Good news in Milwaukee after a long fight. Mike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BIKE RACKS ON BUSES IN 2009
After a two and a half year campaign and three vetos by the County
Executive,
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors includes a Bike Racks on Buses
program in County Budget in a vote of 16-3. As a result, Milwaukee County
Transit System expects to have bike racks on buses this spring.
By including the Bike Racks on Buses program in this budget cycle,
Milwaukee
County Transit System was able to leverage Transit Enhancement dollars made
available by the Federal Transit Administration. The Federal Transit
Administration,
which administers the Transit Enhancement program, typically reimburses
projects
requiring a 20% local match, yet in an effort to update all bus fleets
nation-wide, they
have lowered the local match to 5% for all Bike Rack on Bus programs! Thus,
by
including the Bike Rack on Bus program in the budget, MCTS is able to
implement the
program this spring for only 5% of the total cost, $32,500.
Throughout the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin's campaign, the program has
received
overwhelming support. Implementing a Bike Racks on Buses program was the
number
one suggestion given to SEWRPC in December 2006 during a public input
meeting;
over 1600 signatures from residents were gathered on petitions; many
letters of
support including support from Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Ann Beier the City
of
Milwaukee's Director of Sustainability, and Robert Harris Regional Director
of the State
of WI Department of Health and Family Services were received. The program
has
garnered much support because of the many benefits it will produce. In
another letter
of support Barry Barker, Executive Director of the Transit Authority of
River City states,
"Putting bike racks on our buses has proven to be one of the most cost
effective, and
easy to implement, strategies we have ever used to increase ridership,
improve our
image and serve our community."
Bicycle Federation of WI Program Manager, Shea Schachameyer commented,
"When
I helped the BFW launch the campaign two and half years ago I was routinely
met with
people who on one hand wished me luck, but at the same time told me that it
was
never going to happen in Milwaukee. While it was definitely challenging, it
was exciting
to work on a campaign that had so many cards stacked against it. I view the
campaign's success as yet another example of the power of grassroots
organizing; it
was because of the broad base of support which the campaign attracted and
the
BFW's ability to mobilize those supporters on a dime's notice which has led
the
program to be implemented this spring."
In the next few months, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin will work with
MCTS in
implementing the program, specifically by helping to develop a marketing
and outreach
plan.
For additional information or a statement contact:
Shea Schachameyer, Program Manager
office: (414)431-1761 | cell: (414) 292-6033 | [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
www.BFW.org
###
--
Shea Schachameyer
Bicycle Federation of WI
(414)431-1761 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Proud Member of Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee. You can support The
BFW by payroll deduction through a Community Shares campaign in your
workplace:
www.MilwaukeeShares.org
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