The Blanco Blue Bike Project

Running an errand at lunch?

Why not enjoy a bit of play while taking care of business by hopping on a Blue Bike and zipping on over?

In Blanco as a visitor?

Engage in the freedom of biking and enjoy Blanco's greatest assets—its natural beauty and rivers.

Biking creates endorphins which combat depression and gives the body additional oxygen...and the radiant twinkles in the eyes when we are ALIVE.

The Blue Bike Project is the recent brainstorm of Carrie "the blue bike lady" of Blanco, Texas.

And "storm" it is; Carrie is extremely high energy (must be all that bike riding - she doesn't own a car), and persuasive, as well. She has gotten the Blanco City Council behind her, and convinced the local hardware store to donate supplies.

Here's the plan: People donate unused/unwanted bikes, they are repaired (if necessary), painted periwinkle blue, labeled as a Blanco Blue Bike (complete with legal disclaimer), and set out at for FREE use at one of several locations around Blanco.

The Blue Bikes are never to be locked, although if you need to park one while you're using it to run errands, there is an "IN USE" tag. They are meant to be used by local citizens as well as tourists and other visitors in Blanco.

Carrie was inspired by the Austin Yellow Bike Project (YBP), a community supported ALL-VOLUNTEER 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing human-powered transportation for the people of Austin, running a community bike shop, and educating kids and adults (They figure people-power is a way to limit the traffic congestion of their rapidly growing city, while providing a sane, inexpensive, and sustainable alternative to the reliance on motor vehicles).

The Blue Bike Project also promotes cleaner air, land, and water, while encouraging people to meet their transportation needs through an active lifestyle and community participation. Free community bikes can promote more efficient transportation, build hope and trust, assist in community policing, burn calories, and get unused bikes under needy riders.

This type of yellow (or green if you're in Denton, or blue) bike project is taking hold around the world. Think about it: many large cities have as many or more bicycles on the road as motor vehicles. It relieves traffic congestion and the attached pollution; and a bike is less expensive to buy, and less expensive to operate.

Watch this video to see what Paris, France is doing with their bike project

It will be a long time before the small town of Blanco is the size of Tokyo, so traffic congestion isn't so much an issue yet.

However, parking is already becoming a problem.

One of the reasons that small communities lose their historic buildings and other character-laden scenery in Town Central is to make more room for cars and trucks. Wouldn't it be great if we could keep our small-town integrity?

After all, that's why most of us moved here, right?

Besides being useful for running errands in town, riding a bike is a wonderful way to take in the scenery. It is quicker than walking, yet slow enough to be able to look around. The best cities in the world are the ones that promote bikes as a viable transportation way of life. Returning to a "village way of living"...and slowing down!

To find out more about Blanco Blue Bikes (or to donate), use the contact information at the bottom of this page to get hold of Carrie.

But be forewarned: her enthusiasm is contagious!

The Blanco Blue Bike Project has received its first bike. (Thank you, Tom Philips for the donation.) Soon there will be free Blue Bikes available for Blanco, never to be locked nor taken from community use. FREE bikes encourage bikes instead of cars, even though we LOVE our cars!

Our project promotes cleaner air, land, and water, while encouraging people to meet their transportation needs through an active lifestyle and community participation. Free community bikes can: promote more efficient transportation; build hope and trust; assist in community policing; burn calories; get unused bikes under needy riders.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO RIDE A BIKE, YOU RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK. NOTE THE RELEASE OF LIABILITY CLAUSE. "RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK" stickers will be put on all the bikes.

Safety is a concern for many...remember when using these bikes show respect for others and ride defensively. If there are people on the sidewalk, stay off with bikes. If the road is busy with traffic, change roads or get on the sidewalk, if appropriate (Local bike maps will be available soon).

Please understand that many drivers are unaccustomed to dealing with cyclists, and we need to be considerate of cars and their way of existing.

Also, if children or adults would like to use BIKE HELMETS...STA-BILT Hardware has them for sale (as well as bike repair and accessories.)

Many of us have dreamed of living in Blanco since we were small children. We love the Blanco River, the slow pace, and most of all, the FREEDOM to have a community where we still can ride a bike as a way of life. We cherish the old timers who have preserved their way of life and the ability to get closer to God through nature.

Most people get out of the cities to get away from cars, noise, electronic frequency transmissions and the insanity of road rage.

We here in Blanco have the opportunity to preserve the very thing most cities in the world have lost and will never regain — a quiet, natural way of living.

Enjoy it NOW!

Doesn't matter how old you are or where you are from... hop on a BLANCO BLUE BIKE - laugh a little - and cherish God's greatest gift to us...beautiful, green earth; clean, fresh air; and flowing, clean rivers.

Many concerns have been expressed about theft and road rage for bikes.

Bikes and cars can share the road companionably if each mode of transportation respects the other for its benefits to our rural way of life.

As Blanco Blue Bikers, we stay out of the way and put safety and friendliness first. We hold the vision of Blanco Blue Bike Project as a safe and beautiful way to preserve the safety and benevolent ways of Blanco.

[Update]The Blanco Blue Bike Project now has the support of the Blanco City Council

The city is providing a building for the project at the corner of Second Street and Cherry Street (all bike donations should be left at this new location).

Jeff Renard, our "bike repair consultant," is now heading the Blue Bike Project. Before he moved to Blanco, Jeff was involved with the Austin Yellow Bike Project mentioned above. He comes to us with lots of experience and great ideas.

Jeff presented a prototype bike rack he designed - it looks like it came out of an old Western and should have a horse tied to it - to the City Council. Our hopes are that the city will install these bike racks around town for locals and visitors to use, and not only for Blue Bikes.

The "historically appropriate" rack is made of steel reinforced cedar posts, to be concreted into the ground. It serves the needs of expensive bicycles, as well as ordinary ones, and the bikes can be secured if desired.

If you would like to donate a bike, bicycle repair, or have any other questions or suggestions for the Blanco Blue Bike Project, Please call Jeff Renard at (830) 868-2438.

Green Living - Hill Country Style
Green living is the best way to preserve what we love about Blanco, Texas. Let's keep the Hill Country "green."

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