A Bit of Bad News

Just saw this over at ATXBS and thought Would spread it around.


A little bit of bad news: the committee hearing for SB 488 will be postponed indefinitely. Instead of pushing the schedule back one week, the clerk informed me that they will continue with the planned schedule, and the bills that would have been heard last week will be "fit in at some later time, maybe." Basically, there is no date now, and it might not be for another several weeks.

In the meantime, all we can do is flood the offices with support letters. If you could post this message, that would be great. Also, if you know any bike blogs that are Texas related, but not Austin-specific, let me know so I can forward it to them. I'm hoping we can find some people that are constituents of committee members.

Here's the gist of it:

If you want to express your support for the Safe Passing Bill that is currently going through the state's legislative process, go to this link to find out who represents you, and send your State Senator and State Representative an email letting them know how you feel. Make sure to include your address so that the office can confirm your residence in the district.

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members.htm
(at the bottom of the page)

All you have to say is, "As a cyclist, I support the safe-passing bill (SB 488) and its companion in the House (HB 827)."

Honestly, say whatever you'd like. Just mention the bill numbers and that you support them.
Forward this to anyone you know who would like to express their support.

(Also, if your Senator is Carona (chair and bill author), Watson (vice-chair), Davis (co-author), Ellis (bill author), Huffman, Nichols, Shapiro, Shapleigh, or Wentworth, they are on the Transportation Committee, which will be hearing the bill on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Urge them to support the bill in committee.)


To me, this is an important bill, fuck to everyone who rides a bike, it is an important bill. If you haven't emailed or snail mailed, you should. This will be an improvement to the infrastructure of cycling if we can get it back in and get it passed. Things don't happen, unless you make it happen. Please do your part and help get this back were it needs to be and get it passed.

Post it where you can, in your blog/website, forums or even just on the streets and to friends. Do what you need to do if you care about riding your bike and feeling safe doing it.

If you don't know where to get started, you can start here or here to find out who represents you. You can contact Mark at mark@biketexas.org


til next time


OLC