Monday, February 9, 2009

Jim DeMint chasing away bicyclists!

In case you think human beings are willing to sacrifice for the greater good...

You may have read on other cycling sites that Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) has offered up an amendment “to prohibit funds for any bike trail path in the version of the stimulus act now in the Senate.”

We urge everyone to contact their Senators immediately to let them know that you want them to support bicycle-friendly infrastructure projects in the Stimulus package and to block the DeMint amendment. The League of American Bicyclists even has a handy Senator lookup feature and talking points for you to call their offices and let your voices be heard.

VA Bike:

Echoing former Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters’ ridicule of bike paths, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) has proposed a ban on all bike/ped projects from the pending Stimulus legislation.

Please contact your US Senator now, to urge them to support bike/ped projects in the Stimulus, and to block Sen. DeMint’s amendment.

Streets Blog, which was spinning its wheels angrily, is cautiously optimistic that the proposed cut on bikes in the FUCKING TRANSIT FUNDING bill will be left in the dust:

According to a list posted by Politico, the Senate left transit funding untouched in the stim bill compromise brokered yesterday. For now, it appears safe to take a break from contacting your senators about this particular point of concern.

Ask not what you can do for your country; instead, ask your country what it can do to make that 2 mile bike ride to campus 1.5 miles.