HCR116 - Redesignating Brownsville as the official Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

      H.C.R. No. 116       HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, The City of Brownsville has carried out an   innovative program to promote bicycling, and in so doing, the city   has become a well-known center for this healthy and environmentally   friendly activity; and          WHEREAS, Originally started as a way to promote exercise   among the city's residents and to combat obesity and diabetes, this   unique effort has helped to make bicycling an important part of   recreation and tourism in Brownsville as well as a more viable form   of local transportation; and          WHEREAS, The city has passed a number of ordinances to make   the community more bicycle friendly, and it has created an   extensive system of bicycle trails and on-street bike routes,   including the Historic Battlefield Trail; designated as a National   Recreational Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2013,   this nine mile route runs through the heart of the city and ends at   the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park, the site of the   first clash in the Mexican-American War; and          WHEREAS, Since 2012, Brownsville has also regularly   sponsored CycloBia events; during these gatherings, certain   streets are closed to motor vehicles, and a multitude of   bicyclists, runners, and walkers turn out to enjoy the less   congested roadways; moreover, the city has partnered with   volunteers to create the Brownsville Bike Barn, which offers   residents lessons in bike safety and maintenance, and the   Earn-a-Bike Program, which allows people of all ages to receive a   bike in exchange for completing 25 hours of community service; and          WHEREAS, The city has benefited from the growth of private   groups of bike enthusiasts as well, including the Velociraptors   Cycling Team, the Brownsville Bike Brigade, the City Cruisers   Cycling Group, and the Brownsville River Rockets Cycling Club; in   addition, numerous locally owned bicycle shops operate in   Brownsville; and          WHEREAS, To build on the success of its earlier efforts, the   city updated its bicycle and trail master plan in 2021, outlining   further enhancements to enable bicyclists and walkers to more   easily travel throughout Brownsville; over the years, the city's   focus on biking and walking has helped it earn a Culture of Health   Prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as well as   recognition as an All-America City by the National Civic League;   and          WHEREAS, By successfully promoting bicycling, Brownsville   has become a model for other Texas communities, attracting   additional visitors to the region and encouraging a fun,   beneficial, and sustainable way of life for its residents; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby redesignate Brownsville as the official Bicycling Capital of   the Rio Grande Valley; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of   Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in   effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is   finally passed by the legislature.     Gámez       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.C.R. No. 116 was adopted by the House on May   1, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 0, 5 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.C.R. No. 116 was adopted by the Senate on May   9, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor