Bike Texas Critical vote today

[Craig Mathews]

Not sure how many of you receive these notices, please consider the action suggested below.  For most of us Mark Keough is our state rep.  Link below in text body will take you to find you rep, can reply from there.  Craig

Ask your rep to oppose Hughes' amendment You are making a difference at the legislature today! Thank you for calling and writing. As we passed out information about the negative effects of Rep. Hughes' amendment (see amendment language below) to every office in the House today, we heard from many offices that they had received your calls and emails. You are making a difference! If you haven't called or written yet, THERE IS STILL TIME to have your voice heard.  As of 5:48pm today, the House is hearing page #83 out of 399, and the amendment we oppose is on page #293.  Please contact your Texas House Representative RIGHT NOW by phone and/or email. Ask that he or she vote NO. Also, ask him or her to speak out against Rep. Hughes' amendment to Article 7. (Don't know who your rep is? Find out here.) You can use any or all of the talking points below: This amendment is dangerous and will cost lives. Engineers routinely determine that there will not be significant impact to motor vehicle traffic before changing a roadway. Lane conversions create safer spaces for people walking, biking, and driving, reducing roadway injuries and fatalities. Transportation engineers in a local community need to be able to exercise their own professional judgement to determine the best solution to local traffic situations. The FHWA-approved lane conversions are proven to be effective at improving safety. [Name a local road in your area] is unsafe to bike or walk on. This amendment would make it very difficult to make this road a safe place for me and my family. Be sure to include your name, address, and occupation. Thank you for making Texas a great place to bike and walk! You can follow along live here: http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/  Text of the proposed amendment:  Floor Amendment No. _____________   By: ____________________  1    Amend C.S.H.B No. 1 (house committee report) by adding the  2 following appropriately numbered rider in Article VII after the 3 appropriations to the Texas Department of Transportation: 4    ____. Conversion of Vehicle Lane. The Texas Department of 5 Transportation may not use any money appropriated by this Act: 6       (1) for the conversion of an existing vehicle lane to a 7 bus lane, bike lane, or other special purpose lane; or 8       (2) to issue a grant to a political subdivision of this 9 state for the purpose described by Subdivision (1) of this rider.