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