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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The City of Brownsville has carried out an |
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innovative program to promote bicycling, and in so doing, the city |
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has become a well-known center for this healthy and environmentally |
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friendly activity; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally started as a way to promote exercise |
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among the city's residents and to combat obesity and diabetes, this |
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unique effort has helped to make bicycling an important part of |
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recreation and tourism in Brownsville as well as a more viable form |
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of local transportation; and |
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WHEREAS, The city has passed a number of ordinances to make |
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the community more bicycle friendly, and it has created an |
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extensive system of bicycle trails and on-street bike routes, |
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including the Historic Battlefield Trail; designated as a National |
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Recreational Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2013, |
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this nine mile route runs through the heart of the city and ends at |
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the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park, the site of the |
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first clash in the Mexican-American War; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 2012, Brownsville has also regularly |
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sponsored CycloBia events; during these gatherings, certain |
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streets are closed to motor vehicles, and a multitude of |
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bicyclists, runners, and walkers turn out to enjoy the less |
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congested roadways; moreover, the city has partnered with |
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volunteers to create the Brownsville Bike Barn, which offers |
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residents lessons in bike safety and maintenance, and the |
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Earn-a-Bike Program, which allows people of all ages to receive a |
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bike in exchange for completing 25 hours of community service; and |
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WHEREAS, The city has benefited from the growth of private |
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groups of bike enthusiasts as well, including the Velociraptors |
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Cycling Team, the Brownsville Bike Brigade, the City Cruisers |
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Cycling Group, and the Brownsville River Rockets Cycling Club; in |
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addition, numerous locally owned bicycle shops operate in |
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Brownsville; and |
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WHEREAS, To build on the success of its earlier efforts, the |
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city updated its bicycle and trail master plan in 2021, outlining |
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further enhancements to enable bicyclists and walkers to more |
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easily travel throughout Brownsville; over the years, the city's |
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focus on biking and walking has helped it earn a Culture of Health |
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Prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as well as |
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recognition as an All-America City by the National Civic League; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, By successfully promoting bicycling, Brownsville |
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has become a model for other Texas communities, attracting |
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additional visitors to the region and encouraging a fun, |
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beneficial, and sustainable way of life for its residents; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby redesignate Brownsville as the official Bicycling Capital of |
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the Rio Grande Valley; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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finally passed by the legislature. |