|
Missouri Bicycle Federation
Missouri Bicycle News ArticleBicycle-related news stories from around the region. |
|
| MBF Home Page > Missouri bicycle news > Article |
|
Track current legislation Advocacy: Missouri Complete Streets PetitionAdvocacy: Bike/Ped in MoDOT funding?Advocacy: Bicycling License Plate Join Advocate Donate Maps Trails Shops Clubs News Rides Safety Tips Links Search SiteMap iCal Rss For Board Members Contact
Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
Post Office Box 104871 Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871 MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed .org 
|
Please send suggestions for Bicycle News items to webmaster@mobikefed.org
Click here to receive Bicycle News items by email  News items represent the views of the original writer or publisher, and not necessarily those of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
posted by Brent Hugh at 2/10/2009 08:45:00 AM
Several national bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups are organizing a coordinated "Call Congress" advocacy event starting later today, Tuesday, Feb 10th, 2009.
The event is designed to harness the power of millions of us around the country who believe that bicycling and walking should get a fair share of billions of dollars of transportation funds proposed in the pending economic recovery bill before Congress. It's designed to give a constructive outlet to those of us who are worried about the effects of billions of dollars of "highway-only" funding--most of it to be spent according to priorities of traffic engineers at state DOTs--if Congress does not put some reasonable parameters on how that money is spent. If we keep spending transportation money the way we have done the last 75 years, we'll get a lot more of a transportation system just like the one we have now--one that is not accommodating for bicycling and walking. Keep in mind that federal money currently goes to fund most of the main streets and highways in every city and town in the U.S. So we're just talking about funding for rural interstates here--we're talking about the funding for most of the main streets and highways in every city in the U.S. In short, we're talking about spending billions of new dollars, and spending them in exactly the way that resulted in the roads in your city or town that are exactly the worst, least inviting, and most dangerous for bicycling and walking. We need to put a stop to that old-fashioned way of doing things right now. If you want to get an early look at the issue, take a look at the League of American Bicyclists "Contact Congress" page on the issue here. If you'd like to prime your phone or fax machine, here is the complete list of Missouri members of Congress along with phone, fax, and online email submission pages: Message: "I support a fair share for bicycling and walking in transportation funding. Please support Transportation Enhancements in the Economic Recovery bill when it goes to conference committee." Recent Posts in Missouri Bicycle News
Archives of Missouri Bicycle NewsMBF Home Page |
More bike related funds in transportation spending is valid and worth pursuing, but not in the midst of a recession or in the middle of this already porked up spending spree.
Personally although I'm an avid cyclist I'd rather see the entire thing go into education, with teachers making 6 figure salaries.