Living Car Free - FAA Reauthorization Bill "Bicycle Funding Ban Amendment" Approved

From http://www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/031910faa.aspx:


An amendment adopted by the Senate to the FAA bill would prohibit airports from using passenger facility charge revenue to build bike storage facilities.

The amendment was offered by Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, and approved by unanimous consent as part of a manager's package.

"Most airline passengers would agree with me that they would rather see more improvements to ensure faster travel times and safer departures and arrivals," McCain said on the Senate floor.

That provision is also likely to be debated during a conference committee with the House as several key representatives, including House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-MN, are major supporters of bicycling.

"This is just providing another mode of transportation option to people who travel to and from the airport," said Oberstar spokesman Jim Berard. He noted bike parking racks at airports are especially useful given the nation's emphasis on reducing the use of fossil fuels.

As I understand it, this doesn't ban building new bike storage facilities at airports, it only bans the use of "passenger facility charge (http://www.airlines.org/economics/taxes/PFCs.htm) revenue" to fund them. Still, this feels like a step backwards.

This still needs to be approved by the House, so it's not a final decision.

{FWIW, I debated exactly where to post this. I think the people on this forum are most likely to be affected by this. If it belongs somewhere else (P&R?), please let me know.**

Interesting. Possibly a reminder to Ray LaHood. Secretary of Transportation, that he's wandered off the reservation with his support for alternate transportation. Suppressing alternate transportation modes may really matter to someone with serious behind-the-scenes clout.

Geez, how much money would it cost to build a storage facility for a dozen bicycles as a starting point at selected major airports? Watch them for a year or so and see what happens, then make the decision on whether to continue building more with PFC funding.
To snip it in the bud without giving it a chance, just shows the thought process of how some of our elected officials feel about alternate transportation choices.

Can anyone reference the house bill this will appear in and the section number? I would like to contact my representative about this issue (is appears that it has passed the senate already, so letters need to go to the house).

For those who moan about Obama's election, just remember -- THIS OLD FOSSIL was the alternative.

I had a thought, during airing of the recent 'bi-partisan summit', when McCain was verbally 'slapped down' by Obama, who said, "This isn't the time for campaign speeches, the election is over", and McCain replied, "I know, I'm reminded of that every day." Most likely, he IS reminded of that every day -- and pays a staff member to do so, because he's borderline senile. He couldn't even remember during the campaign how many houses he owned! (15 years after settling my father's estate -- I can only refer to him, business-wise, as a benevolent slumlord -- I can tell you how many properties I had to liquidate: 11.)

It's a shame that Congress thinks they have the right to tell an airport how to spend money that goes to them.

For those who moan about Obama's election, just remember -- THIS OLD FOSSIL was the alternative.

But not the only alternative. I didn't vote for either of those poor choices.


It's a shame that Congress thinks they have the right to tell an airport how to spend money that goes to them.

Isn't that the golden rule? He who has the gold makes the rules?

But I agree, this bill is rather nasty and stupid.