Bike ride for fun and fitness
First family bike ride part of the Get Fit Victoria campaign
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From two wheels to training wheels, bike trailers with babies to baskets carrying dogs about two dozen Victorians participated in the first family bike ride at Riverside Park on Saturday.
A 1.5 mile section of the park was barricaded for the ride and only human propelled vehicles were allowed into the area.
The ride was part of the Get Fit Victoria campaign sponsored by the Victoria Parks and Recreation department, said Sandra Conley, a recreation specialist who helped organize the event.
One participant who regularly rides in the park and used to commute to work on her bike says that she just doesn’t feel safe riding around town. “I’d like to ride my bicycle around town but I feel like its not safe. People will run you over – people are not bike-friendly here in Victoria,” said Irma Balboa
Balboa was there with her husband, brother and niece and family dog Petrie who rode in a basket. “They think we should be on the sidewalk but really, its not legal,” said Daniel Balboa, Irma’s husband.
The law and the city ordinance states that bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalks said Victoria Police Officer Daniel Torres adding that bicycles must be in the normal roadway unless there is a bicycle lane.
“They do have the right to be there in the roadway,” said Torres.
With more cyclists on the roadways that means a higher potential for accidents. There have been 14 reported incidents and two deaths involving motor vehicles and bicycles in the last year, said Dave Yates, records supervisor, with the Victoria Police Department.
Since there are no bike lanes in Victoria, cyclists and motorists must learn to share the roadways, at least for now.
The city will be looking into the feasibility of bike lanes and routes later this summer. The possibility of adding bike lanes to city roads is in the investigation stage, said Jared Mayfield, a senior planner with the city.
“We’re hoping to study bike lanes and the implementation of that as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan,” he said.
The parks and recreation department is also working with the city’s planning department on a master plan for hike and bike trails. Currently, a 10-foot wide 1.7 mile hike and bike trail following the Lone Tree Creek is under construction, said Doug Cochran, director of Parks and Recreation.
“We think its going to be more popular. Bike riding is going to be a means of transportation as the price of fuel rises,” said Cochran.
Cyclists at Saturday’s event seemed to agree that there is a need for more bike trails and the addition of bike lanes in places such as the currently under construction section of Laurent Street could be beneficial.
Organizers took advantage of the bike ride to hear input from community members about future rides. While this year’s event didn’t bring out the masses, it was only the first one. Next year, there is talk of involving the police department to register bicycles, said Shane Simon, recreation services manager with parks and recreation.
“I think we learned a lot from this one,” he said.
Christina Burke is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6516 or cburke@vicad.com or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
To share ideas with the city planners e-mail them to parks@victoria.tx.org or address any ideas to the Parks Commission. They meet 2nd Monday of every month at 700 Main St. Room 204.
According to the Victoria Police Department
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To share ideas with the city planners e-mail them to parks@victoria.tx.org or address any ideas to the Parks Commission. They meet 2nd Monday of every month at 700 Main St. Room 204.
According to the Victoria Police Department
-Riders must always go with the normal flow of traffic, not against it.
-Bicycles are not allowed on the sidewalks and must be in the normal roadway unless there is a bicycle lane.
-At night bicycles must be equipped with a red light in the rear, a white light in front, as well as reflectors.
-Bicyclists must use all proper hand signals and stop at stop signs just as a vehicle would.
-All bicycles must be registered. This can be done free of charge at the Victoria Police Department or at their branch in Victoria Mall Monday to Friday during normal business hours.
-Helmets are not required by law, but officers recommend them for safety reasons.
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