According to a press release, the annual Bike to City Hall event was on Wednesday, October 20th, beginning at 7:30 in the morning. The starting point was at Pacific Plaza, which is located at 401 North Harwood Street in Dallas. The event finished at Dallas City Hall at 1500 Marilla Street.
Local bicycle organizations, Councilmembers Paul Ridley and Jesse Moreno, Mayor Pro Tem Chad West, and Downtown Dallas Inc. worked together to make this event happen.
The event kicked off at 7:30 a.m., where all bicycle riders, including West (District 1), Moreno (District 2), and Ridley (District 14), met at Pacific Plaza. Downtown Dallas Inc. provided refreshments. At 8:00 a.m., the riders started the route to City Hall with assistance from Central Patrol Division’s police officers. Around 8:30 a.m., a press event at the City Hall Plaza was held by West, Ridley, and Moreno.
The press release mentions that the goal of this annual event is to “promote environment-friendly transit and a healthy lifestyle” and to “promote cycling as an innovative, viable means of affordable transportation.” Chad West stated, “Bicycle commuting is good for health, tourism, economy, and environment. It is an effective means of improving air quality, reducing automobile congestion, and conserving energy.”
During the 2021 Bike to City Hall event, just like every year, this event is held, special recognition was given to an individual or organization that is putting in the effort by making “Dallas more bike-friendly.” Former Councilmember Lee Kleinman received this year’s recognition.
According to Lee Kleinman’s website, he addresses issues with transportation, among many other areas where he believes improvement can be made. He is on the Dallas Bicycle Plan Steering Committee, a chairman on the Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee, a board member of Downtown Dallas Inc., and on the NCTCoG Regional Transportation Council.
Special recognitions for the past events have been given to Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, Downtown Dallas Inc., Friends of Santa Fe Trail, Dallas Bicycle Coalition, Dallas County, Uptown Dallas, Limebike, Spin and VBikes, and The Circuit Trail Conservancy.
Bike DFW mentions, “For every trail mile, bike lane, bike rack & repair station; and for every increase in funding for active transportation, and new person getting out and riding their bike, there is a person, organization, agency or business that has been doing the hard work of making the Dallas-Fort Worth region a better place to walk and bike.”
Ever since the first event held in October 2011, it has become an annual affair, except for the past two years. The Dallas Observer mentions that before the first event in 2011, a Dallas Bike Plan Open House was held on May 27 2010.
Most of the seats were taken in the Flag Room of the City Hall, which holds 265 seats. Among the filled seats were motorists and cyclists who wanted to know what the city “intend[s] to do about making all of their lives easier, better, and safer.”
The Open House was full of hands-on activities, all insight was welcomed, feedback from locals was received, questions were answered, and ideas were shared.
The Dallas Observer said the “whole reason for the open house was to listen to Dallas.” The city invited the attendees because they wanted to gather their thoughts and concerns before confirming what should be done to make cycling safer in Dallas.
For more information on the Bike to City Hall event today, visit the Bike DFW website.
