{"id":29658,"date":"2015-05-11T22:55:11","date_gmt":"2015-05-12T03:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=29658"},"modified":"2015-05-11T22:55:11","modified_gmt":"2015-05-12T03:55:11","slug":"texas-bicycle-news-roundup-may-11th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2015\/05\/11\/texas-bicycle-news-roundup-may-11th\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Bicycle News Roundup May 11th"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Web Monkey Speaks: The Bigotry of Wilderness<\/a><\/h2>\n

By: Vernon Felton\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.bikemag.com<\/h3>\n

Do bikes belong in wilderness areas?
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\nAmerica needs wilderness. In an era of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153clean coal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, tar sands and fracking our environment can use all the help it can get. The United States is a massive chunk of dirt, true, but once you account for all the private property, cities, roads, shopping malls and suburban sprawl, what you really have is a hodge-podge of fragmented and fragile ecosystems. The Wilderness Act tries to stave off that problem by preserving lands in their wild and pristine state. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a great thing.
\nWhat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not so great, however, is that, since 1984, the Wilderness Act has also been used to kick mountain bikes off of public lands. And not because mountain biking has ever been proven to have more of an impact than other trail users; for the record, it never has. Instead, bikes were banned in `84, and continue to be banned today, because a faction of hikers and horseback riders simply don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like mountain bikers. They don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like the way we dress. They …<\/p>\n

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New Bicycle Friendly State Ranking Released<\/a><\/h2>\n

www.bicycle.net<\/h3>\n

Washington is No. 1 for Eighth Year Running
\nWashington, D.C. \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Embargoed until May 11, 2015, 9 a.m. Eastern \u00e2\u20ac\u201d On the first day of National Bike To Work Week, the League of American Bicyclists has released its 2015 Bicycle Friendly State ranking.
\nFor the eighth year in a row, Washington continues to lead the nation, but states like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Utah moved up the ranking in 2015, shaking up the top 20.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re encouraged to see measurable progress and improvement in many states, including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Utah,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said League President Andy Clarke. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We hope to see continued improvements as more statewide leaders recognize and invest in the many benefits bicycling has to offer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nUtah made the jump from #8 to #5 this year. The state adopted a Bicycle Master Plan in 2014, setting inter-agency goals for inclusion and support of biking and walking infrastructure in transportation projects. …<\/p>\n

… 28. Iowa
\n29. New York
\n30. Texas
\n31. Nevada
\n32. Mississippi …<\/p>\n

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Bicyclist sustains minor injuries after being struck by car<\/a><\/h2>\n

By SHEMEKA THOMPKINS\/The Lufkin News<\/h3>\n

A man was knocked from his bicycle when it collided with a car shortly after he had been in a fight with his girlfriend at a Lufkin fast-food restaurant Saturday morning, according to a Lufkin Police spokesman.
\nSubscription Required<\/p>\n

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“COME RIDE WITH US!” – HOUSTON – May, 17th 2015 – URBAN BRIDGES<\/a><\/h2>\n

68venable\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.bikeforums.net<\/h3>\n

This is not my group or affiliated with me, but this is a fun group to ride with and a cool route too.
\nThe group and details can be found here:
\nhttp:\/\/www.meetup.com\/Come-Ride-With…nts\/221943209\/
\nThe route can be found here:
\nUrban bridges 30 in Houston, TX, United States | MapMyRide
\nHere is a brief description of the ride from their site:
\n“Welcome to one of our monthly favorites – The Urban Bridges Ride! We love it and …<\/p>\n

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Selective Enforcement<\/a><\/h2>\n

Bike Noob\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0bikenoob.com<\/h3>\n

One of the members of my cycling club sent out an email to the group the other day, warning of police ticketing cyclists who failed to stop before turning right on a red light. It seems there were three squad cars, all writing out tickets.
\nNow, this kind of thing has gone on before, but I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t heard a lot about it in several years. And what struck me as odd about this instance was that it took place on a Wednesday morning, at about 11 a.m. That doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t strike me as a busy biking time, but apparently there were enough wayward bikers out there to keep the police busy for a …<\/p>\n

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Around the State: Bike Out Hunger<\/a><\/h2>\n

By Staff \/ Baptist Standard\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.baptiststandard.com<\/h3>\n

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\nThe 6th annual Bike Out Hunger-Texas will be May 11-16, 2015. The ride – about 450 miles from Boerne to Austin to Dallas – is intended to raise awareness about poverty and raise money for the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering.
\nWith more than 31,000 children in foster care in Texas, Buckner Children and Family Services is making available daily devotional emails through the remainder of May, which is National Foster Care Month. To participate, click here to sign up for …<\/p>\n

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17 Servicemen and Women Bike 100K on President Bush’s Texas Ranch<\/a><\/h2>\n

By Kelsey Molseed\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.bicycling.com<\/h3>\n

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\nAt the W100K mountain bike ride, the former president pedals with injured soldiers to honor their service
\n17 Wounded Warrior mountain bikers rode 62 miles in this year\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s W100K, led by former President George W. Bush on April 30-May 2. The mountain bike ride, now in its fifth year, takes place on Mr. and Mrs. Bush\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s stated purpose is to …<\/p>\n

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BikeDFW Bike To Work Day Energizer Stations<\/a><\/h2>\n

by Richard Wezensky\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.bikedfw.org<\/h3>\n

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\nMark your calendars! Friday, May 15, 2015 is The League of American Cyclists’ National Bike To Work Day. IF there is ever a day to ride to work, make it this day. Think about the positive statement we’ll be making as cyclists, safely using an alternate form of transportation.
\nBased on our great success in Richardson 3 years ago, which grew to 5 stations around Dallas 2 years ago, and up to 9 stations last year, BikeDFW, DART and local bike groups have partnered up to …<\/p>\n

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New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar<\/h2>\n
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New Event Masters\/Juniors Regionals – Houston, TX Masters\/Juniors Regionals at Alkek Velodrome at Houston, TX
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 http:\/\/t.co\/hErVyYK4gB<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) May 11, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n