| Background |
Background Information
Background
of The Texas Heritage Cycling Experience Initiative
The Texas Heritage Cycling Experience is built on the long-term efforts of many
cycling advocates in Texas, the nation and the world to expand bicycling opportunities.
In May, 2005, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law the "Texas Bicycle
Tourism Trail" (click for text) legislation sponsored in the 79th Texas
Legislature by Senator Rodney Ellis (SB602) and Representative
Harvey Hilderbran (HB2903.) The bill was originated by BikeTexas/Texas Bicycle
Coalition in close consultation with the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT.) It provides a foundation for efforts by the bicycle and historic preservation
communities as well as the Texas tourism industry to take advantage of:
How many times do we hear someone say “Big Bend is great, but getting
there is really boring.” Most areas of Texas considered by some to have
"plain" scenery in fact have many subtle features that play into the
stories of the Native American, Spanish, French, Mexican, Anglo-American, African-American,
German, and other cultural life that took place there. Just as art becomes more
understandable once the viewer knows the context of the artist and the times,
so do the natural and anthropogenic features of the land of Texas become much
more meaningful to the Heritage Cyclist as the underlying history is revealed.
Sure, your legs are “dying” while pedaling up that next rise. But
now, at least the rise, and your dying legs, project meaning!
An article from the September, 2004 Bike Texas newsletter
"Bike Texas Today" provides an overview of the concept of Heritage
Cycling!
New
Trends – What Tourists are Seeking
The history side of the equation for heritage cycling is inspired by a concept
that is now being popularized in the tourism industry: Heritage, or Experiential
Tourism. This concept is based on hard data that show that tourists of today
are more and more interested in spending their vacation time and resources pursuing
an experience that results in personal growth. The nature tourism business,
which has greatly expanded from birding and other outdoor activities, has been
a significant factor in this development.
Living history re-enactors are now becoming “docents,” a fancier
word that indicates more formal research and training/education programs. The
tourist not only sees the living-history actor as a Buffalo Soldier or frontier
woman but can examine the U.S. Army carbine or sit at the loom and make a few
passes. Tourism conferences now are filled with presentations on how the local
resident can bring that level of experience to the tourist.
The Texas Heritage Cycling Experience has noted that the heritage cyclist takes
experiential tourism one great step further. Instead of observing a local resident
portraying a character from the past, the cyclist is actually living the experience
– i.e., the cyclist is the actor!
The legs of the cyclist know well each up and down of the rises and falls as
they pass across river and stream basins while traveling from one fort to the
next. He or she is exposed to the same rain on the face, and, at the end of
the day, shares that same special feeling in exactly that same special place
as our predecessors of many centuries ago! The heritage cyclist evokes positive
feedback from local residents as they trace the routes that tell the history
of which the residents view with great pride!
How True to the Actual Route?
In the designation of heritage cycling routes, we are bound by the realities
of the location, engineering and condition of existing roads. The actual historic
route may (a) currently lie on private property, (b) represent such a good long-term
choice as a transportation corridor that it is now an interstate freeway unsuitable
for bicycle touring, (c) exist as an old, barely passable road with a deteriorating
surface or as an impassable river crossing, or (d) simply not be very well identified.
The entire heritage cycling system will be on existing public roads and streets
maintained by federal, state, county and city government.
When designating a historic route as faithfully as possible to the original
route, we will weigh first and foremost the safety of the cyclist and the ability
of the cyclist to operate in a legal manner on the road in accordance with the
responsibilities that go with the designation of a bicycle as a vehicle by Texas
law (Section 551.101
of the Texas Transportation Code)
In addition, we weigh the availability of the original alignment, the existence
of area roads with scenery that suggests “what it was like back then”,
and connection to historic sites, museums and services. Keep in mind that some
routes had numerous overland trails that all met back at significant water sources
or crossings.
Off-Road
Facilities
The Texas Heritage Cycling Experience is focusing its energy on identifying
historic routes based on existing public roads. In a number of communities,
the cyclist may have the option of using dedicated off-road facilities. We expect
that over time, additionally dedicated off-road trails, both public and private,
can and will greatly enhance the experience.
While The
Texas Heritage Cycling Experience will assist in the planning and development
of these trails as appropriate, we will be relying on a strong local initiative
to lead the way. We believe that completing our task of the identification of
functional statewide routes will be a driving force to encourage local communities
to pursue additional on-road and off-road facilities.
Historic
Interpretation
Historic documentation frequently contains deficiencies such that the story
is in fact an interpretation. In addition to the practical considerations listed
in the section above, we trace cyclists are also subject to the interpretations
of history. By designating a particular heritage cycling route, we are not necessarily
favoring any particular interpretation.
For example, there are at least three major interpretations of the route followed
by Cabeza De Vaca during his Texas travels from 1528 to 1536. To us, it just
means more available tours. If we can get the time, we will ride all three and
anymore that anyone can come up with.
| ©2005
The Texas Heritage Cycling Experience. All rights reserved. |
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