Bloviations

Thanks to Uncle Ted’s indictment, the originally-scheduled-for-today markup of House Concurrent Resolution 305 (Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation) has been postponed to an unknown date.

That didn’t stop me from emailing my Senators or the Senators of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation about the bill.

My text is below and you are free to use it and change it as you see fit.

Dear Senator,

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will soon be presented with House Concurrent Resolution 305 (Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation). I strongly urge you to support this legislation and I ask that you urge your colleagues in the U.S. Senate to support it.

House Concurrent Resolution 305 urges the Department of Transportation to establish incentive programs for local and state governments which invest in building infrastructure for alternate transportation (bicycling, walking and mass transit). These incentives, tax and federal funding benefits, will go far in assisting these already overburdened levels of government in creating safe, healthy and more economically viable communities.

House Concurrent Resolution 305 encourages the government to establish tax incentives and funding programs favorable to alternate means travelers. Businesses and health care providers would receive tax incentives for commuter-friendly policies and programs. Individual commuters would receive tax incentives for using alternate means of travel, in addition to the environmental and health benefits.

House Concurrent Resolution 305 also urges the Department of Transportation to provide leadership on alternative and intermodal transportation. This leadership has been sorely lacking at the Department under Secretary Mary Peters. Secretary Peters has refused to expand funding for alternative transportation, particularly for bicycle infrastructure because she does not see the bicycle as a viable form of transportation. Americans have driven more than 40 billion fewer miles from January to June 2008 (which is just barely half over) than all of 2007 and moved to alternative means of travel by the millions. The good news is that less traffic is straining an over-worked and antiquated network of roads and highways. The bad news is that these new commuters, whether by mass transit, bicycling or walking, are overloading transportation systems that have been neglected in recent years.

House Concurrent Resolution 305 will do much to change the American perspective of transportation and will push to the mainstream means of alternative travel. I urge you, in the strongest sense, to support this legislation and request that you work with your colleagues to get this measure passed. I further ask that you begin working on tangible means of support for bicyclists and pedestrians. Fund expansive projects to build and support transportation infrastructure that supports cyclists and pedestrians; Support businesses, governments and health-care providers that promote alternative transportation by funding programs; Incentivize the daily effort made by millions of Americans to reduce automobile traffic.

America desperately needs leadership on the issue of alternative transportation. Please step up and provide it.

Take this extra time to double your efforts in spreading the word and enlisting friends, family and co-workers on this.