Helotes Heritage Association
I'm not sure how much of this has popped up in the San Antonio news, but I thought I would post this link here due to the potential impact on local biking in the Helotes/grey Forest/Leon Springs area of San Antonio. Walmart is proposing to put a store on the corner of Bandera Rd & Scenic Loop Rd- a popular intersection for cyclists (in a quaint, quiet town, I might add). Not only would the noise and pollution of a walmart (think of all those cars, and the lines of traffic) destroy the area aesthetically, but it would also be a huge safety issue, with all those cars turning in and out of the store, and racing along scenic loop road from Leon Springs to Helotes. Currently, this is a great ride- low traffic, and scenic, winding roads. But if Walmart gets their way, and puts a store in at the corner of Scenic Loop and Bandera in Helotes, that whole stretch of road between Leon Springs, Grey Forest, and Helotes is going to see a significant increase in the speed and volume of traffic, and will likely make it too unsafe for cyclists.
I urge all San Antonio cyclists to pay attention to this issue- it will seriously impact the availability of cycling in that neck of the woods.