Riding a bicycle can make anyone feel like a kid again. Unfortunately, unlike what many of us were taught as the rules of the road as children, bicycles must be ridden with the flow of traffic and operated as a vehicle when utilizing public roadways (a person operating a bicycle has the same rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle, Texas Traffic Code, Sec. 551.101).
The youthful enjoyment of bicycling must never detract from bicyclists' alertness of their surroundings nor adherence of the law.
A renewed recognition of the importance of bicycling throughout our region is beginning to provide safer bicycle access. The recent announcement of the Dallas Bike Study, adoption of the BIKE Fort Worth Plan, and opening of new Hike & Bike trails in Benbrook are major steps forward. Future efforts must include education, consideration and adherence to the rules of the road.
On a daily basis, each of us witness motorists breaking traffic laws. It has become such a common practice that we rarely recognize it. Seldom do we notice ourselves or others exceeding the speed limit, rolling through stop signs or failing to yield.
In contrast, bicyclists are a less-common sight for the motoring public. They are not a normal part of the day's visual fabric. When a bicyclist breaks the law, the act jumps out and grabs our immediate attention.
A successful motorist/bicyclist relationship demands mutual consideration and observance of the law.
When a motorist fails to safely pass and/or recognize a bicyclist's right to the roadway, the outcome can be tragic. Additionally, bicyclists wield a double-edged sword when they fail to stop for red lights or stop signs. They place themselves at risk, and their actions negatively impact the public's impression of all other bicyclists. The impact is far-reaching.
Before heading out on a bicycle, riders should consider this simple phrase: Stop, look and be seen.
STOP at all red lights and stop signs.
LOOK to ensure it is safe to proceed. Stay alert at all times.
Be SEEN as a positive ambassador for all bicyclists by following the laws of the road.
The roadway ahead requires a "share the road" understanding from everyone. We should always remember it is not just a bicycle, nor a big automobile on the road -- it may be your neighbor, a friend or a co-worker.
North Texas is a wonderful place. Let's strive to safely enjoy and share it with others.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex is in a tie with Houston for the second worst traffic congestion in the country according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation. Only the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metro area in California is worse. Here's an excerpt from the recently released State Transportation Statistics Report (note: most recent data are from 2007).
DFW traffic congestion caused a delay of 32 hours a year per person for the entire population, not just drivers, at an estimated cost of $641 each or a total waste of $2.8 billion!
Even if we could afford to build more highways, the results of these massively expensive projects would be more cars, increased gas consumption, and increased air pollution with minimal impact on traffic congestion. Electric vehicles could reduce gas consumption and pollution, but they won't help traffic congestion one bit.
Still think automobiles are the answer for a sustainable future? We don't! That's why BikeDFW wants to raise awareness of bicycling as part of the solution to our long-term transportation needs in North Texas. When coupled with public transit and multi-modal transportation (i.e., using the train and a bicycle on the same trip) bicycling can not only reduce gas consumption and pollution, but also reduce traffic congestion. (Not to mention that riding a bike is a lot more fun than sitting in rush-hour traffic.)
Our hope is that people will start using a bicycle for utility trips (especially for those less than three miles). Doesn't it make sense to use a 20 pound vehicle and get some exercise instead of a 4,000 pound vehicle and a gallon of gas to make a quick trip to the store (or a restaurant, or a movie)?
Contact us at
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if you'd like information about bike commuting or are interested in bike safety courses that can make you more comfortable riding in traffic.
White Rock Trail gets 11th hour reprieve from TxDOT
Monday, 12 July 2010 19:38
Good news for trail users! According to the Dallas Morning News, Tx DOT has decided not to close the White Rock Creek Trail tomorrow (July 13th) as originally planned.
TxDOT will be providing information in the near future on how it will detour bicycle and pedestrian traffic at Northwest Highway. We'll keep updating as news becomes available.
Starting on Tuesday, July 13th, the White Rock Creek Trail will be closed where it crosses Northwest Highway at West Lawther Lane in Dallas. Cyclists and pedestrian will no longer be able to get to White Rock Lake via the trail.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will be shutting down the intersection of Northwest Highway and West Lawther Lane for construction (see story below). TxDOT has stated at recent meetings, held in response to complaints from BikeDFW, local cyclists, businesses, and residential groups, that the closure will be temporary. Based on the latest information we have, TxDOT plans to construct a temporary path under the Northwest Highway construction to accomodate bikes and pedestrians. However, it will likely be several weeks before a temporary trail is completed. We will keep updating the web site as we learn more.
In the meantime, riders will need to find other ways to get to White Rock Lake. Nearby possibilities include the stoplight just west of West Lawther at Walling Lane and the stoplight at the Northwest Highway and Buckner Boulevard intersection to the east, which provides access to East Lawther Lane. However, these are extremely busy intersections and we urge all cyclists to use them cautiously.
The White Rock Creek Trail is one of the most heavily used hike and bike trails in Dallas. It is also the route many cyclists use to enter White Rock Lake Park from the north. In a move that will make the trail much more difficult to use, TxDOT will be closing the trail crossing at West Lawther Drive (along with the entire W. Lawther intersection) for two years during construction on Northwest Highway.
TxDOT is planning to detour trail users up over Flag Pole Hill to cross Northwest Highway at the busy Buckner Boulevard intersection and enter the park on East Lawther Drive (see map). Many Dallas cyclists and BikeDFW have raised concerns with TxDOT, city council members, and state representatives about this plan. In addition to having to pedal over Flag Pole Hill (difficult for casual cyclists and kids), crossing the intersection of Northwest Highway and Buckner on foot or bike, especially during heavy traffic, raises a number of safety concerns. NW Highway and Buckner is a busy, complicated, and high speed intersection. It is not clear how TxDOT proposes to safely manage pedestrian and cyclist crossings. There is a tentative meeting scheduled with BikeDFW, TxDOT and City of Dallas officials next week to discuss how best to accomodate the needs of trail users during the two-year long construction period. We will update when we know more.
Bob Murdoch of the BikeDFW Government Relations Committee attended a meeting yesterday (July 6th) organized by TxDOT to discuss options for maintaining the usability of the White Rock Creek Trail during the 18 month-long construction of the new elevated roadway on Northwest Highway. Also in attendance were representatives of TxDOT, the city of Dallas, and the C.C. Young Retirement Community (located on West Lawther just south of Northwest Highway). Bob was also representing the owner of Dallas Bike Works (located at the southwest corner of West Lawther and Northwest Highway) who was unable to attend.
TxDOT listened to the needs and ideas of the three user groups; cyclists and pedestrians from BikeDFW, DART riders working at C.C. Young (who must cross NW Highway on foot), and Dallas Bike Works (to maintain access to cyclists riding the trail). Based on their needs and recommendations, TxDOT decided to maintain a crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at West Lawther, rather than moving it to the NW Highway/Buckner intersection.
TxDOT will be working with the engineering firm handling the NW Highway project to come up with a solution to safely move pedestrians and bicycles across (or under) the traffic and construction at West Lawther. There may be short, temporary closures due to the construction, but there will not be long, continuous closures of the trail.
While we don't know what the final outcome will be, we applaud the decision to keep the trail crossing at West Lawther open. BikeDFW would like to thank TxDOT and City of Dallas officials for their willingness to listen and respond to the needs of West Lawther and White Rock Creek Trail users... and all of you who contacted your City Council Members and State Representatives to make this happen.
Riding a bicycle can make anyone feel like a kid again. Unfortunately, unlike what many of us were taught as the rules of the road as children, bicycles must be ridden with the flow of traffic and operated as a vehicle when utilizing public roadways (a person operating a bicycle has the same rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle, Texas Traffic Code, Sec. 551.101).
