In an ideal City for cycling, El Paso, Texas has sunshine almost 355 days a year.  The City Councel has always decided not to build bike paths for making room for more roads.  Ten Speed Drive Racing and other local clubs have been looking into where, when, who, and why to show the City that spending gov’t money to build a few bike paths as test routes would be a future for the city.  For a long time many cyclists and TSDR have been asking for more bike paths in and around the city.  Our message along with several other clubs finally got through.  It is very sad that a cyclist, Judge Pat O’Rourke was hit by a car and killed on his way to work, to bring the city council to see the light of our message.  Over the last year, TSDR was able to help arrange a meeting with the State, County, City, Parks / Recreation and International boundries to build 2.3 million dollars in bike paths for an estimated 65 miles of bike lanes.  These paths will link several parts of the city from one side to the other.  The major project will be right next to the Rio Grande for 21 miles.  This will be done in 4 parts over the next 5 years.  This is a huge advancement for the City of El Paso and cyclists in the area.  The test area on Resler, built a couple years ago in honor of Pat O’Rourke is now the busiest bike and walking path in the area.  We plan on making commuting on a bicycle from either side of town to downtown quick and easy for all to get to work safely or enjoy a fun ride.  We have been using Portland, OR and Albuquerque, NM as examples and ideas to help kick the CO2 Habit. 

Top photo is the 2.2 mile bike path on Resler dedicated to Pat O’Rourke.

Bottom photo is the 1 mile walking path to be extended 20 miles south along the river to downtown.