DeMint Attacks Bicycle Infrastructure Funding

[From the League of American Bicyclists]
TAKE ACTION!
Stimulus Amendment To Prohibit Bike Funding

Take Action!
Call Your Senator Immediately
 
Senator DeMint (R-SC) has offered an amendment to SPECIFICALLY prohibit funding for bicycles, walking and offroad vehicles. The amendment ONLY goes after bicycle, walking, and offroad vehicle funding.

The Amendment has been offered but not introduced.  We do not have a schedule for when this will be introduced and voted on, but we need to alert all Senators to urge them to vote against such amendments and ensure that funding for bicycle infrastructure remain eligible under the transportation funds provided in the stimulus package.
 
 

 
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by B' Spokes

Like most people I live a hectic life and who has the time for much exercise? Thanks to xtracycle now I do. By using my bike for daily activities I can get things done and get an hour plus work out in 15 minutes extra of my time, not a bad deal and beats taking the extra time going to the gym. In case you are still having trouble being motivated; the National Center of Disease Control says that inactivity is the #2 killer in the United States just behind smoking. ( http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/bb_nutrition/ ) Get out there and start living life! I can carry home a full shopping cart of groceries, car pool two kids or just get lost in the great outdoors camping for a week. Well I got go, another outing this weekend.
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[And from Safe Routes To School Partnership]
SRTS National Partnership logo
Urgent:  Call Your Senators IMMEDIATELY to Protect Bike/Ped Funding

The U.S. Senate is currently voting on a series of amendments to the economic stimulus bill.  Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina has introduced an amendment that would prohibit ANY of the over $800 billion in funding be used for bicycling or walking trails or infrastructure-which would include any Safe Routes to School efforts.  Senator DeMint said, "When people see bike trails and hiking trails and golf courses, they know this is not designed to stimulate the economy and create jobs."

We do not yet know when or if this amendment will be voted on-but it is critical that we demonstrate that bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure *IS* an important part of the economic recovery and building green infrastructure.  

Please call your both Senators as soon as possible.  They will be continuing to vote late tonight and possibly into the weekend.  Use these talking points:

·    I am calling to ask the Senator to vote against the DeMint amendment to prohibit bicycle and pedestrian projects from being funded in the economic recovery bill.
·    I also ask you to support explicit funding for bike/ped projects in the final economic recovery bill.
·    It takes construction workers and materials to create bicycle and pedestrian, creating jobs at the same or better rate than highway projects
·    These smaller projects can move quickly to get local businesses working and help Main Street economies.
·    Providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access to workplaces, schools, and transit gives families cheaper transportation options.
·    Improving sidewalks and bike lanes can make downtown a destination, further helping local business and the economy.   

To get contact information, please go to the League of American Bicyclists' action alert-all you have to do is type in your zip code to get your Senator's phone numbers, talking points, and a form to fill in the response from your Senator's office.  If your Senator's office does not answer, please leave a message.

Things are moving quickly on the economic recovery bill, and we may be contacting you again soon with additional updates and requests for help.  Thank you for taking action on behalf of increasing opportunities for healthy and green transportation options!