Blog
Horrible Surface Transportation Bill Unveiled Today — Bicycle Programs Eliminated
Moments ago, Congressman John Mica (R-FL) announced the introduction of the American Energy and Infra
structure Jobs Act. The proposed bill eliminates dedicated funding for bicycling and walking as we feared, and it goes much further and systematically removes bicycling from the Federal transportation program. It basically eliminates our status and standing in the planning and design of our transportation system—a massive step backwards for individuals, communities and our nation. It’s a step back to a 1950s highway- and auto-only program that makes no sense in the 21st century.
The bill (soon to be available on transportation.house.gov) reverses 20 years of progress by:
• destroying Transportation Enhancements by making it optional;
• repealing the Safe Routes to School program, reversing years of progress in creating safe ways for kids to walk and ride bicycles to school;
• allowing states to build bridges without safe access for pedestrians and bicycles;
• eliminating bicycle and pedestrian coordinators in state DOTs; and
• eliminating language that insures that rumble strips “do not adversely affect the safety or mobility of bicyclists, pedestrians or the disabled.”
On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee will mark-up the bill and Representatives Petri (R-WI) and Johnson (R-IL) will sponsor an amendment that restores dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Representatives Petri and Johnson can only be successful if everyone with a stake in safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways contacts their representative today.
Because of these urgent new developments, and the vital importance of a HUGE turnout on Capitol Hill in March, the National Bike Summit early bird registration deadline has been extended to Feb 20. We need every single cyclist in Washington, D.C. that the city can hold (and that’s thousands …). Register today!
Stay in touch by visiting bikeleague.org and americabikes.org for background and breaking news.
Andy Clarke
League President
Andy 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. Before joining the League in February 2003, Clarke was on contract to provide technical assistance to the highly regarded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center on site at the Federal Highway Administration. He is on the Board of Directors for America Bikes, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals.
Subscribe
January 31st, 2012 at 7:28 pm
is this federal?? who do who contact about reversing this? I will send e-mails to whoever I can!!
January 31st, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Really something that’s inexpensive, will work toward energy independence and health for our folks young and old is struck down by the same people who can’t get the budget right and timely in the first place. Well maybe we’ll just have to clog up the roads so they can keep yelling at us. Hope when they do this they think of their own children and elders.
February 1st, 2012 at 4:52 am
[...] House Rep. Peter DeFazio in the background). Little did we know Mica would unveil a bill advocates say eliminates bike funding as we know [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 8:51 am
[...] League of American Bicyclists Issues Call to Action as GOP Tries to Cut All Major Bike Programs [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 10:01 am
[...] such communities are all the rage in America. So naturally John Mica (R-sprawl) introduced a bill yesterday that puts those dirty socialist pedestrians in their place, which is on a narrow strip of grass [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 10:50 am
[...] [Continue reading ...] [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 11:09 am
As much as I love cycling, the fact is that we are broke. get a handle on the out of control spending in other areas of government and then maybe we can afford to do these projects.
February 1st, 2012 at 11:13 am
Jeff – I totally get that. Here’s the rub – getting rid of the 1.5% of the bill thats for bike/ped doesn’t affect the bottom line at all. We’re not asking for more money or new money. This is money that for better or worse is going to be spent anyway on transportation – we just think there’s a smarter way to go than than just building more and more highways that don’t serve local needs or the majority of the population most of the time!
February 1st, 2012 at 11:14 am
Focus should be getting federal government out of transportation such as possible. Even with the very few projects it supports which are at least nominally positive, the focus invariably shifts to bringing money into the stay, not efficiency. Solution isn’t to include cycling in the pork, but to get rid of the pork. Bike and pre infrastructure is really a local issue.
February 1st, 2012 at 11:27 am
[...] the League of American Bicyclists: The proposed bill eliminates dedicated funding for bicycling and walking as we feared, and it goes [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 11:58 am
I agree, as a Libertarian, the Federal government has no place in local transportation issues like cycling, sidewalks, and foot paths. Like it or not, it does have a place in a national highway system per the constitution. Also, we’re broke.
February 1st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
[...] “It would reverse all the progress we have made in the past 20 years…horrible.” (League of American Bicyclists) [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 2:37 pm
[...] The League of American Bicyclists helps you contact your representative through their website. It’s super easy and won’t take more than a few minutes. Here’s the link: http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/01/horrible-surface-transportation-bill-unveiled-today-bicycle-… [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 2:39 pm
[...] more at Streetsblog DC, Transit for Livable Communities, Bicycle Alliance of MN, and/or League of American Bicyclists. Contact your legislators now – the League of American Bicyclists will even help you find [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Irrational is the only word that comes to mind. In a time of diminished expectations this Congress completely removes funding for the sort of facilities and programs that support the growing number of working Americans who have no choice to park their cars. Plans drafted under this legislation will not help overcome the obesity epidemic and the mountain of diseases associated with dependence upon motorized transportation and do not provide any support to those too old or too young to drive. Freedom of Association is guaranteed, but you better keep that car running or you will be isolated by this government.
February 1st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
[...] * The “transportation enhancement program,” which sets aside a percentage of transportation funding for bike and pedestrian infrastructure, disappears. States would have the option of spending money on these types of projects, but would no longer be required to. (Here’s the response from the American League of Bicyclists.) [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 9:32 pm
[...] draft federal transportation bill that was unveiled yesterday by Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee John Mica (R-FL) [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 9:46 pm
[...] federal bicycle-related funds have been caught in the political cross-fire. I guess I have to go to Washington in March. Will someone please inform our politicians that they are capable of ethical choices, and that [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 10:21 pm
[...] “Horrible” is how the League of American Bicyclists feels about it, and former House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chair Jim Oberstar told Politico this morning that the bill has been “hijacked” by “fringe policymakers.” [...]
February 1st, 2012 at 11:45 pm
As an avid cyclist and walker in the Nations Capitol area this law is absurd. Quit trying to get rid of our individuality, get some brains you moron politicians, We need less government and lower congressional payroll not assinine laws.
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 am
Further proof our government will claim to reduce fuel dependency but will only continue to force us into using this overpriced and overtaxed commodity to go about our daily lives. I once lived in England where I could walk/ride/take public transportation and never needed a car. I can’t live without one here because the infrastructure is just not there. There’s too much money in gas and oil lining the pockets of our politicians.
February 2nd, 2012 at 7:14 am
A simple 14 mile route to and from work n a bicycle is negatively and positively affected by past years of
federal investment trends and design requirements. So, local cycling is affected by federal transportation
dollars and I think it shameful and wrong that the conveyance of all users is not addressed in this new
transportation bill.
I relate to the “We’re broke” mentality in this way: In 2000 I was broke. My sacrifice was to go from a two
car to one car family. THe idea was to save money from the extra car expenses. But, my wife intervened. I
invested in a $500 bicycle at a time I was trying to cut expenses.
The result is I still have that car today, it has 24,000 fewer miles on it. Versus had I continued to use it
all these years it would have required replacing at a cost of $15,000 maybe.
The investment in a little money upfront caused a bottom line savings in the long term.
So too is the investment in active modes of transportation the same. Lots of comparisons are made between
family belt tightening and government belt tightening. Proof then that saving money is not done by just
cutting expenses blindly.
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I wrote a book about how a group of ordinary Florida citizens took on the biggest city in Volusia and high-powered landowners- and WON.
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm
see http://www.thestryofthornby.com
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:30 pm
“Poor México, so far from God, and so close to the United States of América”… :S
Safe Routes to School was one of the things latinamerican countries shoud reproduce, and now it’s almost gone.
Fight! There are lot’s of ways and diciplines that demonstrate that cycling and walking is not just desirable, but URGENT.
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:59 pm
[...] your Representative via The League of American Bicyclist This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← Be Realistic With Your [...]
February 2nd, 2012 at 5:34 pm
[...] “Horrible” is how a League of American Bicyclists feels about it, and former House Transportation Infrastructure Committee Chair Jim Oberstar told Politico this morning that a check has been “hijacked” by “fringe policymakers.” [...]
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Find the opportunity here. Trade off main artery bike routes as in banned roads, for routes inside each block. This needs fenced openings on private property to get fairly striaght routes. Why not a minimal fee to entice rental income of the openings? Perhaps 80% less danger, noise & inhaled road dust. Get that concept & consider win-win rules. I ride ebike year road as primary trans, its nasty for me & the cars. Bob
February 3rd, 2012 at 8:19 am
[...] remove freedom of transportation choice from the U.S. citizenry. It attacks public transit, bicycling, and walking like no bill ever [...]
February 3rd, 2012 at 6:10 pm
[...] cycling and pedestrian organizations are up in arms — and rightfully so — about this unprovoked attack on average Americans, it’s worth noting that this bill has no chance of becoming law with a Democratic majority in [...]
February 3rd, 2012 at 11:45 pm
[...] option of spending money on these types of projects, but would no longer be required to. As the League of American Bicyclists commented, “it basically eliminates the status and standing <of the bicycling community> in [...]
February 4th, 2012 at 6:20 am
[...] Surface transportation bill [...]
February 7th, 2012 at 3:25 am
Really nice layout and excellent written content, hardly anything else we require
.
February 8th, 2012 at 5:19 am
Its uncompromising to find revealing and explicit info but here I respected…
February 8th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
good blog keep up the good work! ‘
see the best MLM here
February 9th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
I love reading through your blog
February 10th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Genuinely revealing appreciate it, I believe your audience would most likely want way more well written articles along these lines continue the great effort.
February 11th, 2012 at 6:13 am
[...] you haven’t contacted your congressman about the horrible Surface transportation bill , do it [...]
February 11th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
When i originally commented I clicked the -Notify me whenever new remarks tend to be added- checkbox and today each time a opinion is actually additional I get four email messages with the exact same opinion. Is there in whatever way you can eliminate me from that support? Thanks!