This week, four North Texas cities — Highland Park, Farmers Branch, (both Tuesday), Plano (Wednesday) and Irving (Thursday) — will decide whether to take steps toward withdrawing from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
It’s a decision that could profoundly affect how we move, connect, and grow as a region.
At BikeDFW, we believe that mobility is community.
When we strengthen connections between bikes, buses, and trains, we strengthen access — to jobs, education, parks, and each other. When we break those connections, it becomes harder and less safe for people to get where they need to go.
🚆 Why This Matters
DART isn’t perfect — no large system is — but it’s one of the few truly regional transit networks in Texas. It connects 13 cities through rail, bus, and paratransit service. Every day, thousands of people use DART to get to work, school, and essential appointments.
Pulling out of DART would not just remove train and bus routes. It would also weaken:
At a time when North Texas is growing faster than ever, we need more choices, not fewer.
🚲 What You Can Do
🗣️ Sample Speaking Comment
“Good evening Mayor and Councilvmembers. My name is [Your Name], and I live in [City]. I’m here as a cyclist and a supporter of public transit because bikes and transit work best together.
DART isn’t just transportation — it’s opportunity. It connects workers to jobs, students to schools, older adults to independence, and cyclists to safer routes.
I urge you to keep our city in DART, and to look forward — not backward — on mobility. Let’s build a connected, inclusive future for everyone who rides, rolls, or walks in our community. Thank you.”
💙 Why Showing Up Matters
Policy can feel abstract — until real people stand up and speak from experience.
When council members see riders, cyclists, families, and neighbors in the room, it changes the conversation.
We encourage everyone who cares about connected, multimodal transportation to be visible this week.
Together, we can remind city leaders that every decision about transit is a decision about people — about safety, equity, and opportunity.
Let’s keep North Texas moving forward, together.
BikeDFW
Advocating for safe, connected, and people-powered transportation across North Texas.
It’s a decision that could profoundly affect how we move, connect, and grow as a region.
At BikeDFW, we believe that mobility is community.
When we strengthen connections between bikes, buses, and trains, we strengthen access — to jobs, education, parks, and each other. When we break those connections, it becomes harder and less safe for people to get where they need to go.
🚆 Why This Matters
DART isn’t perfect — no large system is — but it’s one of the few truly regional transit networks in Texas. It connects 13 cities through rail, bus, and paratransit service. Every day, thousands of people use DART to get to work, school, and essential appointments.
Pulling out of DART would not just remove train and bus routes. It would also weaken:
- Bike-to-Transit connections that make multimodal trips possible.
- Trail and sidewalk funding that often comes through DART partnerships.
- Regional collaboration that helps us plan safer streets and reduce congestion.
At a time when North Texas is growing faster than ever, we need more choices, not fewer.
🚲 What You Can Do
- Show up in person — your presence matters.
- Highland Park Council: Tuesday, Nov 4 at 8:00 AM, Highland Park Town Hall, 4700 Drexel Drive, Highland Park, Texas 75205
- Farmers Branch Council: Tuesday, Nov 4 at 7:30 PM, Farmers Branch City Hall, 13000 William Dodson Parkway,
- Plano City Council: Wednesday, Nov 5 at 5 PM, Plano City Hall, 1520 K Avenue, Plano, TX 75074
- Irving City Council: Thursday, Nov 6 at 7 PM at Irving City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX 75060
- Sign up to speak. Highland Park, Farmers Branch, and Irving City Council give speakers 3 minutes to speak, though we always encourage you to also have a 1 minute speech in case of large numbers waiting to speak. Farmers Branch Council Meeting Public Comment forms will be accepted via online submission HERE or email until 5:30 p.m. the day of the meeting. Individuals submitting a request in person at the meeting shall submit their form to the City Secretary by 6 p.m.. Highland Park's Public Meeting Appearance Forms are located on a table at the entrance to the Council Chamber and must be presented to the City Secretary before the start of the Council meeting. Irving meeting speaker sign up begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. the day of the meeting, and happens at City Hall. At this time, Plano City Council is no longer accepting registrations to speak night of, however, your presence is still very important.
- Share your story. Talk about why transit and biking matter to you — how they connect your family, your job, or your freedom to move.
- Encourage others to join you. Post on social media, bring a friend, and help show our community cares about keeping North Texas connected.
🗣️ Sample Speaking Comment
“Good evening Mayor and Councilvmembers. My name is [Your Name], and I live in [City]. I’m here as a cyclist and a supporter of public transit because bikes and transit work best together.
DART isn’t just transportation — it’s opportunity. It connects workers to jobs, students to schools, older adults to independence, and cyclists to safer routes.
I urge you to keep our city in DART, and to look forward — not backward — on mobility. Let’s build a connected, inclusive future for everyone who rides, rolls, or walks in our community. Thank you.”
💙 Why Showing Up Matters
Policy can feel abstract — until real people stand up and speak from experience.
When council members see riders, cyclists, families, and neighbors in the room, it changes the conversation.
We encourage everyone who cares about connected, multimodal transportation to be visible this week.
Together, we can remind city leaders that every decision about transit is a decision about people — about safety, equity, and opportunity.
Let’s keep North Texas moving forward, together.
BikeDFW
Advocating for safe, connected, and people-powered transportation across North Texas.
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