I remember the original red bike program, even did some intermittent volunteer work getting junkers ready to ride. I occasionally rode red bikes (despite having my own bikes). They were somewhat handy and I was always pleased to see someone else riding them around.
I paid real estate taxes then, and even more so now. In these times of economic stress, all of the regional taxing authorities raised taxes. Ouch! The higher taxes combined with a right-wing noise machine helped elect a tea-bagger Republican Gestapo State and Federal government and could tip the vote against many other progressive, needed programs locally, regionally or nationally in the coming years. (The RTAs going to try to get a ¼¢ sales tax referendum to help fund needed bus service - I can hear the gears grinding already on that one). Giving the right-wingnut wackos another reason to say see, I told you so, those liberals are at it again at this time is just plain stoopid. Instead of spending $100,000 city money this year, $100,000 the following year, and another $100,000 the year after that for shiny-new credit-card only leisure Trek bikes, lets just revive the original red bike program at half the cost or less. Local bike shops and volunteer organizations could put together a proposal Or perhaps keep Arthur Rosss position in the city budget and fund a bike/ped manager AND a bike/ped coordinator city position instead?
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