Contacts: Joan Hunter: 817-215-8973, cell - 817-455-4110; Jennifer Cohen: 817-690-1921
May 17, 2010
Bicycles to out-number buses, trains at FW transit hub “Bike to Work Day” event
City mgr, county tax head, police bike patrol to join bike commuters for pre-work rally on May 21
WHAT
The T’s President Dick Ruddell will pedal from home to work on national Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 21 and offer free coffee and snacks and networking opportunities to all bike commuters from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) during a pre-work day bike rally for downtown commuters for the third year. Others joining Ruddell for bicycle commutes downtown will be Fort Worth city manager Dale Fisseler, Tarrant County tax assessor-collector Betsy Price, the Fort Worth Police Department Bike Patrol, MedStar bicycle response team, Bicycles Inc. bike club members, city, county and business employees and other bicycle-related organizations. Officials will hold a briefing at 8:15. a.m., The T will provide demos on loading bikes on a bus and Bicycles Inc. will provide free bike inspections.
WHEN - Friday, May 21
7 a.m. to 9 a.m. – free coffee, snacks for bicycle riders; inspections, demos on bike rack loading.
8:15 a.m. – community leaders’ ride-in and news briefing led by Fisseler, Price and Ruddell.
WHERE
Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC), 1001 Jones Street, Fort Worth (MAPSCO 77A).
ACTION/VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES
• Bike ride in to ITC about 8 a.m. by Fort Worth City Manager Dale Fisseler, Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Betsy Price, T President Dick Ruddell, Fort Worth Police Bike Patrol, MedStar BERT (bicycle emergency response team).
• News briefing led by officials at 8:15 a.m.
• Downtown workers on bikes riding to ITC for Bike to Work Day rally, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Bicycles Inc. “bike corral” to check tires, pressure, frames, provide bike racks.
• Demonstrations on loading bikes on bus racks.
• Staffed displays on city’s “Bike Fort Worth Plan.”
• North Texas Clean Air Coalition info on annual Clean Air Bike Rally benefiting the Fort Worth Bike Patrol Support Group.
WHY
To show Fort Worth’s strong support for bicycle riding on Bike to Work Day, held annually on the third Friday of May as part of national Bike to Work Month, and promoted by the League of American Bicyclists. Bicycle riding is recognized nationally as a cost-efficient way to address mobility and air quality concerns while improving physical health and quality of life. Bicycles are advocated by The T and the American Public Transportation Association to bridge the gap between bus or train stops to final destinations, and as an enhancement to transit-oriented development. All of The T’s regular route buses have bike racks, and bikes are allowed on the Trinity Railway Express.
