Sign a petition to Congress for bike/ped in national
infrastructure bill
|
Brent Hugh
|
Dec 04, 2008 16:53 PST
|
Congress and the president are debating a huge economic stimulus
package. A major part of that, pushed by DOTs from across the
country, will be funding for roads and bridges.
This presents both an opportunity and threat for creating a better
bicycling and walking infrastructure across the U.S.
You can make your voice be heard in support of better bicycling and
walking infrastructure, on a national scale, by signing the petition
to Congress:
http://support.railstotrails.org/recovery
This is an opportunity of a generation to move bicycling and walking
forward nationwide--because, as we have found out in Missouri,
getting the federal government to work in support of bicycling and
walking helps moves our politically insulated Missouri bureaucrats,
who remain stuck in 1940s transportation thinking unless something
like this comes along to make them move forward.
It presents a threat, because if hundreds of billions are poured into
road and highway infrastructure--omitting bicycling and walking, as
has been consistently done for the past 75 years, an infrastructure
unfriendly to walking and bicycling will literally be poured into place.
And will last another 50 years.
It only takes a minute to speak up to Congress by signing the petition:
http://support.railstotrails.org/recovery
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, in partnership with Thunderhead Alliance
and America Bikes, has collected a list of hundreds of ready-to-go
active transportation projects from communities across the country.
These projects would create new jobs and revitalize communities by
funding trails, bike lanes, sidewalks and other infrastructure.
The MIssouri Bicycle Federation has spearheaded the effort, working
with these national groups, to identify a list of Missouri-specific
bike/ped projects that are included on this list.
This would meet the ultimate goal of the recovery package: creating
immediate jobs. Additionally, such an investment strategy would
provide both immediate economic benefits and lasting positive change.
The long-term benefits are many: promoting local businesses along
active transportation corridors; reducing health care costs; and
curbing climate change emissions and oil dependency. These projects
would also establish the principle that active transportation
infrastructure is a wise, efficient and desirable public investment.
The economic stimulus package is likely to go forward, with or
without the bicycle and pedestrian projects. Your voice helps make
sure they are included:
http://support.railstotrails.org/recovery
--Brent
------------------------------------------------------------
The Missouri Bicycle Federation is a coalition of bicycling, walking,
running, and trails organizations and businesses representing over
15,000 Missourians and speaking for the 2 million Missourians who
bicycle regularly and the 5.8 million who walk.
The Missouri Bicycle Federation is working to realize its vision of
active transportation in Missouri by creating a world-class bicycle
and pedestrian network in Missouri, building a movement around
walking and bicycling, encouraging more walking and bicycling, and
increasing safety for all road users.
www.MoBikeFed.org/vision
====================================================
Dr. Brent Hugh, LCI #1335 Dire-@MoBikeFed.org
Executive Director --- Missouri Bicycle Federation
www.MoBikeFed.org 816-695-6736
====================================================
|
|
 |
|
