Advocacy Updates

My Trip To The National Bike Summit March 2-5, 2004
By Martha Emmons


Just under 400 people dedicated to the cause of cycling descended upon Washington DC for the Bike Summit, an annual event that educates Congress as to how cycling can cure a myriad of society's ills. There were 3 delegates from Kentucky and we visited with staff and /or Rep. Ken Lucas, Ben Chandler, Ed Whitfield, Mitch McConnell, Ron Lewis, and Anne Northrup. There was noticeably more interest than last year from the offices of Whitfield, McConnell, and Lewis, while Rep. Northup's transportation aide told us she is not very receptive to bicycling facilities. Lucas was very supportive and encouraging, but the best surprise was new Congressman Chandler who delayed leaving for the airport so he could meet with us. He was very enthusiastic about exercise, well versed in bicycling, told us how he has bicycled in several countries and what he likes about their bicycling facilities. He said he is fully supportive of bicycle facilities and what safe places to ride and walk means to America.
It was hard to take the week away from work and family to make the trip, but definitely worthwhile!

The five elements of our message-

Strengthen and protect Enhancements TEA-21 is the big highway-spending bill that comes up once every six years. It funds just about everything having to do with transportation, including bicycling facilities. "Enhancements" refers to things like trails, bike lanes, sidewalks.

Safe Routes to Schools. Back in the day, 60% of the kids walked or rode bikes to school. The number is now around 10%, with our schools becoming severely-congested transit stations, and our kids suffering from childhood obesity. Many schools are located in neighborhoods without sidewalks or crosswalks. Safe Routes to Schools will provide installation of traffic calming (slowing) devices where appropriate, and education to teach children how to safely ride or walk to school.

 

Safety Funding for Bicycling and Walking. Clearly there is need for more work in this area! Funds are used to help identify and fix safety hazards, including lighting, traffic medians, shoulders and sidewalks.

 

Bicycle Commute Act. This allows up to $100/month to employees who commute to work by bicycle, to be used to offset the costs of doing so.

 

Complete Streets. This is a great program; the idea is to require that all new road projects include bicycle & pedestrian consideration by default (which is not presently the case). Justification would have to be provided for why there is not bicycle & pedestrian accommodation.

 

Martha Emmons, BikeWorld, 848 Joe Clifton Drive, Paducah, KY 42001 270-442-0751
270-442-4425 Fax    www.bikeworldky.com        info@bikeworldky.com

 

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