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Texas town cracks down on group bike rides
A small town in North Texas is cracking down on group bicycle rides.
Under Bartonville’s newly expanded public events law, any group of 10 or more bicyclists must apply 45 days in advance and buy a $50 permit in order to roll through town, according to an article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Read the entire article here .
The town doesn’t just hate cyclists, either. The law, approved June 15, also applies to groups of 10 or more walkers or runners.
I can hear it now. “Call the cops! I just saw 11 joggers trot by!”
City officials say they’re just trying to make their town safe for drivers and cyclists.
That’s a load of unwashed cycling shorts.
Intentionally or not, Bartonville is promoting a sedentary lifestyle and discouraging people from exercising. Officials there apparently forgot that cyclists — and walkers and runners — pay taxes that fund road construction.
I hope the amnesia doesn’t spread.
The new law understandably has Fort Worth area cyclists ticked off. Some are talking about boycotting the tiny town, population 1,500.
I doubt they’ll miss much.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: cycling
Comments
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By Iron Pol
July 1, 2010 11:50 AM | Link to this
One has to wonder if this would stand a constitutional challenge. I seem to recall this little thing called the first amendment that protects the right to assemble. The local government maintains the right to govern organized “events.” I don’t know that a group going for a ride or a run would qualify.
By Jeff Lipschultz
July 1, 2010 4:26 PM | Link to this
I’m one of the cyclists who pass through there. In a word: revenue generator. Most cyclists try to roll through there in the early hours of the morning on weekends. We hardly ever pass a car (to inconvenience anyone). This is a joke.
By global_explorer
July 9, 2010 2:26 PM | Link to this
Whether they like it or not, as long as you stay on Route 407 through “town” they have no jurisdiction as it is not a city street, but a state route. If they cited bicyclists on this route, the cities pitiful coffers could be emptied by one good (and justified) lawsuit. Bicycles have the same lawful right to roads as motorized vehicles.