16 July 2003: Federal funding for bicycling in danger for 2004; vote scheduled for July 21st

A subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to eliminate the funding for Enhancements in the federal transportation bill.

Enhancements funds most bicycle and pedestrian projects across the U.S.

The Internation Mountain Biking Association has a good summary of the issue and what you can do about it.

This is a great opportunity to (again) let your elected representatives know that you support bicycling.

Here is a summary of the issue from BikeLeague News:

The House Transportation Appropriations subcommittee recently cut federal funding for a majority of bicycle projects for FY 2004 by prohibiting funds from being used for transportation enhancements. They have also severely cut or eliminated funding for a number of other bicycling sources, such as the Transportation and Community Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP).

The full Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on this measure as early as Monday, July 21. The League is requesting all bicyclists contact their Members of Congress and urge them to restore funding for bicycling in the Transportation Appropriations Bill for FY 2004. Regardless of whether your member is on the Appropriations Committee or not, it is imperative that ALL Members of Congress realize how important enhancements and TCSP funding is to bicyclists. Not only do we need funding restored for FY 2004, but your message should also serve as a future reminder to Congress that these programs must be preserved and strengthened in TEA-21 reauthorization.

To contact Congress, please visit the League's new Advocacy Center. You can determine who your Senators and Members ofCongress are and send them a message on this issue as well as other issues
of importance to bicycling.

Please do take the time to contact U.S. Senators and Representatives from Missouri about this issue. In a tight budget year, funding for bicycle and pedestrians projects will be under constant pressure. Our elected representatives need to know that their constituents support bicycle and pedestrian projects and funding.

At a time when inactivity, obesity, and related problems are rising at such a rate that they have been labelled an "epidemic", and 10% of roadway fatalities are pedestrians and cyclists, while less than 1% of funding is directed towards projects that would improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and connectivity, it is good public policy to support continued funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Funding for such projects should be maintained and increased, not slashed.

Your representatives need to hear you say that.

Especially important for this issue is Representative Jo Ann Emerson, from Missouri's 8th District (the southeast corner of the state, including Farmington, Rolla, and Cape Girardeau), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. If you know cyclists who live in the 8th District, please have them contact Rep. Emerson's office.

Click here for a list of Missouri Enhancement projects (totalling $115 million of federal funds) and District 8's Enhancement projects (totalling 8.1 million federal funds).