Bike advocates are hoping that the Houston Bike Plan can achieve full council approval in July. The Houston Chronicle hopes the bike plan will be for everyone (not just hipsters).

"Once you're far from the serene paths of Buffalo Bayou Park and downtown's B-Cycle stations, the true picture of cycling in Houston begins to emerge," according to the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board. "Cyclists in Houston are more working class than urban hipster, and they pedal more out of necessity than choice."
The reason for the perspective is the release of a final draft of the Houston Bike Plan earlier this month. The final draft makes changes to an earlier draft released in February. According to a separate article by Dug Begley, the bike plan added 133 more miles of bike trails or shared use paths between drafts. The final draft calls for a total of "1,789 miles of bike-friendly paths and trails, including 668 miles separated from automobile traffic," according to Begley.
Which brings us back to the editorial. Back in February, the bike plan was pitched as a tool to attract casual riders. The editorial board hopes, however, that those riding their bikes to work because they can't afford to drive, will be given more opportunities to do so safely.
FULL STORY: Editorial: For biking to work

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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