"The problem is not that we need a plan for a revenue stream - it is that our elected officials have no rational basis upon which we can argue the merits of increasing funding for bicycling infrastructure."
Duh. Bicycling is primarily a municipal issue. Short distance transportation and all that. Long pointed out on this very list. However, I will concede that it is seen as a religious issue on the left (a smaller component of the social misjustice movement), therefore all levels of government are required to foot the bill fo it. Not going to happen for obvious reasons, democracy being one of them. Funding is an easy fix in Madison; shift money from fringe bus service to bicycle initiatives. Too many buses only running at 20% capacity and all that. Everyone sees it and scratches their head. We all know why that won't happen, "That's racist!". Once again the left shoots itself in the foot. Signed the Outlaw Biker On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 9:21 AM, Matthew Logan <[email protected]> wrote: > The core problem since November 2010 is not a lack of funding or planning > for transportation - The Governor and Legislature have had no problem > making > money show up for highway expansions (that primarily benefit people in the > suburbs of Milwaukee), even when facing large deficits that are otherwise > used to justify large cuts elsewhere in the budget. The problem is that the > people making the decisions do not believe it is the role of the state to > provide funding for bicycling, while at the same time, clinging to > 1970's-era thinking about the value of highways. > > The Governor has stated that until all the roads are fixed, bicycle > facilities will have to wait. Of course, by "fixed" he means, enough money > lavished on them to send a signal to businesses (the few that directly > benefit from highway spending) that they should consider relocating to > Wisconsin. The Governor has also effectively said that the people of > Wisconsin have chosen to drive, so that is where all the money should go - > to infrastructure that directly benefits the payers of gas tax (which means > motorists). The Governor and GOP have been promoting the meme that the > transportation fund has been raided, and needs to be repaid. This, despite > the fact that the LFB reported a net $314 million transfer from the General > Fund to Transportation since the "raids" began in 2003. > > These beliefs displayed by the Governor and legislature are at odds with > the > reality of AADT trend lines looking more flat - a fact now acknowledged by > AASHTO. > > The problem is not that we need a plan for a revenue stream - it is that > our > elected officials have no rational basis upon which we can argue the merits > of increasing funding for bicycling infrastructure. They live in a world > where economically productive highways have been cheated out of their due > by > special interest groups like teachers and bicyclists. They live in a world > where fairness dictates repayment for this perceived wrong. Until that > belief system changes, planning will have no effect. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bikies [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry > D > Nelson > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 7:02 AM > To: 'William Hauda'; [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax > > In my observations and study regarding the construction of public works > from > Rome to the present time (I apologize if that sounds pompous: it is my > hobby), there are periods of time when funding and resources are just not > made available to construct needed improvements. But, wise people plan for > the future. For example, the interstate highway system planning took place > decades before there was a President Eisenhower to implement the plan. > Planning is relatively inexpensive. > > Bill, please plan and propose. > > For my part, I'd like to consider moving the responsibility for state bike > routes from the WDNR to the WIDOT, and recognize that their construction > and > maintenance are transportation corridors/modes. > > Ok, I am off my soap box :>) > > > Larry D. Nelson, P.E. > > PO Box 199 > 4180 Wilson Road > Dodgeville, WI 53533 > > 608 630 6532 (C) > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bikies [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > William > Hauda > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2015 7:01 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Bikies] Iowa Raises Gas Tax > > Mike, Iowa also has in place a constitutional amendment that earmarks > a > portion of any future sales tax increase for things like trails. Problem > is, > there is no enthusiasm to increase the sales tax. > I'm currently researching some policy that I think has hampered bicycling > in > Wisconsin and think I will have a recommendation for either the next > meeting > of the Non-motorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council or the > Bike Fed, where the Advocacy Committee we served together on developing > things like Complete Streets is, I'm told by the powers that be, about to > be > reconstituted. Where I am going might not only be politically palatable to > a > conservative administration, for reasons other than bicycling, but set us > up > with a guaranteed source of funding. Where I am headed will involve a major > paradigm shift. Got my fingers crossed. > Bill > > On 2/25/2015 6:03 PM, Michael Rewey wrote: > > With bi-partisan and governor's support Iowa just raised their gas tax > > a whopping 10 cents per gallon. > > > > Too bad that could not happen here so we can get balanced > > transportation instead of just building for cars and trucks with bond > > dollars. But of course a governor who is running for national office > doesn't dare raise any taxes. > > > > We'll have to pay more for trail passes and state park passes to name > > a few, but those are "user fees". In reality gas tax is a user fee also. > You only pay if you use it. Frustrating.... > > > > Mike Rewey > > _______________________________________________ > > Bikies mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > http://www.avast.com > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >
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