Thursday, December 11, 2008
Bike transportation should be part of Economic Recovery Plan
President-elect Obama recently outlined his vision for an Economic Recovery Plan: "We have faced difficult times before, times when our economic destiny seemed to be slipping out of our hands. And at each moment, we have risen to meet the challenge, as one people united by a sense of common purpose. And I know that Americans can rise to the moment once again.But we need action - and action now. That is why I have asked my economic team to develop an economic recovery plan for both Wall Street and Main Street that will help save or create at least two and a half million jobs, while rebuilding our infrastructure, improving our schools, reducing our dependence on oil, and saving billions of dollars."
Bicycle transportation projects should be an integral part of any economic recovery package. Rails-to-Trails, America Bikes, and Thunderhead Alliance have "collected a list of hundreds of ready-to-go active transportation projects from communities across the country. These projects would create new jobs and revitalize communities by funding trails, bike lanes, sidewalks and other infrastructure." To support this effort, sign the petition on the Rails-to-Trails website.
Comments:
Doug,
I just sent a letter to Congressman Moran of the 8th Congressional District regarding the need for funding bicycle facilities in any economic recovery package. His contact info is located at:
http://moran.house.gov/contact.shtml
I hope everyone else will do the same.
Here's the body of the message that I sent using some of the text from the above-mentioned petition:
Dear Congressman Moran,
Thank you for your past support of bicycle projects in Virginia's 8th district. As Congress begins consideration of an economic recovery program, I hope you will support explicit funding for bicycle facilities. Funding active transportation projects is a cost-effective investment that creates jobs and leads to healthier people, stronger communities, decreased oil dependency, and reduced climate change emissions. Bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, shoulders, and wide curb lanes, should be incorporated into any road projects for which Virginia receives economic recovery funds.
Sincerely,
Bruce Wright
Chairman, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB)
www.fabb-bikes.org
I just sent a letter to Congressman Moran of the 8th Congressional District regarding the need for funding bicycle facilities in any economic recovery package. His contact info is located at:
http://moran.house.gov/contact.shtml
I hope everyone else will do the same.
Here's the body of the message that I sent using some of the text from the above-mentioned petition:
Dear Congressman Moran,
Thank you for your past support of bicycle projects in Virginia's 8th district. As Congress begins consideration of an economic recovery program, I hope you will support explicit funding for bicycle facilities. Funding active transportation projects is a cost-effective investment that creates jobs and leads to healthier people, stronger communities, decreased oil dependency, and reduced climate change emissions. Bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, shoulders, and wide curb lanes, should be incorporated into any road projects for which Virginia receives economic recovery funds.
Sincerely,
Bruce Wright
Chairman, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB)
www.fabb-bikes.org
Bruce -
Gerry Connelly will be my Congressman. Should we contact him or should we use Tom Davis? What is the best way to reach Gerry Connelly?
Doug
Gerry Connelly will be my Congressman. Should we contact him or should we use Tom Davis? What is the best way to reach Gerry Connelly?
Doug
Gerry Connelly will be my congressman, does anyone know his congressional office address, or should we send it to Tom Davis Office?
Doug
Doug
Doug,
You've posed a really good questions. Since Davis is leaving office, it makes the most sense to contact Congressman-elect Connolly about the upcoming economic recovery plan. However, since he doesn't take office until after Jan 1, I don't think there is a way to contact him in that capacity. Here is his contact info in his current position as Chairman of the Fx Co Board.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/contact/AgencyDetail.aspx?agId=9991
Chairman Connolly has been very supportive of bicycling issues in Fairfax and I'm sure he will be receptive to ideas about including bicycling infrastructure in the recovery plan.
You've posed a really good questions. Since Davis is leaving office, it makes the most sense to contact Congressman-elect Connolly about the upcoming economic recovery plan. However, since he doesn't take office until after Jan 1, I don't think there is a way to contact him in that capacity. Here is his contact info in his current position as Chairman of the Fx Co Board.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/contact/AgencyDetail.aspx?agId=9991
Chairman Connolly has been very supportive of bicycling issues in Fairfax and I'm sure he will be receptive to ideas about including bicycling infrastructure in the recovery plan.
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