TOP THIRTY CITIES...So Far!
| Dallas |
2247 |
|
| Plano |
660 |
|
| Fort Worth |
357 |
|
| Frisco |
282 |
|
| Richardson |
260 |
|
| McKinney |
246 |
|
| Arlington |
233 |
|
| Allen |
212 |
|
| Garland |
172 |
|
| Carrollton |
152 |
|
| Irving |
137 |
|
| Lewisville |
102 |
|
| Coppell |
93 |
|
| Grapevine |
92 |
|
| Flower Mound |
78 |
|
| Keller |
76 |
|
| Rockwall |
69 |
|
| The Colony |
71 |
|
| Mesquite |
69 |
|
| Wylie |
61 |
|
| Denton |
65 |
|
| Rowlett |
61 |
|
| Grand Prairie |
51 |
|
| Euless |
46 |
|
| Bedford |
41 |
|
| N. Richaland Hills |
37 |
|
| Southlake |
37 |
|
| Mansfield |
40 |
|
| Addison |
37 |
|
| Cedar Hill |
33 |
|
The petition runs until we have 100,000 signatures. We are nearing 7200 today!
Dallas Morning News - Community Opinion
Eric Jackson of Bike DFW: Share the road
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, July 18, 2008
Eric Jackson is the president of BikeDFW, www.bikedfw.org. His e-mail address is eric.jackson @bikedfw.org.
Bicyclists are on the streets to get to work, go to the store, see a movie, get exercise, visit family and friends and for all of the same other reasons as motorists. In addition, gasoline is over $4 per gallon and the region risks federal sanctions if we don't improve our polluted air. Mass transit is moving forward and is a great thing, but is a long way from being able to serve a majority of the North Texas residents (and bicycles are a great link to mass transit systems). Obesity and lack of activity are growing health problems.
For North Texas, cycling is a much bigger solution than it is a problem. Here's a look at what needs to happen for bicycles and motor vehicles to safely coexist:
MOTORISTS – Cycling is a form of transportation, and bicycles belong on the streets (as recognized in the Texas Motor Vehicle Code). Cyclists pay for streets through all forms of taxes, just as motorists do. Treat bicycles as you would motor vehicles – whether passing, at stop signs, street crossings, etc. You can coexist with bicycles as long as everyone is patient and considerate of all users of public facilities. Learn about interacting with bicycles. You can have very little inconvenience due to bicycles (delays due to cyclists are most often 10-30 seconds, not minutes), avoid the penalties related to hitting cyclists and make the metroplex a better place to live.
BICYCLISTS – Follow the laws. Stop at stop signs and traffic signals – every time. Ride as close to the right as possible if the lane is wide enough for both a bicycle and a car; if not, you should control the lane for safety. Don't ride more than two abreast; change to single file when cars approach and you don't need to control the lane. Choose your roads carefully emphasizing safety and your impact on motor vehicle traffic. In Dallas, Fort Worth and other cities, on-street bicycle route systems are a good start. Be considerate and polite to other users, including pedestrians and cars. If a car gets held behind you on a narrow street, consider helping it pass in a reasonable and safe way.
LAW ENFORCEMENT – If cyclists break traffic laws, issue warnings and citations just as you would to motorists. Take it seriously when motor vehicles hit cyclists, run cyclists off the road, or otherwise harm or threaten cyclists, and issue the proper citations or charges. Don't trivialize car-bicycle incidents and let drivers off if they are guilty of an offense or negligence.
GOVERNMENT – As gasoline gets more expensive and North Texas air quality in continues to be poor, more people will cycle. Work to accommodate cyclists on our streets. Implement on-street bike routes with signage and pavement markings. Make traffic signal sensors sensitive to bicycles – many aren't. Improve access to public transit for bicycles; DART and The T are moving forward with this and need to push even harder. Consider the impact to cyclists of all new projects – make facilities safer and access better at every opportunity.
Education is a key. Cities should include inserts in utility bills and place announcements online and on their cable channels related to cycling. Local media – newspapers, radio, and television – can spread the word.
This not only can, but must work out for all who live and work in North Texas. We can conquer this issue; many other cities, including Phoenix, Denver and Tucson, have shown that it can be done. The time for North Texas to start has passed; the time to act is now.
Eric Jackson is the president of BikeDFW, www.bikedfw.org. His e-mail address is eric.jackson @bikedfw.org.
6700 Signatures as of this evening. While there has been a definate slow down, the signatures are still coming in steadily. Talk to your friends and family, your kid's friend's parents. Chances are - someone they care about rides a bicycle in some fashion. This isn't just a campaign about collecting signatures - it's a campaign to make everyone around us a little more aware.
At 5 pm today - SIX THOUSAND AND TWO! On to TEN!
At 1:05 pm today you have reached 5000 signatures!
KTVT's COverage is HERE
We are at 4986 as of 1220 pm Tuesday.
And the DMN has a commentary, with discussion HERE
As cyclists we are responsible for riding politely and legally. Her column characterizes most cyclists as spandex warriors, however these days that tends to be a minority of cyclists. Many of us are now using bikes to get around, go to the store, pick up kids, get to work and manage our daily lives. Many of us do wear spandex, but many of us wear plain old street clothes too. There is no typical cyclist.
4701 on Monday at 5 pm
An email to one of our supporters from one of his friends -
Carl,
This email is in response to an email you sent out in regards to the couple that their lives had been cut short by a drunk driver while they were riding their bi-cycles. Living in California and working in the city of San Francisco where there are more cyclists than you can shake a stick at, I have always had a very bad taste in my mouth for cyclists. Most of my encounters with peddlers as I refer to them have been extremely unpleasant and rude. They always hold up traffic and cut you off weaving in and out of traffic, and God forbid a bike messenger get ahead of you, they are the worst. They kick your car doors when they pass you and give you the finger and spit at you and so forth.
I must thank you for sending me that email and reminding me of how precious life is and how quickly it can be cut off from the living. Since receiving your email, my attitude towards cyclists has changed dramatically. Although they are still rude and argumentative I just smile and wish them a safe journey and do my part to be mindful of there chosen mode of transportation. In short brother, thank you for reminding me how precious life is............
Keith M.
THIS is what it is all about...
CBS Ch 11 covered the petition and interviewed our president - Eric Jackson on the 530 news this evening
4293 at 643 pm Sunday - 1 week after the petition started.
A question of sorts -
"By my electronic signature on this petition, I support and encourage bicycling in North Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
That's a pretty vague statement."
---------------
And an answer...
"Its not a call for specific action, its a petition for our local area that we want the government to acknowledge and continue to work with bicycles and biking in general."
"Concerning advocacy and initiatives, the first thing to show governments is that there is an overwhelming desire by the general populace to achieve a general goal. That general goal here is the support and encouragement of bicycling in the local DFW area. Nothing more, nothing less. The specific reason why this petition was started was because in the last week we have had 7 high profile (read: reported in the news) accidents involving cyclists, 2 of which died, 1 of which is still in the hospital. That information is presented on the sidebar on the petition's website.
You begin with a general acclamation of a movement and then work for the specifics"
Mr. Daniel is absolutely right - Knowing who is out there and who is standing up to be counted is a big part of building a grass roots effort. Raising your hand is just one way of showing up - and it matters.
4175 on Sunday am
Channel 33 does a story on their evening news -
CW33 NEWSDallas Morning News posts an
article...on the front page no less!
3935 at 7:20 pm Fri
3600 at 5 pm
Check out the discussion on the D Magazine's
"Front Burner" Blog...
57 comments so far - while most of the other stories have 1 to 4 comments. This a hot topic, no doubt about that.
3510 at 2:15 pm
Another great example of a letter to a city council member from a constituent
I live at ***** in Plano and I believe that puts me in your district. After serving a tour in Iraq with the United States' Marines, I returned to Texas and lived in Dallas for a short bit. My wife and I moved to Plano last October when her firm and her architecture position moved north. I've lived many places in this country, our state, and I've traveled a bit of the world. I like Plano and I intend on staying here and raising a family here. After I graduate from college this December, I intend to apply to the Plano Police Department. I say all this to give indication that I enjoy and care deeply about our city. I've been met with nothing but friendliness and courtesy from my neighbors and nothing but honesty, sincerity, and professionalism when dealing with the police force and the city employees (namely Renee Burke) that I have encountered.
Due to gas prices (and several wonderful side effects, namely health and enjoyment), my wife and I recently decided to use our bicycles as our main means of transportation and utility. We still have one car that we use on occasion and for emergencies, but we are using our bicycles at every opportunity that we can. My wife bikes to work, using the Parker Dart Station, and was recently interviewed by FOX 4's John Hammarley because of this. All in all Plano is very Bike Friendly. The Plano trail system serves us not only for recreation and fitness, but mainly as a safe means of commute. We've spoken with Renee Burke several times and greatly appreciate her efforts.
I'm writing this letter specifically to bring to your attention a recent petition that has been signed (and is continuing to be signed) by the citizens in the DFW area and many many citizens from Plano. Bike DFW recently put this petition out urging the local governments to support and encourage bicycling in our areas in response to 7 recent accidents involving cyclists (2 of which resulted in death with 1 person still hospitalized). At the time of this writing, there have been 1,807 signatures from all around DFW with about 200 from Plano ( or 11%, Plano is the second highest city for signatures with Dallas having the top signature output at 621 or 34% and Fort Worth being 3rd at around 100 or 5.5%. Most cities have brought in around 20 to 40 signatures). This is just on the second day of the petition.
I believe this shows our enthusiasm, especially Plano, for creating a more bicycle friendly atmosphere. Not only would this encourage health and fiscal responsibility, it would encourage local business growth (I do most of my shopping within a 2 to 5 mile radius), and would create a cleaner and more attractive city. I would ask that you visit the online petition at http://bikepetition.eventbrite.com/ and see the results for yourself. I would also ask that you continue your support for bicycling in Plano and extend to Renee Burke my family's thanks. We hope to see the city bike trails expanded and would like to see the bike routes outlined and posted. It is my personal hope that more safe, secure, well positioned and well lit bike racks are placed throughout the city in the commercial districts (currently I've only seen racks at Target, some bike shops, the city rec centers, and around the trails). Placing bike racks, or encouraging their placement, around businesses will encourage and allow people to bike there.
In all cases, thank you for the job that you and the city are doing. We appreciate it.
3256 This morning
We received this letter that one of the signors has sent to his own Mayor and City Council representatives - We encourage everyone to do the same!
Dear Mayor and Esteemed Council Members:
I am writing to you to ask you to visit a web site that shows the citizens of Allen are concerned about safe bicycling infrastructure in Allen and want you to know about this concern. The web site is http://bikepetition.eventbrite.com/ which has been set up by BikeDFW, the bicycling advocacy group for the metroplex. I have counted over 75 Allen citizens on the petition so far.
After 7 bicyclists have been killed or injured in 7 days in the metroplex, it important that city governments, county governments, and state government work together to fund and develop safe bicycling infrastructure not only for existing cyclists, but also for those citizens who wish to cycle and don’t out of fear.
I bicycle commute 13 miles to work, and my family uses our bicycles to ride to St Jude’s Church with my family, as well as family trips to Max’s Donuts, Kroger for groceries, McDermott Chiropractic for adjustments. We are a family committed to bicycling in Allen; spending our dollars at Allen businesses because that is the result of bicycle commuting; and wish the council to understand this.
Brian Bristow and the other Parks Department folks have a great plan, understand the importance of this infrastructure, and have been very helpful in educating me as a citizen of the city’s plans and goals. I have attended NCTCOG Bikeweb meetings as an interested citizen, and see Brian actively supporting these meetings. I would also like to see the city involve the Capital Projects and Street Engineering Staff also involved in developing bicycling infrastructure.
Bicycling needs to be more than just a Parks & Rec activity, it needs to be accommodated on our streets as well. While using undeveloped right of way for multiuse trails is great for Parks & Rec, bicycle commuting requires more than just trails, but also on streets as well. Please understand that bicycling is a lifestyle, but not of just recreation. Expanding the infrastructure for safe bicycling will improve Allen’s health, commerce, and outside appeal.
He signed his name and provided his contact information of course and so should you when you contact YOUR city council.
3110 at 5:15 pm
3000 at 2:31 pm today
2934 at 1230 Wednesday
2533 At 7 pm
2452 at 430 pm!
2328 at 1:00 pm Tuesday
2134 at 0952 am Tuesday
1877 signatures at 0711 am - Tuesday - and it looks like another busy day for the petition!
Let your city council know about this petition!
"Letter to Garland signers of the Bicycle Support Petition:
Fellow Citizens of Garland,
I am extremely pleased to see so many from our community supporting cycling as a hobby, a form of exercise, or transit. For the past three years, cycling has again become one of my most treasured activities, whether biking around the neighborhood with my daughter, riding in organized rides (recently crashing in organized rides), or riding to work and sometimes cycling to council activities. Like you, I am concerned about the safety of cyclists, both in Garland, and in the larger D/FW metroplex.
I have not signed the petition myself, this is only because it may be used as a lobbying tool for our council, and I feel it is inappropriate to lobby the council while holding a council seat. Be assured I support the general principles represented by this petition and the BikeDFW organization.
I wanted to send this letter to the Garland signers to encourage you to get to know your city council member, contact your council representative and let your individual voices be heard. When I brought the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community program forward, several of my fellow members stated that they were not hearing their constituents asking for any cycling initiatives. The only way for that to change is for you to take action. If you don’t know your council district, you can find it here: http://www.dalcoelections.org/voters.asp .
You can e-mail your council members at the following addresses:
District 1 Douglas Athas council1@ci.garland.tx.us
District 2 Laura Perkins Cox council2@ci.garland.tx.us
District 3 Preston Edwards council3@ci.garland.tx.us
District 4 Larry Jeffus council4@ci.garland.tx.us
District 5 John Willis council5@ci.garland.tx.us
District 6 Barbara Chick council6@ci.garland.tx.us
District 7 Rick Williams council7@ci.garland.tx.us
District 8 Darren Lathen council8@ci.garland.tx.us
Mayor Ronald Jones mayor@ci.garland.tx.us
Also, feel free to contact me at darren@darrenlathen.net
Thank you,
Darren Lathen
Council Member, District 8, Garland, TX"
Thanks Darren! It's people like you who create communities instead of just building cities!
1700 signatures at 8:38 pm today
1500 Signatures at 5:04 pm
1400 at 4:15 pm!
1371 at 4 pm today
637 signatures at 1100 am
511 signatures at 1015 am
300 signatures at 0841 am
BikeDFW started a little over 2 years ago in response to the deaths of several cyclists. Other major metro areas in the country have bicycle advocacy and action groups which have been around for as long as 30 years. We had no such group here. In those other cities (Chicago, Portland, SF, DC, and others) cycling has become commonplace and has been developed over time to the point where people expect to see bicyclists nearly everywhere they go.
Part of what we want to accomplish here is protect access to the streets for cyclists. We also want to make sure that there are trails for those who like to ride off road, paths or lanes (where appropriate) for those who will never otherwise ride on the streets (an est. 30 to 40% of cyclists) and make car drivers aware that we are out here and we all need to be able to use the streets without harassment or fear.
We have a good momentum going - the thing we really need is folks who want to be active in growing the groundswell, people who can write newsletters, letters to their reps, produce some video and PSA's type things, design print publications, help with public awareness campaigns, people who can plan events, visit their reps and city council members, and folks who are willing and able to teach cyclist education and when the time is right - motorist and diversion courses.
The reason the education program is important is that there is a statistical influence on cycling in a given area that correlates with the number of league certified instructors. The more LCI's in an area, the more likely it is that that community will be "bike friendly". What if your city council rep or all of your parks and rec and transportation folks were all league certified instructors who understand what a cyclist needs to be safe? How different would the landscape of our cities be? We currently have 10 LCI's in North Texas - and not all of them are active. How different would it be if there were 200? And many of those 200 were in key positions that influence cycling? How different would things be if cyclists acted predictably and drivers knew exactly what to do and how to react when approaching a cyclist?
And this is not just about road cycling - off road trail preservation and development are also things we want to support. When DORBA needs help getting large numbers of people to show up, we'd like to be there! Connecting groups to resources is also part of what we want to do.
Come on out and join us at any of our monthly meetings! 2nd Tuesday 7 pm at the MS150 Lonestar chapter office - SW corner of Luna of Champion, just South of 190 and North of 635
This is a big cookie - and we are chewing as fast as we can with the resources we have - so all help would be appreciated!
215 signatures at 0800 this am
We really do not want the information for commercial purposes!
Petition in Support of Bicycling in North Texas
Conditions in North Texas are not favorable for cycling. Recently a city council person said "Well there are not many people in my district who want to ride bikes anyway". Let's prove him and a whole host of others like him wrong.
This isn't just for the roadies or the mountain bikers - although we want you to sign it! It is for your neighbors whose kids ride to school, it is for the older couple on the corner who ride around the block. It is for anyone who in any way at all wants to see bikes on the streets without fear in North Texas. It is for those who would rather ride off the street, is is for those who will ride anywhere - and mostly - for those who won't ride at all given current conditions.
Please forward this to everyone and anyone - it will not be used for commercial purposes, it will be used to answer comments such as the one above with "Well sir, actually there are 1217 people in your district who WANT to cycle!" and be able to prove it.
Sign the petition -
http://www.bikepetition.eventbrite.com
We don't want to spam you or share your information with commercial entities. We really don't. We just want to be able to show up!
Sincerely -
BikeDFW
13 hours after the petition posted online, there are 125 signatures and still counting...and the "official" email blast hasn't even gone out yet. Keep 'em coming!
7 Cyclists were hit by cars in North Texas in the past week. 2 were fatally injured, another remains hospitalized.
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