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Missouri Bicycle Federation
4 FEB 2008: Kit Bond sponsoring megahighway/anti bicycle-walking-transit amendmentsAdvocacy Alerts article |
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posted by Brent Hugh at 2/04/2009 11:50:00 AM
Update 6 Feb 2009: The Bond amendments and the Boxer/Inhofe amendments all appear to be dead now--thanks to a public outcry that reached the ears of Senator Boxer in California and Senators Bond and McCaskill in Missouri. Thanks to all who took time to contact the senators on this issue--your input really did make a difference this time.
It ain't over 'til it's over--meaning (in this case) that these ideas could re-surface any time before the bill is finally agreed to and passed by both the House & Senate--which should happen some time the week of Feb 9th. But for now these amendments appear to be dead. Our own Missouri Senator Kit Bond is sponsoring or co-sponsoring a series of amendments to the stimulus bill to - Take up to $50 billion more of stimulus money - Take away up to $8 billion currently slated for transit - Put all $58 billion in a special "highway-only" fund - Say it is AOK to just go ahead and use that new money to build a whole lot of new highways without worrying about bicycling, walking, transit--or even maintenance of the current system These proposals may come to a vote as soon as TODAY in the U.S. Senate. --> Please take 2 minutes to send your senators a message Senator Bond needs to find out that he will lose votes back at home when he makes these kind of proposals. Missouri Senator McCaskill is a true swing vote on this type of issue--so it's very important to let her know that Missourians support spending our transportation dollars in a far smarter way. --> And you can contact both senators in 2 minutes here Tell your senators that road and highway repair is important but we don't need a huge amount of highway expansion now. We need more rail, transit, bicycling and walking now so people can save money, become energy independent and have a cleaner environment. As it is, they are barely funding bicycling and walking and giving some to rail and transit. Worst of all, $8 billion of the proposal is actually to take money away from transit proposals already in the stimulus package and move it to building new highways. Right now Missouri's transit systems are dealing with record-high usage while facing major budget cuts. Shouldn't that be a signal to *increase* transit funding to meet demand? More info/details about the issues We are urging senators to fight amendments that would raid high-speed rail and turn the recovery into a slush fund for highways. The Senate will finalize their proposal this week. We have a real chance to create millions of jobs, reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, protect our environment, and make America competitive again in world markets. I want to see streets that are safe for pedestrians and cyclists, high-speed trains, updated metro lines...not billions of dollars dumped into expanding the old highway system! It's up to you and me to make sure that the Senate doesn't just write another blank-check bailout. We need to throw away the old playbook and start making transportation investments that really count, but we have to start now. --> Please, join me and write your senators today! Thanks so much for your help! Recent Posts in Advocacy Alerts
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I am starting to get this feeling that bicycling, like race relations and other issues is going to take place in small changes as people age and die and are replaced by others.
Both Claire and Kit are from the generation where an automobile was really the the king of the country. They were idolized and were seen as the key to financial success.
There are plenty of us who see things totally differently now but I am seeing it more and more in younger Americans. Some of us even have a real distain for automobiles that you just dont see in 50 and 60 somethings.
When you look at our two senators you certainly do not see people who have EVER ridden a bicycle for transportation. We know that Kit walks but I'm sure he does so only recreationally. Both probably do not *really* believe that an automobile can be replaced by a car for the majority of our trips. Bicycles are seen as a recreational toy that only a few die hard hippies would ever try to use on the roadway. We are the ultimate special interest group and are seen as a group to be ignored for the fiscal health of the country.
Its about time Kit retires. Its too bad he'll still be there long enough to try and derail our efforts here.
We're probably stuck with Clair for awhile. Maybe we can get enough people to speak up to her about these issues that she can be brougt on board
We should start inviting them to our towns and try to get them to show up to bike club meetings or family group rides.
Web link: http://www.bicyclefrenzy.com/category/bicycle-advocacy/< /i>
(Though please keep those emails & phone calls going until we get confirmation--it doesn't hurt and these same ideas may re-surface in other ways before we're done.)
More info at the web site below. They are specifically citing the fact that bicycle, pedestrian, and transit funding was omitted for causing the public outcry that killed the amendments.
That's a stinging rebuke to the 'highways only' crowd and a huge incentive for them to work to integrate realistic bicycling, walking, and transit funding into future transportation funding.
Web link: http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/05/senates-50-billion-hig hway-giveaway-nearly-dead/
You just cheered me up. I was getting ready to quit my job, buy an suv and just give in...........well not really but I was a little down about this until now.
ha ha
-RJ