Sustainability
Save our important transportation funding!
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| Contact your Senators and Representative today! | ||||
| Key Congressional leaders are attacking Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational trails and are taking steps to cut off dedicated federal funding for bicycling and walking.
House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced today that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourages states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are “not in the federal interest.” Chairman Mica’s statement that these programs remain “eligible” for funding is worthless; without dedicated funding for these three programs, they are effectively eliminated. Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’ This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking. However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution, and Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination. Help protect Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails. Contact your Members of Congress and tell them to reach out to Senators Inhofe, Boxer, and Congressman Mica to urge them to continue funding for these important bicycling and walking programs. Need some good facts to bolster your argument? Read on: Not in the federal interest? Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the US – even as funding for biking and walking projects only accounts for 1.5% of the federal transportation budget. That is more than 4 billion bicycle trips and 40 billion walking trips a year, including trips to work, school, shopping and for recreation and tourism. Frivolous? Two-thirds of all pedestrian deaths are on federally funded highways. One-third of children’s traffic deaths happen when children are walking or bicycling and are struck by cars. Bicycling and walking programs build sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways—improving accessibility and saving lives. The Facts
Why Act Now? Both the House and Senate long-term transportation bills are being written as we speak. We still have a chance of influencing the outcomes. Let’s make sure that funding for biking and walking programs don’t disappear for many years. We need every Senator to tell Senators Boxer and Inhofe that bicycling and walking are vital parts of our transportation system, and that there must be dedicated funding for sidewalks, bike lanes and trails to ensure that bicyclists and pedestrians are safe. And we need every Representative in the House to tell Chairman Mica the same. Please contact your Senators and Representatives TODAY to tell them that bicycling and walking are a critical part of a safe and equitable transportation system. Ask them to tell Representative Mica and Senators Boxer and Inhofe that a federal transportation bill must continue dedicated funding for bicycling and walking. |
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Lawmakers threaten to end Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Rec Trails Programs.
Bicycle Friendly Community?
According to the League of American Bicyclists, the City of Las Cruces has recently been awarded a much-sought-after designation of a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community.
Despite recent set-backs, such is the de-stripping of a bike lane on north Triviz Ave., the City assures that other present and future strives will eclipse it. I know I can speak for many when I say, I HOPE SO.
As with any ‘victory’, there will be a brief back-patting session at the next City Meeting…
The City of Las Cruces has been designated a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by the League of American Bicyclists, bronze level status. An official presentation for the City to receive its certificate and a BRC sign will take place at the city council meeting on Monday, June 20th, 1 p.m. at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.
Making the presentation will be Tom Trowbridge, Bicycle, Pedestrian and Equestrian Coordinator, Transportation Programs Division of the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Cities chosen for this recognition must show remarkable commitments to bicycling. Bicycle Friendly Communities welcome cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging residents to bike for transportation and recreation.
The City’s bronze status is good for four years. The City has shown to encourage cycling with the hopes of improving health, reducing traffic and improving air quality. The League of American Bicyclists says Bicycle Friendly Communities are places with a high quality of life, where people want to live, work and visit. These communities can give a more connected, physically active and environmentally sustainable community that enjoys property values, business growth, increased tourism an more transportation choices.
You tell’em Council Woman Thomas!
Las Cruces Council Woman Sharon Thomas appears in front of Congress speak on behalf of Livable Communities.
Ride of Silence 2011
The Ride of Silence will be held this evening, May 18th 2011 at 6:15pm at the Mesilla Plaza.
National Bike To Work Week
For more info:
SB-124 Safe Passing Distance-Vetoed
Senate Bill 124 was introduced by Peter Wirth and passed by the New Mexico House and Senate with bipartisan support to establish a safe passing distance for motorists passing cyclists. The bill begins:
Turns out (surprise surprise) that Susanna Martinez does not appreciate that cyclists would like to coexist safely on the roads with other users.
http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=%20124&year=11
shows the bill that BikeABQ and Bike New Mexico puts so much work into as vetoed. At least the House and Senate wants cars and SUVs to pass us safely. Susanna Martinez? Not so much. Apparently she has never tried to transport her fat ass without a fossil fuel burning engine. No wonder she is such a fan of drilling our state for its oil.
I guess we already knew that Tejana Martinez was a BITCH, but vetoeing such a sensible bill is uncalled for.
Her letter saying that we don’t need to be any safer because there is already a law on the books keeping us safe from bad drivers: http://www.sos.state.nm.us/2011Bills/VetoSB124.pdf
Martinez- NO friend to cyclists
Lets critical mass our bikes around the Capital Building!
Urgent Action Needed-Take Action!
Governor Martinez Only Has Until Friday to Sign the 5 Foot Passing Law!
Take Action!
Governor Susana Martinez
To date Governor Martinez has only signed a small portion of the 300 bills passed this legislative session, and only has until Friday to do so. Please contact her today and ask that she sign SB 124- the nation’s first 5 Foot safe passing law! If you’ve already sent an email, please follow-up with a phone call. The Governor’s office line is (505) 476-2200.
This bill clarifies to motorists what a safe passing distance is and will provide a safe operating space for cyclists across the state, provide a better tool for law enforcement when responding to aggressive drivers and crashes, as well as an opportunity to educate motorists on how to safely pass cyclists. Contact Governor Martinez today and urge her to sign SB 124 into law!
Godspeed Triviz Bike Lanes
thx Sun-News
The Las Cruces city traffic engineers are at it again! The bike lanes on the north-end of Triviz have been removed based on what only looks like driver stupidity. An increased number of accidents has be cited as the reason the city will spend $25,000 for sand blasting the bike lanes. Thats a shame and a waste of money because those same traffic engineers always claim that removing lines is way too expensive if it is for new bike lanes. Should I also mention that the City of Las Cruces has contracted a company in Albuquerque…
What’s worse than the actions of removing a bike lane for driver carelessness, is perpetuating the notion that bikes need to ride on the pedestrian walking path adjacent to Triviz. They might claim it is safer, but thats just because they have never ridden a bike on the walking path with the dogs, strollers, skateboarders, rollerbladers, joggers, and fat peds.
You can read all the bullshit here: http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_17669856
There will be a protest ride up and down Triviz sometime in the near future, stay tuned!
SB 124 — Email the Governor
Having passed through both the New Mexico Senate and House, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez now has twenty days to sign SB 124 in order to make this bill into law. This would be the first statewide 5 foot Safe Passing law in the nation.
SB 124 clarifies to motorists what a safe passing distance is, provides a safe operating space for cyclists across the state and creates another tool for law enforcement when responding to aggressive drivers and crashes; as well as an opportunity to educate motorists and cyclists on how to share the road safely.
Cyclists in New Mexico should contact Governor Martinez through our Advocacy Center and urge her to sign SB 124 into law.
~JEFF PEEL -STATE & LOCAL ADVOCACY COORDINATOR
The League of American Bicyclists has set up an easy way to email our Governor to sign the new bill.
Click here:
Support Safer Cycling in New Mexico- Tell Governor Martinez to Sign the 5 Foot Passing Law!
or here:http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/2/?a=36444516&i=109498544&c=
It works, its easy, try it out, and let your voice be heard.
You can also visit: bikesantafe.org for more info and more ways to reach the Governors office
Raising Awareness
Dr. Okerblom and his Son
From the Mesilla Valley Bike Coalition:
Please join us tomorrow morning, March 16th, at The Bean in Mesilla at 8:30AM to ride a few miles with Dr. Bob Okerblom. He is riding across the country to promote awareness of the dangers of driving while texting. Dr. Okerblom’s 19 ear old son was hit and killed in 2009 by a texting driver. Let’s all join him tomorrow, Wednesday, as he leaves Las Cruces to ride to El Paso. You can read more about it at the link below.
Las Cruces Bicycle Facilities Map
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