This is from the League of American Bicyclists
Well, we knew September was going to be busy…and sure enough we’re seeing the
opening moves in a major attack on funding for bike projects and programs.
This evening, the President talks to the nation about jobs and infrastructure,
and he’ll likely repeat his plea for Congress to pass a “clean” extension to
the Federal transportation program. The House Republican response includes
an explicit demand that funding for bicycling and walking infrastructure be
stripped out of the program.
Contact your Senators now to save bike funding.
Quick bit of background: the current transportation bill that funds highway,
transit and bike/pedestrian improvements across the country basically expires
at the end of this month. Congress either has to write a new law (highly
unlikely) or agree to continue or extend the existing program for a set period
until they write a new long-term law for the next five or six years. And, they
can either pass a “clean” extension – not changing anything, just continuing
what we’ve had since 2005 – or they might try to change a few things along the
way.
Senator Coburn (OK) has said he won’t agree to an extension unless funding for
bike projects is stripped out. Representatives Boehner and Cantor have
basicallysaid the same thing in the House. Yes, folks, they are willing to hold
the entire transportation program hostage – infrastructure spending and
millions of real jobs – to get rid of bike projects.
Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved
theirextension bill. It’s clean. Most likely, Coburn will try to force a vote
on the floor of the Senate next week to strip out the popular transportation
enhancements program…which funds the lion’s share of bike and pedestrian
projects around the country. So, if you’ve ridden on a bike trail or bike
lanes, or used a bike rack on the front of a bus in the last few years…the
chances are you’ve seen the program in action. And if Coburn, Cantor and
Boehner succeed, we’ll see a dramatic drop-off in bicycling safety improvements.
Why would they do this, I hear you ask. After all, bike projects create jobs;
bike projects improve safety; more bicyclists means less congestion, cleaner
air, less oil consumption, fitter and healthier American’s. It’s baffling. It’s
not like the transportation program is going to be cut by the amount they strip
out for bike funding…no, the money still gets spent but it will likely buy us
another mile or two of freeway instead of thousands of small-scale,
labor-intensive bicycling and walking improvements.
Contact your Senators now to save bike funding.
Equally, the enhancements program is hardly eating up a massive chunk of the
transportation program. Even though Cantor and Boehner like to leave the
impression that it’s ten percent of the transportation program…it isn’t. Not
even close. It’s ten percent of one of dozens of programs that make up the
overall program. In fact, enhancements account for barely one percent of
Federal transportation funds.
Another myth you’ll hear – most likely from Coburn’s camp – is that states will
still be able to spend their funds on bicycling projects if they choose to do
so. While that’s technically true, the reality is that most states will stop
spending a dime on bike projects overnight. Utah has already stopped their
program in anticipation; they just can’t wait!
We have to stop them. We need to save cycling! Go to our on-line advocacy
center right now to contact your members of Congress. Tell them you support
continued dedicated funding for bicycling and walking projects, and you support
a clean extension to the transportation bill.
ANDY CLARKE
LEAGUE PRESIDENT
Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004
after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the
various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for
bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director.
Steve Meiers
608 241-3460
158 Dixon St
Madison, WI 53704
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