Bikes in Both Party Platforms this year! And why it matters . . . | League of American Bicyclists

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

This is a historical election year. It’s the first time (at least in this century) that both party platforms include the word bicycle! But, do party platforms even matter?

Here’s a breakdown on the role of party policy platforms, trends in the platforms on transportation and a little on what it means for bicycling advocacy moving forward. I end with a few suggestions on how you can get involved.
Should we care what the party platforms say?

When I saw that bicycles were in the party platforms, the first thing I thought was, “Do party platforms even matter?” So I did a little research. Here’s what I learned.

* Platforms have less to do with the current Presidential campaign and more to do with the party positions. Platforms are written by party leaders and generally reflect the base. Presidential candidates usually have their own issue statements and priorities. These often closely mirror the party — but they are not always the most talked about issues of the presidential campaigns. Media coverage of the campaigns keep repeating the line that platforms don’t matter. What they mean is platforms don’t matter to the campaign.

* Platforms show the direction the party is moving. Studies of platforms show that policy statements are often ahead of the party, but are a consistent measure of where the party is heading. For instance, the 1980 Republican party platform was significantly more conservative than the 1980 one but the shift in Congressional Republicans actually came a few years later. . . .

Why does all this matter?

It matters because we need to be ready on day one! (yes, I’m watching too much political coverage.)

The League is a bipartisan non-profit so we do not endorse candidates, but we do take positions on issues, and one of our long held positions is that bicycling is transportation, and should be planned for and invested in as such.

The party platforms matter because both Presidential candidates have stated they would invest in transportation and infrastructure, and that it would be a priority. Secretary Clinton has proposed a five-year, $275 billion investment plan to revitalize the nation's infrastructure, a plan she pledges to push through in her first 100 days. Mr. Trump has not outlined his infrastructure plan, but has alluded to it being a priority.

If transportation investments are debated early next year we need to be ready, and this gives us a glimpse into why members of Congress may support or oppose spending any of that funding on biking and walking.

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