Here's the good news from last Friday's MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization / Transportation Policy Board) meeting: $2.3 million for El Paso bicycle programs was approved. This follows Tuesday's decision by El Paso City Council to fund bicycle sharing. On hand were what one observer described as "many young (and not so young) energized, eloquent and inspirational El Pasoans who spoke about the need for bicycle lanes, connectivity, quality of life and access to parks."
VeloPaso, El Paso's Bike Pedestrian Coalition, presented two documents. The first showed the how obesity (an epidemic in El Paso) falls with increased cycling and walking.
Their second document shows El Paso's bicycle friendly policies and El Paso's room for improvement.
Bicycle Advocate "Rider Strong" filed this report about the MPO meeting:
"The MPO Transportation Policy Board approved $2.3 million in citywide bicycle infrastructure and programs over the next three years. Several bike advocates voiced their support for bike funding, while countless others called and emailed their representatives, before and during the meeting.
"Bicycle advocates in El Paso received an urgent 24-hour Action Alert from Bike Texas, the state's largest bicycle advocacy organization, after doubts were raised about the fund's security.
"'Infrastructure and bike programs will not only help the [City of El Paso's] new bike share program,' said Ben Foster, board member of Velo Paso, a bicycle pedestrian coalition, 'but it will inspire people to dust off their bikes sitting in their garage and ride to work, school, parks and maybe even to an Aardvarks [minor league baseball] game.'
"Plans for the $60.8 million Triple-A ballpark include 80 bike racks, a requirement for LEED certification.
"Rep. Marisa Marquez (D-77), a novice cyclist whose district includes Downtown, UTEP and neighborhoods around Fort Bliss, asked whether there were beginner bike classes she could attend and share with her constituents.
Bicycle funds approved today could go towards education initiatives and bike classes for adults and children. These funds, considered by city officials as "seed money" for the city's new bicycle program, could also be applied toward the city's first bicycle master plan.
"'An advocacy presence may have saved this pot of money from being diverted to other projects' said a city official.
"The $2.3 million dollars in funding represents a mere 1.5% of total TIP monies authorized for the next three years. MPOs in Dallas and Bexar County allocate almost quadruple that amount.
"'Next time,' Rep. Joe Pickett (D-79), member of the powerful House Committee on Transportation, lightheartedly remarked,'wear the spandex.'"
"Next time, El Paso should demand double the bike funding to catch up to places like Dallas and San Antonio."
Also see:
http://tejanotribune.com/archives/1531
http://bikesbelong.org/
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