Strategic Cycling Plan for Harris County

[Cycling Instructor]

In September 2007, Harris County received an Economic Development
Strategic Plan prepared by Angelou Economics of Austin, Texas. This
report, prepared for the County at a cost to taxpayers of $300,000,
made a series of recommendations regarding (1) making the County the
location of choice for businesses; (2) developing, retaining, and
attracting a world-class workforce; and (3) improving the quality of
life.

After this report was widely publicized in March 2008, BikeHouston
Board members came to the realization that many of Harris County's
competitor metropolitan areas do a better job than Harris County in
these three (and other) deficit areas precisely because they promote
and encourage a more active, environmental, outdoors-oriented
lifestyle which contains bicycling as a major element. Working through
the Spring and Summer, the Board wrote a white paper which builds upon
the Angelou Economics Harris County Economic Development Strategic
Recommendations, presenting ideas for improving bicycling in the
County which, if implemented, could help Harris County attain its
economic development goals. When viewed as part of Harris County's
overall strategic direction, cycling is no longer understood as an
"amenity", "luxury", or "optional"... but as an aspect of life which
is essential to the health and growth of the County and its residents.

BikeHouston's Cycling Strategy for Harris County, a 30-page full-color
report, is available to the public as a free download from this
website:

http://www.bikehouston.org/files/dcihc01.pdf