Senate amendment introduced to prohibit stimulus spending on bicycle infrastructure!
From BikePortland.org:
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) introduced an amendment last night that would prohibit funding of “bicycle routes” and paths from the economic stimulus package that’s working its way through Capitol Hill right now.
Quick action is very important! Call or email your Senators and let them know you oppose this amendment and ask them to oppose it as well!
In the comments we also noted that Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) also opposes bicycling and walking infrastructure. This page also includes some sample responses which you can include in your email.
As a person who has been living car-free for a year and a half (I have a car. I just haven’t bothered taking it out of the garage in that time) I felt the need to contact my Senators about this.
With the economy in the state it’s in, more and more people are going to be forced to find alternative transportation. By blocking funds from bike path development this measure will just ensure that the increasing volume of bike traffic will have increasing incidents with automobile traffic… and we know that bikes always lose.
While I can only speculate on DeMint’s motives, I am sure that he does not have the best interests of the American people in mind. If people might be forced out of their cars and onto bikes, why not make it safe for those people?
http://t4america.org/
Transportation for America has an auto generated letters.
FYI this amendment did not make into the final bill. Thanks to anyone who called their Senators! Stay tuned to the blog or http://t4america.org for continual coverage on the stimulus package in relation to alternative transportation funding, bicycle included.