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Ray LaHood has called for greater support for sustainable forms of transportation. (Credit: LAB/Jeff Marin)
A number of anti-cyclist Republicans have started grumbling about Ray Lahood's recent call for state and local governments to increase their support for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. The Alliance for Walking and Biking has compiled a list of some of the blow back (via Boston Biker), and I've added links and additional information to their list.
• Ohio Representative Steven LaTourette suggested that Secretary LaHood must be on drugs to believe biking and walking are equal modes of transportation. "If it's not a typo, is there still mandatory drug-testing at the department," he jeered. (Courthouse News)
• Iowa Representative Latham suggested that “real transportation needs” were being swept aside when funding is spent on bicycling and walking. (Courthouse News)
• Missouri Senator Kit Bond, at a hearing two weeks ago, asked LaHood, “When did it become the responsibility of the federal DOT to build sidewalks?” (Streetsblog)
• Oklahoma senator and ranking republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, James Inhofe, criticized the Oberstar draft bill as having “focus[ed] very heavily on transit, bike paths, and sidewalks.” (James Inhofe)
• Alaska Senator Mark Begich and South Dakota Senator John Thune questioned whether livability is applicable in rural areas. (Bike Providence) Transportation Alternative responds here.
• Arizona Senator John McCain introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Authorization bill that would strip funding for bike parking facilities at airports. The ban has been approved.
Comments
Alaska Senator Mark Begich and South Dakota Senator John Thune are the only politicians here with legitimate concerns.
What do they know? All the cute guys and chicks ride cool bikes! A cool bike has officially replaced the requisite mid-life-crisis-sports-car! LOL
big oil and highways, the most subsidized facet of american life, throws a hissy fit.
Bailey: I beg to differ. Rural areas are in need of pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure also. Granted, sidewalks are not the issue but shoulders on gravel roads and paved shoulders on paved roads are imperative. Snow clearing needs to include an area for pedestrian travel adjacent to the motor vehicle lane.
The brunt of the obesity epidemic is borne by rural residents for a reason. Roads are built discouraging walking and motorists are drawn into a "defend their space" mentality where they actively drive at pedestrians and bicyclists to intimidate them out of that space.
Two things NEED to happen. Better driver education INCLUDING illuminating motorists on the rights of others to "their assumed space" and infrastructure making it clear that that space is for all.
Cute guys and "chicks"....how sexist!!! You sexist you! Tsk tsk...You risk being ostracized by the lunatic liberal sycophants who love nothing more than dutifully riding their bicycles while wearing their state-issued grey flannel suits, with a little red book tucked under their arms. In point of fact, the attractive women are invariably cruising around in a convertible, wearing a pair of sunglasses and an " I've got a Sugar Daddy " smile on their faces.
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