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

Local Lawmakers: Don’t Mess With Texas Cyclists and Pedestrians

Today we have a positive development from the land of mega-highways. The city of Denton, Texas recently approved a vulnerable road user ordinance, making it the eighth town statewide to enact such a law, reports Network blog TheCityFix.

false

Texas cycling advocates suffered a setback when Governor Rick Perry vetoed statewide legislation that would have accomplished the same thing. But Texans are pursuing protections for cyclists and pedestrians by advancing legislation on the local level.

When you get down to it, Texas leaders aren't as unfriendly to the cause of cycling as you might assume. Check out this account from TheCityFix's Itir Sonupariack:

Passed with a unanimous vote by the City Council, the ordinance establishes the rights of the road to all users, provides safety guidelines and encourages alternative modes of transportation.

Councilman Dalton Gregory introduced the ordinance in February 2010, based on a similar ordinance passed in San Antonio the same month, the Denton Record Chronicle reports.

“So the presumption is, the driver is probably in the wrong,” Gregory says in the article. “It’s not always the case, but at least we’re working from a different point of view and making the big guy, who is not likely to get hurt, think a little more carefully before they operate.”

Thanks to smart policy in Denton, San Antonio and other localities, the state will be a safer place for cyclists. And Texas will have a healthier, more equitable, more connected populace as a result. Kudos to everyone involved.

Elsewhere on the Network today: M-Bike.org reports that the state of Michigan is abandoning a highway expansion project for metro Detroit. City Parks Blog comments on the complicated dynamic between city parks and residential densities. And X-ing Columbus laments the apparent death of the Cincinnati streetcar project.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Are We All Living in a ‘Carspiracy’?

How does "car-brain" shape the way we think about the world — even in relatively bike-friendly countries like the U.K.?

July 26, 2024

Friday’s Headlines Share and Share Alike

Bikeshares, and e-bikes and scooters generally, are becoming more popular. That's led to more injuries, highlighting the need for better infrastructure.

July 26, 2024

What the Heck is Going on With the California E-Bike Incentive Program?

The program's launch has been delayed for two years, and currently "there is no specific timeline" for it. Plus the administrator, Pedal Ahead, is getting dragged, but details are vague.

July 26, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Have Cities Run Out of Land?

Chris Redfearn of USC and Anthony Orlando of Cal Poly Pomona on why "pro-business" Texas housing markets are catching up to "pro-regulation" California and what it might mean for future city growth.

July 25, 2024

The Paris Plan for Olympic Traffic? Build More Bike Lanes

A push to make Paris fully bikable for the Olympics is already paying dividends long before the opening ceremonies.

July 25, 2024
See all posts