Author: znnfd

City Council Members Unanimously Approve Item 18, “Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Application”, a program meant to help marginalized people better access society with improved transportation. They disregarded protected bike paths even after my public comment video.

See this specific clip: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxgayH9xzhqEB0ZnNP2Bn7mJNN3J_9GjWy

This is my public comment video:
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxVq00yHr4M23dXU_We8HlkKrJTvczsMRU

For more details about how the city staff filled out this grant that is supposed to help poor people have better transportation, see here: https://corpuschristi.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5862794&GUID=149B1FDC-C917-4A7D-B77D-E3D9E5C99C0C

I can’t believe Corpus Christi doesn’t build protected bike paths even when the money is readily available. That’s sad.

This is the official page of the $1 billion grant program, it even has a touching video that summarizes the problem of poor people being left out of society because of transportation and the solution that they are providing cities all across USA. Too bad Corpus Christi won’t take advantage of it. This program specifically mentions funding “protected bike paths”.

https://www.transportation.gov/grants/reconnecting-communities

I am told that CC might have a “multi modal” path using this grant, but to me, this sounds like Corpus Christi making extra wide sidewalks and calling it a day. It sounds to me that CC is not considering the needs of the community especially since we have a petition of over 700 signatures demanding better.

Please let your city council member know that we are watching and we are disappointed they didn’t challenge item 18!

1. Comment on social media. Whenever there is news posted that is relevant to protected bike paths such as bike safety, new road construction, city budget, or bike related tragedies, chime in about how protected bike paths are needed. Always include an example picture of a protected bike path in the comment if possible. A picture adds impact and makes it easier for locals to understand this relatively new and foreign concept. Accounts especially on Facebook have the most weight. Instagram and YouTube also help. Pages such as local news KRIS TV, the official city account, public works, and even the city council member’s pages are great places for attention.  City council members often refer to social media comments when making major decisions rather than detailed studies with a large sample of the population (as it should be but isn’t).

2. Email your city council member in your district, all the city council members at large, the mayor and the city manager. You can copy and paste the sample email on our website or you can write your own. Make sure it is professional, sophisticated, backed by data and facts and from the heart. Make sure to include your full name and address so they know you are a registered voter. The average city council member receives 10 personalized emails a day, I was told. Send follow up emails and touch base every few months. The goal of this is to add pressure and also written proof that they can present to city staff to act immediately.

3. Fill out city surveys. The city makes major decisions to our landscape based on these surveys, and sadly not many people fill them out. (only 100 respondents in the last survey,  https://www.cctexas.com/sites/default/files/Public_Survey_2_Summary.pdf) Make sure to mention the need for protected bike paths in any survey option and in the comment section. To get notified of city surveys when they come out, visit https://creatingcc.com/ and click on the link to “Register” for “engagement opportunities”. 

4. Participate in-person “input sessions”, especially concerning the city budget. The city likes to say they have the community’s input when making big decisions by having in person forums. They are not typically widely advertised, you as the citizen must take it upon yourself to find out about it or register here to find out about the next one by registering here https://creatingcc.com/  or following us on social media.

5. Publicly comment at the city council meetings. This opportunity is open to anybody. You can do it in person, by phone or by web. You can present a video or pictures. Don’t be intimidated by this option! It’s really easy! Full instructions are here: https://www.cctexas.com/detail/covid-19-public-comment-input-procedures 
   
6. Sign the petition! https://chng.it/22trw2tC 

7. Print one of our posters and post it on a community board. It could be at work, church or a local cafe. The PDF link is here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V8AHvRWb1MXhwFn_du4VzxxhytGlaARv/view?usp=sharing

8. Follow us and engage with our posts on social media! 

https://www.facebook.com/I-Bike-CC-106448961809436

https://www.instagram.com/ibikecc/

9. Go for a bike ride! Show the public there is a demand!

10. Talk to your friends, family and coworkers about the need for protected bike paths.

11. Vote for bike-friendly & competent candidates! Research the candidates or follow us on social media to see who we endorse.

12. Support your local bike shop! Hype Byke 311 Peoples Street, in Downtown Corpus Christi.

13. Advertise on your personal space! Wear a t-shirt at least one outing a week. Put up a sign on your yard. Put a sticker on your car.

14. Donate! This whole project has been paid out of my personal pocket. Any funds received (which has been none) will be used to pay for the website and anything extra would be used to print more posters and advertise.

15.  Do you want to do more? Do you have a clever idea we forgot to include? Do you have an expertise that could help us advocate further? Writing? Photography? Public speaking? Send us an email!

Print & post this poster at any bulletin board you know of! It could be at work, a coffee shop, a gym, or even a place of worship. Make sure to strike up a friendly conversation to seek approval of course! It could also be a good time to talk about the cause.

The PDF link is here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V8AHvRWb1MXhwFn_du4VzxxhytGlaARv/view?usp=sharing

I have already posted in Coffee Waves, Cafe Calypso, Coral Bean Cafe, Boarri Craft Butchery, Lucy’s Snackbar, Disc Go Round and Cookie + Crumbs. Do you know of any other place? Let me know!

I was so happy to speak at the Committee for Persons With Disabilities today. These were the points I wanted to really emphasize at the meeting today:

1. Transportation is a right every individual has. Transportation should be inclusive to everybody! Protected bike paths can include a whole segment of the population that have difficulty getting around the city.

2. Many people cannot get a drivers license because of their differing abilities. Here is the full list of reasons why an individual cannot get a driver’s license. Look at the Texas Medical Advisory Board Guide for Determining Driver Limitation: 
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/medical-advisory-board/pdf/MABDriverLimitationGuide.pdf
Many people who cannot get a drivers license are still able to ride a bike. They have every right to get around safely!

3. The money is there. There are lots of federal fund programs the city could apply for. Recently Joe Biden announced a $5 billion fund to make streets safer, which includes bike paths! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10821261/Biden-drops-5billion-bike-paths-speed-cameras-road-deaths-rising.html

Also, I want to point out that a protected bike path is a one time investment that will always help the marginalized unlike other programs that require monthly subsidies. It is an investment worthy of making as it has a lot of returns on investment as countless studies have shown over and over again.

Here are the Google Slides of my presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FccA-2JQAedmCKkIhYGNBuUq3nHsXOJTvwN3W1sk5L4/edit?usp=sharing

It has pictures of what protected bike paths look like and even Google Maps screenshot of how long it would take to get to two different points in a city with a car vs. bike vs. bus vs. walking!

Cyclists voices were heard yesterday at a city council meeting. I made a public comment and I think it was effective because I actually gave them a video with visuals of the state of our bike paths. Two city council members got in contact with me right away to fix this problem. Here is the video of my comment. I’m at minute 29.https://youtu.be/arWltxliPH8?t=1790