Bartonville, Texas - Getting around the mextroplex of Dallas Ft. Worth is fairly easy if you go by car but, if by foot or bicycle -- not so much. And it's especially tough when inside the LBJ Freeway/I-20 loop because there are few dedicated bike lanes (OK, make that zero bike lanes) and limited walking paths outside parks and greenbelts. If you're wanting to find a pedistrian-friendly stretch of road more than a 1/2 mile without a stop sign or light - forget about it, there just isn't one. That's why endurance bicyclists and runners alike seek the roads of less-urbanized towns outside the concrete jungle.
One of those towns is Bartonville, Texas (population 1,500) which is tucked away in the middle of the I-35W and I-35E corridor north of Lake Grapevine and south of Denton. (Regional map. City limit map.)The rural roads bordering and going through town are wide, smooth and easily shared with cars, trucks, and the occasional tractor. There's a gas station convenience store and a hamburger stand making it a perfect place to join friends for a long ride or run. Plus the townspeople are friendly.
Just perfect.
Unless it's a group of more than 10. Then things aren't so perfect or the town's officials so friendly.
On June 15th the Bartonville City Council voted 4-0 to expand its definition of public events code to include races and rallies of 10 or more runners and cyclists during training. That's right, to include training on public, tax payer supported roads. Here's a link to the official code amendment on the city's website: click here.
To be in compliance groups of 10 or more passing through need to pay $50 for a permit at least 45 days in advance.
Chief of Police, Dave Howell, declined to comment on the record beyond saying the change was made for "safety and enforcement issues." Two phone calls and an email to the town's mayor, Ron Robertson, have not been returned.
According to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Mayor Pro Tem Carla Anderson opposed the change but missed the meeting. The posted agenda had notified residents only that the council might change the definition or a "race" or "rally," not add group rides. "If there's one thing people here complain about, it's bicycles," Anderson said.
Comments to the Star-Telegram article and cycling forums are decidedly against the new ordinance and chatter about cyclists either boycotting the town's businesses or riding through Bartonville in defiance abound.
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Comments
Who are they kidding? I can't even imagine that's Constitutional. Do they have an ordinance against 10 or more CARS passing through town? Bicycles are legal modes of transportation. I think a legal challenge to the ordinance or a complaint to the State Attorney General would take care of the situation. I'm sure they like the BUSINESS the riders bring. Otherwise, since the town is so small, riders can just time themselves in groups of 10 so that one group enters the city limits as the prior group exits the city limits. This sounds like small town, small minds.
I think the law is unconstitutional but cyclists put themselves into so much danger riding on blind and dangerous curves in the roads when cars are present. I see this all the time. I know they have the right of way, but what happens when you come around those curves and don't see cyclists, they are likely to be injured or killed. It's not fair to drivers who are law abiding citizens when the runners or cyclist just can't be seen. Maybe that's why this law was passed to protect the runners and cyclists not to hurt them.
Actually it is more dangerous for a lone runner or cyclist out by themselves than for a group that projects some visibility. The real problem is that some people drive their car (and trucks) on these curving rural road too fast with no worry about how to avoid hitting children , some possibly riding their bikes, out on these rural roads. There are also farm tractors and maintenance vehicles out there on those curves. Do we need to slow drivers down or eliminate those road users out of existence also. Small rural roads were not meant for drivers to behave like they are driving the Indy 500 for every trip they make to the grocery store or church. The roads were meant to be shared not to be used as Bartonsville's private racetrack. If that is the case then I want my share of any taxes that have been paid to improve Bartonsville roads repaid. (I pay Denton County taxes and I pay gasoline taxes that that contribute to their road improvements not to mention Federal funds from mu income taxes). I want my share back.
This is gay
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