ACTION ALERT FOR ALL CYCLISTS (ESPECIALLY TEXANS)

Tue Mar 20 08:37:15 CST 2001

Welcome to the League of American Bicyclists' electronic newsletter,
BikeLeague News. Feel free to forward this to fellow cyclists and others
who may be interested, but please make sure to credit the League of
American Bicyclists as your source. To join or learn more about the League,
visit http://www.bikeleague.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION! Historic opportunity to save lives, prevent injuries
and improve the quality of life in Texas communities.

March 19, 2001

Contact: Patrick J. McCormick, Communications Director
Phone:  202-822-1333
Email: Patrick at bikeleague.org

BACKGROUND:
The League of American Bicyclists, the national membership organization of
cyclists, urges you to join with the Texas Bicycle Coalition
(http://www.biketexas.org), the Texas Medical Association, TxPTA, Texas
Hospital Association, Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors
Association, Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation
and Dance, Texas Recreation and Parks Society and the Trans Texas
Alliance, to support legislation recently filed to make Texas streets
SAFER for bicyclists of all ages. This is a major effort to move bicycling
ahead in Texas, as opposed to the anti-bicycling Texas Senate Bill 238, a
measure that would severely curtail the rights of cyclists in Texas.

The Matthew Brown Act (MBA), one of the most comprehensive bicycle safety
bills ever attempted in the United States, was filed by Reps. Gutierrez
(D-McAllen), Maxey (D-Austin), Kitchen (D-Austin) and McCall (R-Plano), as
HB2203 and HB2204 on February 27, 2001. This landmark legislation will
provide safe routes to schools for kids (and safer streets for adults),
increase funding for multi-use trail construction and maintenance (with no
new taxes), allow local communities to decide helmet laws based on public
safety education and clarify stiffer penalties for aggressive drivers who
injure or kill bike riders.

HB2203 will be heard tomorrow (Tuesday, March 20, 2001) at 2 pm in Room
2E.030 in the Transportation Committee Hearing. The Public Safety
Committee will hear HB2204 March 26th, 2001.  Now is the time to call or
email your representative AND the committee members to support these
bills.  Please attend the hearings as a (well-dressed, respectful)
spectator if you can.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
The League urges its Texas members to call on their state legislators NOW
to get this bill out of two House Committees and onto the floor for a
vote. Go to http://www.biketexas.org to get the information you need to
call or email every single State Representative on the Transportation and
Public Safety Committees that will vote on this historic bill.

Sen. Mike Moncrief (D-Ft. Worth) has filed the same bills in the Senate.
SB1240 has been assigned to the State Affairs Committee and SB1372 to the
Criminal Justice Committee. These bills have not been scheduled for
committee hearings. Watch for these developments at
http://www.biketexas.org and please write YOUR State Senator AND the
committee members. As always, please be polite and professional in
expressing your opinions.

The website will also give you updates on how you can help stop bad bike
legislation like SB238 and information on Cyclists In Suits: Texas Bike
Lobby Day coming up on Monday, April 9! Help pass one of the most
comprehensive bicycle safety bills ever. Find out more information on what
you can do locally, and pass this message on to all your cycling friends!
There's strength in numbers. We will keep you posted on new developments
as they occur, or visit http://www.biketexas.org for the latest news.

# # # # #

The League of American Bicyclists promotes cycling for fun, fitness and
transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a
bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of 42.4
million American cyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates.
For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.

We hope you enjoy BikeLeague News. Please forward this to fellow cyclists
and others who may be interested, but please be sure to credit the League
of American Bicyclists as the source for your information. To support or
learn more about the League, visit http://www.bikeleague.org.

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