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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas Bicycle Coalition, also known as |
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BikeTexas, was organized in 1991 to promote the advancement of |
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bicycling access, safety, and education in the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Millions of Texans ride bicycles for fitness, |
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recreation, and transportation each day; bicycling can be pursued |
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at any age and has been identified by public health professionals as |
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an activity that could greatly reduce the cost of health care; |
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bicycling benefits the economy as well, with Texans spending more |
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than $200 million annually on bicycle-related goods and services; |
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moreover, bicycle races, tours, rallies, and other events taking |
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place throughout the state have a positive financial impact on |
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participating communities, and such events raise more than $50 |
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million annually for Texas charities; and |
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WHEREAS, Mountain bikers in the state play a beneficial role |
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in enhancing our parks and other public lands, contributing |
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thousands of volunteer hours each year toward multiuse trail |
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creation and enhancement and care of the outdoor environment; and |
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WHEREAS, Bicycle safety standards applied to road design and |
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construction, as well as to traffic regulations, will create more |
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bicycle-friendly communities, thereby encouraging more people to |
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engage in this favorable outdoor activity; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1998, the Texas Department of Transportation |
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has awarded a grant to the BikeTexas Education Fund for the Texas |
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SuperCyclist and SuperCollege Programs, which have certified more |
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than 3,500 physical education and health teachers in bicycle safety |
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and allowed for some 200,000 schoolchildren to receive bicycle |
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safety instruction; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Education awarded the |
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BikeTexas Education Fund a three-year, $1.3 million grant in 2004 |
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to pilot a Safe Routes to School program combining the education and |
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encouragement components of the internationally accepted Safe |
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Routes to School model used in Lubbock, Amarillo, Fort Worth, and |
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Wichita Falls; in addition, BikeTexas has been a national leader in |
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the effort to include funding for Safe Routes to School programs in |
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federal transportation bills, and Texas has received nearly $30 |
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million for its SRTS programs since 2005; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly two decades, BikeTexas has worked to |
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enhance the safety of Texas roadways for cyclists and others, and it |
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is indeed fitting to recognize this outstanding organization; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend BikeTexas for its hard work and |
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dedication in behalf of bicycle safety and extend sincere best |
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wishes for continued success to its board of directors, staff, |
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members, and volunteers; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for BikeTexas as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |