Bill Text: TX HCR132 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Concurrent Resolution 132 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Designating Brownsville as the official Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley for a 10-year period beginning in 2015.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-18 - Signed by the Governor [HCR132 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HCR132-Enrolled.html



	H.C.R. No. 132



	HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, In recent years, the City of Brownsville has carried
	out an innovative program to promote bicycling, and in so doing, the
	city has become a well-known center for this healthy and
	environmentally friendly activity; and
	WHEREAS, Originally started as a way to promote exercise
	among the city's residents and to combat obesity and diabetes, this
	unique effort has helped to make bicycling an important part of
	recreation and tourism in Brownsville as well as a more viable form
	of local transportation; and
	WHEREAS, The city has passed a number of ordinances to make
	the community more bicycle friendly, and it has created 64 miles of
	bicycle trails and on-street bike routes, including the Historic
	Battlefield Trail; designated as a National Recreational Trail by
	the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2013, this nine-mile route
	runs through the heart of the city and ends at the Palo Alto
	Battlefield National Historic Park, the site of the first clash in
	the Mexican-American War; and
	WHEREAS, Since 2012, Brownsville has also sponsored several
	CycloBia events; during these gatherings, certain streets are
	closed to motor vehicles, and as many as 10,000 bicyclists,
	runners, and walkers turn out to enjoy the less congested roadways;
	moreover, the city has partnered with volunteers to create the
	Brownsville Bicycle Barn, which offers residents lessons in bike
	safety and maintenance, and the Earn-a-Bike Program, which allows
	people of all ages to receive a bike in exchange for completing 25
	hours of community service; and
	WHEREAS, The city has benefited from the growth of private
	groups of bike enthusiasts as well, including the Velociraptors
	Cycling Team, the Brownsville Bike Brigade, and the Brownsville
	River Rockets Cycling Club; in addition, four locally owned bicycle
	shops operate in Brownsville; and
	WHEREAS, To build on the success of its efforts, the city has
	adopted a bicycle and trail master plan, Connecting Brownsville, to
	create a network of bicycle and pedestrian routes and other
	facilities that will enable bicyclists and walkers to travel
	throughout Brownsville; future plans include the development of new
	trails, extensions and improvements to current bike routes, and the
	installation of more bike racks around the city; Brownsville's
	efforts have already earned it recognition as an All-America City
	by the National League of Cities, as well as a Culture of Health
	Prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and
	WHEREAS, By successfully promoting bicycling, Brownsville
	has become a model for other Texas communities, attracting
	additional visitors to the region and encouraging a fun,
	beneficial, and sustainable way of life for its residents; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
	hereby recognize Brownsville as the official Bicycling Capital of
	the Rio Grande Valley.


	Lucio III


	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House


	I certify that H.C.R. No. 132 was adopted by the House on May
	30, 2015, by a non-record vote.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House


	I certify that H.C.R. No. 132 was adopted by the Senate on
	June 1, 2015, by a viva-voce vote.

	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date

	__________________
	Governor