Five stories that have North Texas talking: Dallas is the only major Texas city without a bike-share program; hundreds march for Jordan Edwards; remembering Juneteenth with Opal Lee; and more.
A Garland-based company started planting bikes around Dallas without permission earlier this month. But, the city appears to be onboard, D Magazine reports, viewing the VBikes as a means to revive bike-sharing in the city after a past attempt fell flat.
Dallas is the only major Texas city without a bike-share program, according to the Dallas Morning News. A small effort, funded by Friends of Fair Park and $125,000 from the city, launched in 2014, but proved to be limited. A total of 16 bikes are available at two stations, and after use, the bikes have to be returned.
Since the VBikes have appeared at Klyde Warren Park, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and other popular spots, they’ve attracted hundreds of riders, development head Luke Pettyjohn tells D. To participate, riders download the company’s app, use the GPS to locate a bike and pay a $99 refundable deposit. It’s a dollar an hour to ride, and you can leave it anywhere. The bikes have a locked back wheel when not in use.
According to the Morning News, “Dallas bike transportation manager Jared White said the private approach may be the fastest way for the city to get a bike-share program. He said he'd like to encourage experimentation and work with companies like VBikes. But he said the city will need to set up guidelines to keep bikes from being parked all over the place.” [D Magazine, The Dallas Morning News]
- Immigration and border patrol are still the top concerns for Texas voters, according to this poll from the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune. [Texas Tribune]
- Hundreds marched against police brutality on Saturday in Dallas in honor of Jordan Edwards, the 15-year-old shot and killed in April in Balch Springs. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]
- Remembering Juneteenth isn’t just “a black thing, it’s the right thing,” says Opal Lee, the 90-year-old Fort Worthian fighting to make it a national holiday. [KERA News]
- Photographer Frank Lopez is considered a pioneer in analog's return to North Texas, but he's dabbling in digital, too. [Art&Seek]
The High Five is KERA’s daily roundup of stories from Dallas-Fort Worth and across the state. Explore our archives here. And sign up for our weekly email for the North Texas news you need to know.
