Texas Bicycling News Friday – June 14, 2024
Austin celebrates Juneteenth with historic bike ride, block party with bites by local ‘Top Chef’ contestant
By Taylor Kamnetz | www.lonestarlive.com
Juneteenth, also known as “Freedom Day,” takes place on Wednesday, June 19. While the Central Texas Juneteenth Parade and Festival is set to take place on Saturday, June 15, there are still events to attend in Austin, Texas, on the holiday itself.
Take the Fifth Annual Black History Social Ride and Block Party, for instance. This multipart event takes place on June 19 and aims to educate attendees on the historical significance of Austin’s Black and BIPOC communities while celebrating Juneteenth at a neighborhood park in East Austin. …
BCycle, kiosk bike system in Houston, ending June 30. Nonprofit cites inability to keep going
By Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com
Houston’s long-struggling system of on-demand bicycles is reaching the end of the trail.
BCycle, the system of kiosks with available bikes spread around downtown, Midtown and other locations will close June 30, officials with the nonprofit that operates it said.
“Despite our efforts, Houston Bike Share, the nonprofit operator, has been unable to secure the necessary funding and leadership to sustain operations,” the group said.
In a letter sent earlier this month to partners, the chairman of the nonprofit’s board, Neeraj Tandon, said working with the city all the BCycle stations around the city could be removed by Sept. 15.
Houston city leaders in October bailed out the nonprofit with funding to last until June, with the …
Seems bad for Houston pic.twitter.com/PtHBe9kcco
— -Nate (@inpersonnate) June 14, 2024
Popular for recreational trips around the bayous, parks and downtown, the system struggled to handle operations following large expansion.https://t.co/tamF67RLsa
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) June 15, 2024
METRO bike share program remains unclear for summer debut
By Melissa Enaje | communityimpact.com
The future of a 24-hour bike share program that was originally scheduled to roll out this summer as part of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County remains uncertain.
Community Impact reached out to METRO officials in May to get a status update, but as of press time, a response from the new executive board has yet to be seen.
How we got here
The contract that would have jumpstarted a $5.5 million strategic bike share program using existing METRO transit hubs was unanimously approved for funding by the previous board contract last September. …
Houston BCycle to shut down at end of June after 12-year ride
Adam Zuvanich | www.houstonpublicmedia.org
The nonprofit bike-sharing network had planned to keep operating until METRO, the region’s transit provider, could launch a system of its own. It is unclear whether the latter will happen.
Houston will soon be without a bike-sharing network for the first time in more than a decade.
Houston BCycle, which was created by the city government in 2012 and grew to as many as 160 stations in recent years, will cease operations at the end of June amidst declining revenues, escalating costs and deteriorating infrastructure, according to a member of its board of directors.
The nonprofit network, which offers both traditional and electric bikes as a mode of transportation and also for recreational use, already had planned to wind down its operations after getting a $500,000 infusion last fall from the city. Houston BCycle’s plan at the time was to keep going until METRO, the region’s transit provider, could stand up a network of its own. …
Cyclist struck, dragged by car on Main Street, police say
Jason Hennington | www.taylorpress.net
A woman riding her bicycle remains hospitalized after being involved in an accident with a car and dragged down Main Street Friday morning, police said.
Carla Hoffman of Taylor was rushed from downtown to a local hospital shortly before 8 a.m., said Police Chief Henry Fluck.
According to investigators, Hoffman was pedaling west on Third Street when a black Chevrolet Cruze traveling east on Third turned north onto Main and collided with the bicycle.
"Although we don’t have a camera, it appears …
City Council Approves Bicycle Parking Requirements
richardsontoday.com
The City Council voted to amend Richardson’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Monday to include a section detailing new bicycle parking standards that will apply to new non-residential and apartment construction and building expansions. The standards are a best practice consistent with other cities regionally and were previously approved by the City Plan Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
The parking standards: …