We heard from several riders who received courtesy warnings last weekend that the Sheriff's Department was going to start ticketing cyclists who break traffic laws in Sunnyvale, a small community between Rowlett and Mesquite in eastern Dallas County (here's a map). This stepped up enforcement is the result of motorist complaints about cyclists running stop signs and impeding traffic by riding two (or more) abreast on narrow two-lane country roads.

We talked to Deputy McCann in the Sunnyvale Substation of the Dallas County Sheriff's Patrol Division today. Deputy McCann verified that their officers will indeed be issuing tickets to cyclists who break traffic laws starting this weekend. We strongly encourage everyone to follow the rules of the road whenever you ride, but especially for those of you riding in the Sunnyvale area.

The situation in Sunnyvale is another example where bad behavior on the part of cyclists has led to complaints from motorists and residents. Motorist anger at bicyclists can be prevented if riders simply follow the law. Deputy McCann urged bicycle riders to stop at all stop signs and to single up when cars approach from behind to let drivers pass.

UPDATE

TxDOT issued a press release this morning that provides more details about detouring pedestrians and cyclists at the White Rock Creek trail crossing at Northwest Highway in Dallas. The new sidewalks along the north and south side of Northwest to the DART station stoplight are scheduled to be completed on Friday August 27th. The release states that "Once the contractor completes the work on the sidewalks, cyclists and pedestrians will be detoured to the new continuous sidewalk and will be unable to cross at the W. Lawther and Northwest Highway intersection." The full press release PDF can be viewed HERE.

August 16, 2010

TxDOT has decided on a strategy to handle bicycle and pedestrian traffic on the White Rock Creek Trail during the two-year reconstruction of Northwest Highway in Dallas. In an email received on August 16, 2010, Cynthia Northrop White, Public Information Office Supervisor for TxDOT provided the following information regarding the intersection at West Lawther Drive and Northwest Highway.

"We (TxDOT staff) met with our design engineers and contractors to analyze solutions, including a crossing underneath the bridge construction at this intersection.  And while some parts of the plan could have been accommodated we could not justify the solution in terms of potential safety issues to the users of the proposed walkway."

"The solution, one which was discussed, that we are pursuing is to make the sidewalk continuous on both the north and south side of Northwest Highway west of Lawther to the signalized crossing at the DART Station entrance. All those involved understand the significance of this crossing to the community and all due diligence was made to come to a resolution that would allow for pedestrian and cyclists to cross as near as possible to the Lawther/Northwest Highway intersection and maintaining the highest level of safety possible."

Although an inconvience compared to crossing at West Lawther Drive, this seems like a reasonable solution for keeping the trail open and insuring the safety of the large numbers of pedestrians and cyclists who use it.

Additional coverage in the Dallas Morning News.

By Jim Wilson

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.

Jim Wilson serves as Place 5 Representative on the Benbrook City Council (place5@cityof benbrook.com) and is President of the LMRA Bicycle Club.

This article originally appeared on July 25, 2010 in the Op/Ed section of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you'd like information about bike commuting or are interested in bike safety courses that can make you more comfortable riding in traffic.

The full BTS report can be downloaded and viewed at http://www.bts.gov/publications/state_transportation_statistics/state_transportation_statistics_2009/pdf/entire.pdf