A decade ago, looking for signs of bike friendly improvements in Texas was like looking for life on Mars. Gas was cheap, sprawl was kicking into overdrive, and local and state governments committed funding towards every pie-in-the-sky, auto-centric transportation project. From 1990 to 2005, Texas population increased 35 percent, while driving increased 45 percent, according to this data.
National cities get the most coverage for bike accommodations, because they’re making the big waves. Portland, Minneapolis, NYC. Those cities get the most traditional press for their cycling initiatives and controversies, and smaller cities have to settle for regional bike-specific blog coverage (if at all).
So what’s going on in Texas worth mentioning?
- Last month, TXDOT stated that all road projects must accommodate pedestrians and cyclists or explain otherwise. This comes at the influence of recent federal support for biking and walking. It does allow for wide curb lanes instead of actual bike lanes, but it’s a step in the right direction.
- Austin is picking up steam. Two dedicated staff bicycle engineers work on projects like this high-contrast green painted lane, and it feels like they’re rolling out new lanes every week. Austin voters approved Prop 1 last fall, uncorking $38.7 million towards non-road projects.
- Eight Texas cities now have ordinances requiring cars to give 3
feet when passing bikes and pedestrians - A statewide Complete Streets bill is in committee
- Fort Worth is installing hundreds of bike racks, painting bike lanes, and dieting overbuilt roads.
- Arlington, the largest US city without public transit, is pushing a surprisingly bold bike plan of 272+ miles.
- Dallas just finished a new bike plan thanks to grassroots inspiration from the Better Block and BFOC folks. I hear the plans include cycletracks, rare outside Europe and NYC.