preparation, quick responses, compromise, carefully-developed relationships and political muscle to get three very important pro-cycling bills passed through a legislature that killed almost 6,000 bills.
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Read more . . .
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Other Bike Bills in the Spring 2009 Legislative Session |
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Advocacy
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 |
Bike Questions on Driver's License Exam
Passed, signed by the Governor. This bill (SB 2041) requires "an applicant for a driver's license to demonstrate knowledge of motorists' rights and responsibilities in relation to bicyclists." The Department of Public Safety will have to add questions about bicyclists to the driver's license exam, which will mean that this information must be taught in driver's education classes.This will go a long way towards educating motorists in how to share the road.
Safe Routes to School
Passed, signed by the Governor. In 2003, funds from sales of the God Bless Texas and God Bless America license plates were dedicated to Safe Routes to School education and encouragement programs in Texas. Formerly managed by  TxDOT, SB 161 routes that money to the Texas Education Agency. BikeTexas will apply for and likely be granted the funds for our Safe Routes to School Program. This will greatly increase our ability to reach Texas schoolchildren with the message of safety and healthy living.
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Read more . . .
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ACTION ALERT: Sign the BikeTexas Safe Passing Petition |
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Advocacy
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Sunday, 28 June 2009 |
Dear fellow Texas cyclists,
As you know, last week Governor Perry vetoed the Safe Passing Bill (SB 488). This bill would have made Texas roads safer by requiring motorists to give three feet clearance when passing a cyclist or other vulnerable road user. We are deeply disappointed in the Governor's decision.
Preparation for the next legislative session starts the day after the close of the last session. In addition to our ongoing work in statewide children's bike safety education and Congressional lobbying for bike infrastructure funding in the upcoming 2010 Federal Transportation Bill, we are already building the foundation for the 2011 Texas Legislature.
What you can do:
There are several ways you can show your support for Safe Passing in Texas!
Sign the Petition! Cyclists and other concerned Texans can register their support by signing the attached petition. We will use this petition to further build our relationship with a broad range of Legislators and other public officials.
Gather Signatures! Go to www.BikeTexas.org/petition and download a PDF petition form.
Link to the petition! Go to the www.BikeTexas.org/petition and download a "Sign the Petition" button for your website, or the website of your bike club or shop, then link it to the petition page.
Write a letter! Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing why you disagree with the Governor's veto. Some points you could include:
• Over 1000 vulnerable road users were killed last year, and this bill could have saved lives.
• A personal story about a time a motorist passed you unsafely.
• The health and environmental benefits of cycling and how increased safety encourages more people to ride.
Join BikeTexas! There is strength in numbers! In each of the past four Legislative sessions, the Safe Passing Bill has moved closer and closer to becoming Texas law. We need to join together to make sure that in the next fight, we will WIN!
Thank you for your participation and support.
Sincerely,
Robin Stallings
Executive Director
BikeTexas
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Governor Perry Vetoes SB 488 |
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Advocacy
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Friday, 19 June 2009 |
Dear fellow Texas cyclists,
We are stunned. After passing SB 488 through both houses of the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan margins and responding to every legislator's concern with information or compromise, Governor Perry killed the bill today.
In spite of the huge number of phone calls in the span of two very intense hours, Governor Perry vetoed the Safe Passing bill, SB 488.
Thanks to all of you who responded to the BikeTexas Action Alert today and called the Governor's office.
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Read more . . .
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ACTION ALERT: GOVERNOR PLANS TO VETO SAFE PASSING BILL TODAY |
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Advocacy
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Friday, 19 June 2009 |
Dear Fellow Texas Cyclists,
Every cyclist in Texas must call Governor Perry today and insist that he allow SB 488 to pass!
The governor mistakenly thinks that the bill puts all of the responsibility on the motorist. There might be time to save the bill if you hurry and make the calls.
This is the most important call we have ever asked you to make. Our lives depend on it.
BikeTexas was notified at 12:30 pm CST that Governor Perry plans to veto the Safe Passing Bill. This veto can happen within the next couple of hours TODAY. We need every cyclist in Texas to call NOW and tell the Governor to pass SB 488. More than 1000 vulnerable road users in Texas die every year. This bill will save lives!
You must give the bill number. (SB488)
CALL both phone NUMBERS
(512)463-4375
(512) 463-2000 Governor’s main switchboard until 5pm
Let’s Light Up The Grassroots.
CALL NOW!!
Supporting Organizations include:
American Automobile Association (AAA)
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA)
12 Senator and Representative Co-Authors
Bill Language
http://www.biketexas.org/content/view/1115/881/
Sincerely,
Robin Stallings
Executive Director
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TxDOT Responds to BikeTexas Seal Coat Letter! |
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Community Successes
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Monday, 15 June 2009 |
In mid-May, at the height of the most hectic part of the Texas legislative session, BikeTexas staff were very pleased to receive a letter from Mr. John Barton, P.E., Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Director of Engineering Operations. Mr. Barton announced that TxDOT is now seeking to accommodate cyclists through better practices in the application of seal coat (TxDOT's term for what most cyclists call "chip seal") on Texas highways.
As many of you have personally experienced, the aggregate used in seal coat can be a hazard to cyclists when it accumulates on shoulders and in bike lanes. To address this, Mr. Barton's main recommendation to TxDOT district engineers was to use smaller aggregate, and to sweep the excess off the road in a timely manner. Mr. Barton also encouraged the TxDOT Districts to work with cyclists to identify the safest routes in the district, plan specific bike corridors, provide signage and create bicycle route maps for the TxDOT website.
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