In a bulletin from the League of American Bicyclists, Ohio residents are warned that the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has written a letter to the US Department of Transportation, looking to weaken the accomodations that exist across the nation for bicyclists on America's roads.
Here's a quote from the LAB's message:
The supplemental document, submitted as part of a formal review of regulations, asks that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) withdraw their guidance on the meaning of “due consideration” of bicyclists and pedestrians to make it easier for states to ignore the needs of non-motorized travelers. AASHTO prefers the weaker “consider where appropriate” to allow states to avoid having to justify failure to accommodate bicycling and walking.
This would obviously be a catastrophe for lovers of transportation freedom, as well as those whose jobs revolve around the creation cycling faciilities and the businesses that benefit from them.
And, it's hypocritical to AASHTO's own operating policies, as the League points out in the email:
In fact, AASHTO’s own 12 year-old Bicycle Guide, due to be up dated this year, says that bicyclists and pedestrians can be expected on any roadway they are legally allowed to operate and therefore should be accommodated.
The League has an action page to fight this request set up and lovers of transportation freedom are highly encouraged to take advantage of this.
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