Texas Bicycling News – July 31, 2023
Take a look at Corpus Christi LED’s Saturday Light Ride downtown
Angela Piazza | www.caller.com
CC LED’s Saturday Light Ride participants gather in the Water’s Edge parking lot on July 29, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. …
The Loop Comes Full Circle
By Christine Perez | www.dmagazine.com
In 2014, a small band of business and civic leaders began working on a project that would create a 50-mile loop of hike and bike trails around Dallas. Nearly 10 years and $90 million later, they’re approaching the finish line.
In the fall of 2014, Dallas commercial real estate executive Jeff Ellerman was out cycling with his longtime buddy, oilman Larry Dale, when he had an epiphany. “We had meandered through the Design District and got to the Trinity Skyline Trail on the river bottom,” Ellerman says. “It’s beautiful with great views of the city, but it’s a chasm that has separated the haves and the have-nots forever. And we said, ‘This is ridiculous. You have miles of opportunity to the north and the south.’”
Not long afterward, Ellerman ran into Mike Rawlings, the then-mayor of Dallas, and talked with him about the need for an expanded trail system. Rawlings agreed and said it would take a public-private partnership—and …
Houston cycling deaths exceed 2022 total, on pace for record year
Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com
Melissa Sims of Houston Ghost Bikes looks over a memorial for Sajid Barajas as balloons are released in his memory on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in Houston. The city is on pace for 19 bicyclist fatalities this year.
A fatal crash late Friday cemented what cycling advocates had been warning about for months – Houston is going backwards when it comes to erasing roadway deaths of bicycle riders.
"With few exceptions, trying to share the road on Houston’s streets is like swimming with sharks,” BikeHouston Executive Director Joe Cutrufo said, in an email. “There’s no protection, there’s no goodwill, there’s no accountability.”
Around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Houston Police said a 56-year-old man was …
New one-mile segment of Violet Crown Trail now open
Austin Mobility News | mailchi.mp
A new one-mile extension of the Violet Crown Trail system is now open in Southwest Austin. The extension provides an 11-mile uninterrupted trail from Barton Springs to near MoPac and Williamon Cannon Drive.
The trail is generally 10 to 11 feet wide, ADA-accessible and composed of both concrete and stabilized granite. With the completion of this segment, the Violet Crown Trail is now contiguous from Zilker Park to Slaughter Creek. Once fully complete, the trail will …
PHOTOS: LPD hosts first Bike Rodeo and Summer Safety Fair
Jason Mack | www.lmtonline.com
The Laredo Police Department hosted its first ever Bike Rodeo and Summer Safety Fair on Friday, July 28 in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation.
The event was held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Slaughter Park located at 202 N. Stone Ave. Dozens of bikes were given away to lucky winners after LPD received bike donations from 27 different sponsors. A free bicycle helmet …
Video: Cyclist train for Hotter’N Hell
By Chantale Belefanti | www.newschannel6now.com
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – With Hotter’ N Hell just less than a month away, cyclists are trying to train with high temperatures rising well over 100 degrees.
“The big thing is fluids you start drinking all the time,” said Marion Helmick, Hotter’N Hell Cyclist.
Marion Helmick started riding Hotter’N Hell at the age of 62 now a few years later, Helmick has learned to deal with the heat by taking in fluids and adjusting her training times.
“Hot weather, it’s not hot weather preparation starts really early. Make sure you …
Video: Wichita Commissioners declare August as bike safety awareness month
By Blake Hill | www.newschannel6now.com
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – With Hotter’N Hell coming up, commissioners have declared Aug. as Bike Safety Awareness month.
Wichita County is filled with avid cyclist and has what Commissioner Mark Beauchamp describes as a tight knit community.
The declaration was made ahead of HHH, and aims to keep cyclist safe while on the road.
Drivers are urged to pay attention to their surroundings and keep a closer eye on cyclist as they don’t have near as much protection as drivers do.
“Whether it be an avid cycler, or just somebody as a …
Lufkin officials identify victim of hit-and-run bicycle crash
KETK NBC | www.youtube.com
UPDATE: The victim in a hit-and-run has been identified as Daryl Taylor, 46, of Lufkin. A Crime Stoppers tip came in on Sunday that has led authorities to believe they have identified the suspect vehicle involved in Taylor’s death. …
Letters, Aug. 1: Move Broadway bike lanes
Opinion//Letters to the Editor | www.expressnews.com
Re: “City still pushing Broadway revamp,” Front Page, Thursday:
I see that despite Texas Department of Transportation turning down lane closures on Broadway for bike lanes, the city is back at it.
The city has spent millions to encourage development around the Pearl, which wasn’t needed. And closing lanes will create traffic jams causing wasted fuel/energy.
In addition, the new high-rise buildings house professional people. Can you see professionals riding a bike to and from work in the triple-digit heat wearing a suit and tie?
Move the bike lanes to one of the side streets.
Perry Donop Jr.
San Angelo TxDOT Free Bike Safety Rodeo Set for Fitness Zone
By James Bouligny | sanangelolive.com
SAN ANGELO— The Texas Department of Transportation is putting on a city-wide bike rodeo at a local gym. …
70 days and 4,000 miles later: Texas 4000 builds community, spreads awareness, raises money for cancer research
Amelia Engstrom | thedailytexan.com
As Beril Saygin, biology and Plan II senior, crosses the finish line of her bike ride from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska, alongside her teammates, she’s not just biking for herself.
“I’m riding for the fact that even when there seems like there’s nothing, there’s always hope,” Saygin said. “Anyone can bring hope. You don’t have to be a doctor to do that.”
On July 28, the 2023 Texas 4000 (T4K) team completed their 70-day bike ride of over 4,000 miles from Austin to Anchorage to help raise money for cancer research. The …
Texas Biking from Twitter X
We're on pace to double last year's ? death toll.
— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) July 31, 2023
What is the next mayor going to do to ensure this doesn't happen again?
cc: @RobertGallegos_ @GilbertGarciatx @JacksonLeeTX18 @kaplanformayor @MJ_Khan @whitmire_john https://t.co/FAnjL9NSpz
A fatal crash late Friday cemented what cycling advocates had been warning about for months – Houston is going backwards when it comes to erasing roadway deaths of bicycle riders. https://t.co/ZDoLdRzLIw
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) July 31, 2023