Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Will Dallas Climb Out of the Bike-Friendly Cellar?

11:31 AM EDT on June 15, 2012

Bicycling Magazine recently delved into the question of what makes a bike-friendly city, and of all the places they rated, Dallas came out at the bottom. But maybe it won't stay there for long.

Network blog Bike Friendly Oak Cliff (reporting from suburban Dallas) took a closer look at how the Big D is faring. Turns out, the city is making some good progress in several areas.

Here's their status report, based on Bicycling's criteria:

    • Elevated bike paths
      • Status:  Unchecked, Falling: The Sante Fe bridge is probably still considered just a bridge, but it’s “elevated.” It’s also not yet officially open and behind schedule.  But, no we have nothing remotely like an elevated bike path.
    • Bike boxes at intersections
      • Status:  Unchecked, Neutral: Can’t say these are going to be used at intersections in Dallas, but another item we don’t have
    • Bicycle commuter stations
      • Status:  Unchecked, Rising: This idea was discussed during meetings held for the 2011 Bike Plan, but I don’t see the city taking it on.
    • Bike-share programs
      • Status:  Unchecked, Falling: Costs associated with these programs and the lack of funds from the city foresee no city shared bicycle program.
    • Bike-themed festivals
      • Status:  Check, Rising: Cyclesomatic was the first bicycle themed festival in Dallas when it started in October 2009 as a one week festival.  Since then it’s grown to a full month worth of bicycle related events and activities for all.
    • Elementary-school bicycle trains
      • Status:  Half-Check, Rising: iBike Rosemont is a week long event at Rosemont Elementary school in Oak Cliff that encourages children to ride a bicycle to school.
    • Cyclist-friendly cafe’s
      • Status:  Check, Rising: From Oddfellows’ bicycle parking and discount (yes, it’s more of a restaurant we know) to Pearl Cup ride meet ups, the aforementioned Dallas Bicycle Cafe and countless other bicycle friendly businesses, we can go ahead and say we’re doing pretty good in this department.
    • Bicycle parking
      • StatusHalf-check, Rising: There are fine examples in Oak Cliff where a business has made extra space for bicycle parking.
    • Bike racks on buses
      • StatusCheck, Complete: Back in 2006- 2007 I was lucky enough to be on the DART Bicycle Advisory Committee. This was when DART was still the largest transportation system without bicycle racks on their buses.
    • Closed-street cycling events
      • Status: Half Check, Rising: To date, we’ve had one closed street event or Ciclovia here in Dallas.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Portland Transit reports that the city is adding transit tracker screens in business lobbies. Market Urbanism carries coverage of the "great market urbanism versus market suburbanism" debate yesterday at the Cato Institute. And Bike Portland wonders how TriMet's fare increases and route reductions will affect the balance between car travel and bike travel.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Want a Better 15-Minute City? Ask Residents What They Really Want

A new study from Bogotá models how other cities can ask a deeper set of questions about how to put essential needs within walking, biking or transit distance.

March 19, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines Win the Gold

Two articles detail efforts in Paris and Los Angeles to put on (relatively) climate-friendly Olympic games in 2024 and 2028.

March 19, 2024

Monday’s Headlines Drink Your Milkshake

How does a president end wasteful subsidies for the highly profitable fossil fuel industry? Many have tried, but none have succeeded, including Joe Biden.

March 18, 2024

How — and Why — To Start a Neighborhood E-Bike Library

American advocates are loaning out e-bikes to their neighbors — and creating flocks of new riders.

March 18, 2024

What Urbanists’ Doug Burgum Lovefest Reveals About the ‘Why’ Behind Our Advocacy

I am far less interested in talking about Gov. Doug Burgum's politics than talking about his values, and how those values shape his urbanism, and thus the actual lives of the people he governs.

March 15, 2024
See all posts