Advocacy & Safety - Obama Admin.: "Cyclists are Important Users of Transportation Systems"

March 13, 2009

Cyclists are important users of transportation systems

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of addressing the National Bike Summit. I was invited to speak as a member of the Obama administration, but I have been a supporter of bicycling for many years and was a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus when I was in Congress.

Still, I don't think the League of American Bicyclists knew what to expect when they invited me to their summit.

I hope they were pleasantly surprised because I am committed to investing in programs that encourage bikes to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges. And there’s strong support in Congress for these goals as well.

In the Department of Transportation, bicyclists have a full partner in working toward livable communities. We're excited that the Federal Highway Administration is looking at best practices in Europe to improve safety and mobility for walkers and cyclists. We're excited that a federally funded pilot project to study the effects of improved walking and bicycling facilities in four communities is underway. I think I conveyed that excitement to the summit, judging by the early response (BikePortland.org, Streetsblog.org)

I welcome the vigor of the bicycling community in advocating for bike-friendly measures in the upcoming authorization bill, CLEAN-TEA. Bicycles are a critical part of a cleaner, greener future in American transportation, so keep those wheels spinning.

http://fastlane.dot.gov/2009/03/cyclists-are-important-users-of-transportation-systems-.html

Coverage of the National Bike Summit at BikePortland.org: http://bikeportland.org/2009/03/16/transpo-sec-ray-lahood-on-his-blog-cyclists-are-important-users-of-transportation-systems/

Blah blah blah. Show me the money. Better yet, show me the regulations.

Blah blah blah. Show me the money. Better yet, show me the regulations.

thank you for sharing your cynicism.

For me I have been around cycling advocacy since late 1969 early 1970 and this is the first time in my lifetime I have heard anyone in the federal government make such a positive statement about cycling.

Certainly it will take some time to see what kind of fruit this bears. But a lot of advocacy went into getting this far. So comments from the peanut gallery will hardly make a dent in the enthusiasm of those who have tirelessly worked to make our roadways and communities safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

"show me the money":rolleyes: give me a break.:( if you're not a part of the solution you're part of the problem. You sound like the kind of cyclist that sits in a pace line all day, never takes a pull at the front and then complains the pace wasn't fast enough.

thank you for sharing your cynicism.

For me I have been around cycling advocacy since late 1969 early 1970 and this is the first time in my lifetime I have heard anyone in the federal government make such a positive statement about cycling.

Certainly it will take some time to see what kind of fruit this bears. But a lot of advocacy went into getting this far. So comments from the peanut gallery will hardly make a dent in the enthusiasm of those who have tirelessly worked to make our roadways and communities safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

"show me the money":rolleyes: give me a break.:( if you're not a part of the solution you're part of the problem. You sound like the kind of cyclist that sits in a pace line all day, never takes a pull at the front and then complains the pace wasn't fast enough.

I think LaHood has taken the pulse of the world and sees the very vocal, visible, growing cyclist community and realizes he can go from extremely obscure former Illinois Congressman to somewhat less obscure visionary with a legacy, and he might just think it's a gamble he should take.

I think LaHood has taken the pulse of the world and sees the very vocal, visible, growing cyclist community and realizes he can go from extremely obscure former Illinois Congressman to somewhat less obscure visionary with a legacy, and he might just think it's a gamble he should take.

Right. Because every politician has to have an ulterior motive for everything they ever say. Ever.

Blah blah blah. Show me the money.

The proposed CLEAN-TEA would use carbon cap-and-trade revenue to fund "low greenhouse gas transportation (http://www.cyclelicio.us/2009/03/clean-tea.html)". That could mean a lot of things, of course, but I'd say it's a step in the right direction.

The proposed CLEAN-TEA would use carbon cap-and-trade revenue to fund "low greenhouse gas transportation (http://www.cyclelicio.us/2009/03/clean-tea.html)". That could mean a lot of things, of course, but I'd say it's a step in the right direction.


Amen! Just make sure some of those 'caps' in the cap and trade program are pushed into cyclists butts. :) All that methane from cyclists diets will have a far greater impact in global warming than the CO2 lost from cars. :)

Onward cycling soldiers!



roughstuff

Amen! Just make sure some of those 'caps' in the cap and trade program are pushed into cyclists butts. :) All that methane from cyclists diets will have a far greater impact in global warming than the CO2 lost from cars. :)

Onward cycling soldiers!



roughstuff

Not hardly... the cyclists are going to eat anyway... any marginal increase in methane will hardly be noticed by the offset of the decrease of TONS of CO2 spewed out by very inefficient automobiles.

Amen! Just make sure some of those 'caps' in the cap and trade program are pushed into cyclists butts. :) All that methane from cyclists diets will have a far greater impact in global warming than the CO2 lost from cars. :)

Onward cycling soldiers!



roughstuff

If you eat nothing but grain raised beef that might have a slight shot at being close to true. Do you spew 1lb of methane every 20 miles? I doubt it.

thank you for sharing your cynicism.


It's not cynicism it's holding his feet to the fire. Now that he's said it it'll be that much more damning if he doesn't do it.

He's piqued my interest and that's all. I'm not going to praise an elected official for talking. I might praise a candidate for talking.

If you eat nothing but grain raised beef that might have a slight shot at being close to true. Do you spew 1lb of methane every 20 miles? I doubt it.

Nope. Don't eat much beef. I devour chicken by the ton, since i get it for $0.55 a lb at my local pricerite. I still manage to get some methane from all the onions and mixed vegetables I gobble down though. Feel better about less CO2 from my car.

And the earlier response is spot on about the 'marginal methane.' Unless it can be proven that cycling makes us more flatulant..... :)

roughstuff

Right. Because every politician has to have an ulterior motive for everything they ever say. Ever.

Give me a break.

Member of the bike caucus or not, LaHood was not exactly Earl Blumenauer. Even if he agreed with all this stuff, was he going to stick his neck out on the line? The statements he is making are pretty bold for someone in his position. You only make them if you either

A) Are a "true believer"
or
B) You have some additional motivations.

Where do you think LaHood lies on that spectrum?

The person I might be the most impressed with in this case is Obama. A lot of people were very uninspired by this selection, who are pretty pumped up right now. Even if Obama or Biden are sending the marching orders, LaHood wouldn't carry the water if he wasn't on board. I'm giving LaHood 100% the benefit of the doubt at this point.

It's not cynicism it's holding his feet to the fire. Now that he's said it it'll be that much more damning if he doesn't do it.

He's piqued my interest and that's all. I'm not going to praise an elected official for talking. I might praise a candidate for talking.


Lahood is the Transportation Secretary and in that capacity he is an appointee not an elected official. Part of his job is to advise and assist the president in creating policy and then to responsibly articulate that policy. Given that he was appointed less than 2 months ago and has already articulated a dramatic shift in transportation policy- one that has not been stated since the creation of the post in 1967- and one that is directly and positively relevant to bicycling I'd saying he's doing his job and doing it really well.

If you and others feel the need to hold his feet to the fire at this early stage in the game then more power to you. As for me I'm only too happy express my appreciation and praise at this point. I'd rather stoke the flames of change and get them roaring before I hold anybody's feet to them or throw cold water on them.

Bikes users are important users of public transportation.
Next up... a special tax will be levied for bikes that use the public transportation system...spread the wealth?