What Losing Dedicated Bike Funding Means

Last week, the bicycling community sent out an urgent action alert regarding the next Federal Transportation bill. Everyone who cares about biking and walking was asked to contact their national representatives and urge them to contact key House and Senate decision makers regarding saving dedicated bicycle and pedestrian funding.

Now I'm not talking about a lot of money here. The bicycling community knows the state of national affairs and that the overall budget will be significantly reduced. What we're asking is for the continuation of dedicated funds, with a proportional cut equivalent to the overall reduction. If we lose dedicated funding, things as we know it will change dramatically.

But, what does that mean to you and me?


Does it mean that the trail you've been working on won't be completed?


Does it mean that the road you love riding won't have shoulders added when it comes up for maintenance?

Does it mean the bridge over the river won't have a place to walk or ride your bike?

Does it mean your children or grandchildren won't be able to safely walk or ride their bike to school?

The possible answer to all these questions is "yes!"

And what does it mean to the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) specifically?

We will likely lose our go-to people at the state Departments of Transportation; the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator may no longer be a mandated position.

We will lose the grant programs that provide accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities -- that includes adding shoulders to roads, building multi-use trails and/or side paths, providing bike lanes and sidewalks.

We will also lose momentum. Without programs that help leverage dollars and efforts that allow transportation agencies to accommodate all users, the projects that improve our way of life in our backyards -- and those in the places we like to visit will be severely impacted.

This is it. We need you now. Please help save these essential programs. Call or email your representative today and ask them to save dedicated funding for biking and walking.

Photo of Dr. Paul Dudley White Charles River Bike Path in Boston courtesy of the East Coast Greenway Alliance; Shoulder-less Georgia bike route photo by Byron Rushing; Chattanooga bridge photo by Ginny Sullivan; Lolo path/Safe Route to School photo by Jean Belangie-Nye.

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/07/what-losing-dedicated-bike-funding.html

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