Fifty Plus (50+) - Rails to Trail vs AAA Petition may be of interest to 50+'rs

http://support.railstotrails.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AAA

The American Automobile Association (AAA) wants Congress to cut funds that support trail, biking and walking programs in order to funnel that money to the highway system. AAA has forgotten that bicyclists drive, support AAA, pay gas taxes and want balanced transportation systems that provide the choice to get around in a variety of ways.

IF, the AAA will make sure that along with those "street's and highways", they put in "BIKE LANES", I'd be all for it. I'm not much on Bike Trails, they usually don't get me where I "NEED" to go but "BIKE LANES" on streets and highways would be AWESOME for our utility, recreation and lite touring style of riding. Since we KNOW that won't happen, I hope there's a way to stop them from STEALING funds for alt. transportation, jmho, ymmv.

Crap. I tore up my AARP card shortly after the 2008 election because of the people and programs they supported. I hope I won't have to tear up my AAA card. If I do that will leave only my library card and medicare card in my wallet. :rolleyes:


I signed the petition. :beer:

http://www.betterworldclub.com/ is an alternative to AAA. They have a bicycle assistance program too.

I just received this information in an email and signed the petition. I might be hunting a new auto club.....

I posted this to my AAA website

As a bicycllist, I STRONGLY object to AAA's effort to reduce federal funding for bicyclist facilities, routes, lanes, paths and trails.
Please be assured I will find another Auto Club if you continue with this lobbying.

I posted this to my AAA website

As a bicycllist, I STRONGLY object to AAA's effort to reduce federal funding for bicyclist facilities, routes, lanes, paths and trails.
Please be assured I will find another Auto Club if you continue with this lobbying.

Good idea, Denver. I just posted the same to my local club.

Good idea, Denver. I just posted the same to my local club.


go to www.aaa.com (http://www.aaa.com) and put in your zip code.

They should have a "contact us" tab

I just received this information in an email and signed the petition. I might be hunting a new auto club.....

I have done the same through an email from the Rails to Trails Conservancy, though I am not an AAA member. Following Denver's lead, I also sent them a message on their website.

We know drivers who believe, "What the hell's that bike doing in the bike lane? If they don't get outta my way, I'm gonna run 'em over. I'm making a right turn!"

And there goes your bike lane!

I have signed the online petition and accurately noted that I am an ACSC (southern Cal. AAA affiliate) member (35 years). I am keeping my membership for two reasons: 1) I have my homeowner's (best in the business, as vividly demonstrated in our 2003 and 2007 wildfires), auto (also first-rate), and umbrella liabililty insurance through their Interinsurance Exchange, which requires club membership; and 2) I think I can be more effective as an outspoken dues-paying insider than as an outsider.

We know drivers who believe, "What the hell's that bike doing in the bike lane? If they don't get outta my way, I'm gonna run 'em over. I'm making a right turn!"

And there goes your bike lane!

I think most drivers try to do the right thing when they are shown what the right REASONABLE thing is. Along with lanes, there needs to be information, and it needs to be a message that doesn't cause too much inconvenience.

The ones who won't do the right thing? Well, there are outliers in every population - improvement is a matter of reducing the likely sources of trouble. If 50% of those who hear the message come away knowing that cars don't belong in a bike lane without carefully checking for clearance, that's a good improvement.

Find the middle path.

Thanks for sharing this, I've signed the petition.

The Rails to Trails Project is great! Our second house in Mims FL had the tracks right behind the property. The trainlines in Northern Brevard County were all rebuilt along the intracoastal waterway about 20 years ago, and the inland tracks were shut down. Rails toTrails took over and the tracks were removed a couple of years ago. It's a great ride.

It would have been even better if the tracks had originally been along the intracoastal waterway! Such a waste of a view.

They are building a toll ride in the MD/DC area that will be one of the most expensive pieces of roadway to build and have the highest per mile toll of in the country.
The original plan was to have a parrallel bike path, in all the argueing and law suits to try and block it can you guess what got cut?

As a lifelong land and commercial real estate broker, I've dealt with a number of railroads. Everything from Union Pacific down thru the numerous short lines, with the buyers usually being individual scenic train operators, running special trains for tourists and dinner trains.

I've often wished I could get more leads on railroads that are shutting down tracks. I think the lines should either be rails-to-trails MUPs, or if in a scenic place, tourist trains. Once the rails are pulled up, it's impossible to replace them. If you know of any, email me at: railestate@gmail.com

But most urban and suburban lines really do need to go "Rails-To-Trails" for commuter and recreational bicycling, hiking, jogging, etc.

It's preaching to the choir around here, but I'd regularly commute to work if I didn't have to worry so much about getting killed doing it.

...
I've often wished I could get more leads on railroads that are shutting down tracks. I think the lines should either be rails-to-trails MUPs, or if in a scenic place, tourist trains. Once the rails are pulled up, it's impossible to replace them. If you know of any, email me at: railestate@gmail.com

....

A railroad shutting down cannot just do so without announcing the intent to abandon through the DOT's Surface Transportation Board. This triggers a 180 day period in which an agreement to create a trail conversion can occur. It does not guarantee the creation of a trail but it creates a chance for an interested party to negotiate with the railroad.

LINK HERE (http://www.railstotrails.org/resources/documents/resource_docs/tgc_fs_railbank.pdf)

Mr. Robert L. Darbelnet
President and CEO, AAA
1000 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746

The ultimate irony is...
A MUT, the 14 mile Wekeiva Trail, passes right in front of his office as it parallels International Parkway through the Heathrow office complex. Further, the 24 mile Cross Seminole Trail merges/begins with the Wekeiva in the Heathrow office complex. Essentially, employees in this modern upscale office complex that supports other large businesses, such as Chase credit card processing and various call centers, can commute to work on MUTs from 3 different directions. While some segments of the Cross Seminole are unfinished, 90% is totally segregated from traffic along both trails. Heathrow, the residential area, is a very upscale manned gated community and country club.

Incidently, the Panera Bread along the trail 1/2 mile away from AAA is a great refreshment point. The outside patio along the trail overlooks undeveloped lake and pasture land - prime real estate sold to develop $1M+ homes at the height of the market, but won't support development at this time so remaining pasture.

Here is a link that shows the trail system in Seminole County, with "Heathrow" clearly visible just off Interstate 4. http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/leisure/trails/find.asp

They are building a toll ride in the MD/DC area that will be one of the most expensive pieces of roadway to build and have the highest per mile toll of in the country.
The original plan was to have a parrallel bike path, in all the argueing and law suits to try and block it can you guess what got cut?

The price of tolls?

The price of tolls?

And overlooked...
Tolls exist to finance revenue bond sold to fund the roadbuilding project. With that funding source, just why should ANY funds be diverted to support the cnstruction.

This is like current politics.
This is a show of bad judgement by Rail to Trails. AAA has no such policy and is taking no such action:

Originally Posted by Robert_Detjen http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/images/001/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?p=679006#post679006)
The RTC is doing a scare monger campaign to rally support. Did you notice how the website doesn't include the emails they mention, there is no mention of a petition from the AAA because there isn't one, and there is no evidence of any kind presented? The RTC has good goals, but I do not approve of their methods.

The AAA has officially responded that it is a false claim. I want to know what rocket scientist at the RTC thought it would be a good idea to use the AAA (which helped to get the funding) as a scapegoat.

================================================== ======

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) claims AAA is asking Congress to cut funding for bicycle and pedestrian paths. Their claim is false. Their assumption came about from an article written by the regional AAA Mid-Atlantic club regarding the federal transportation program and how it is funded. The article included a quote, “So why not let the Highway Trust Fund pay for our highways and let the general revenues address the other expenses?” Nowhere in the article did it state or suggest that AAA wants Congress to cut funds that support trail, biking and walking programs in order to funnel that money to the highway system.



AAA is and always has been in favor of a safe, efficient, multi-modal transportation system – a balanced transportation system that provides the choice to get around in a variety of ways. Many AAA members and non-members enjoy riding bikes for recreation, and utilize their bikes as a means to commute to work, improve their physical health and reduce their overall carbon footprint.



AAA Auto Club South supports biking and walking programs, promotes Bicycle Safety Month every May, conducts bicycle rodeos throughout the year and offers educational information including brochures on bicycle and pedestrian safety.



AAA is not and will not call upon Congress to de-fund cycling and walking programs. It is very unfortunate that the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has chosen to unfairly criticize AAA and total misrepresent our position. RTC members and supporters deserve better.



More on AAA’s position on Transportation:

AAA’s positions on federal transportation program and funding reforms are clear. AAA seeks support for a transportation system that provides choices and multi-modal opportunities, is affordable and accessible for all users, facilitates personal travel needs, preserves and maximizes the utility of the current system and increases capacity to address growing congestion. It is imperative that Congress re-think how the federal transportation program is structured and funded. For more information on AAA’s efforts in this regard, see www.AAAmakingAmericaStronger.com (http://www.aaamakingamericastronger.com/).



Amy Stracke

Managing Director, Traffic Safety Advocacy

Public & Government Relations

AAA Auto Club South


.

Apparently, someone got AAA's attention. I would like to read the RTC's response to the AAA response. There has to be a bit more to it then this. AAA may have even been sending out a trial balloon through the southern organization to see what reaction they got. Stranger things have happened.

If AAA is getting behind altering the source of trail funding that has worked well for two decades, then it seems to me AAA is being disingenuous in claiming to support trails.... and I don't think that RTC is over-reacting. For those interested, here's more specifics:

http://www.railstotrails.org/ourWork/whereWeWork/national/news/AAA.html

Response on RTC website

"What is AAA Saying?

In the July/August 2010 issue of AAA World magazine, Don Gagnon, president and CEO of AAA Mid-Atlantic, argued for cutting trail, biking and walking programs from the federal Highway Trust Fund—even though these programs have helped create more than 19,000 miles of trail of bicycle facilities around the country during the past 20 years. Gagnon wrote that such funds should instead be used exclusively for the highway system, though since 1991 Congress has clearly intended these monies be used for all aspects of a surface transportation system.

Gagnon does not directly say that programs for trails, biking and walking should not be funded. Rather, he says that the programs that support trails, biking, walking and transit should no longer be financed through the transportation fund that has sustained them since 1991. Instead, he would have these essential components of a balanced transportation system compete for extremely scarce general funds against everything else the government does. That's like, after 20 years of stellar job performance in a highly specialized field with scant job prospects, your boss fires you but says he hopes you find another job somewhere else.

It is not realistic to believe that these programs, which operate through well-established channels using agreed-upon formulas, will be resurrected through other funding channels. Removing flexibility to use the Highway Trust Fund to develop a healthy mix of transportation choices is tantamount to eliminating many federal programs that have been the lifeblood of the trails movement, most notably Transportation Enhancements (http://www.enhancements.org/). The fundamental question is whether we want our transportation dollars to fund a balanced transportation system or one that is solely reliant on automobiles. An admonishment to look elsewhere for support does not make up for the fact that AAA's position would effectively eliminate programs that build trails and other active transportation facilities.

RTC launched this national campaign to address a position AAA Mid-Atlantic has taken on a critical federal policy issue. We are aware that AAA is organized into regional offices that are the primary points of contact with members, and that regional offices can bring local and regional concerns into their communications. However, on this critical national issue, AAA needs to speak with one voice. Consequently, RTC has asked AAA's President to state that AAA will not advocate to Congress for removal of biking and walking programs from the Highway Trust Fund and, thus far, they have not made such a statement. AAA has posted some admirable policy principles on their website in response to RTC's challenge, but travel choices and accessibility for all users cannot happen without support for the funding programs that actually make the choices and access possible.

Many people who signed the petition chose as well to contact their local AAA chapter. These letters have put AAA chapters on notice that Gagnon's argument is controversial, and we hope they will inform AAA's decision about its federal policy position. Those supporters who have written their local chapters (other than Mid-Atlantic) should not be surprised to receive an "it isn't me" response, but until regional AAAs repudiate the position of Mid-Atlantic, it is hard to tell where they stand on the issue.

All AAA chapters and members benefit from the programs that deliver popular, cost-effective active transportation choices. Let's work together to grow these opportunities, not orphan them.

To learn more, contact Karl Wirsing, director of communications, at karl@railstotrails.org (karl@railstotrails.org). "

For some silly reason I thought that we were paying huge GASOLINE taxes to maintain roads and bridges. What has happened to that revenue? Why do we need stimulus money or special diversion of funds to pay for what we already are paying for?

Response from Colorado AAA


Dear Denver,

Thank you for taking the time to write and express your concerns. We
appreciate your feedback as it helps us to better understand our
members' views and provide the best possible services.

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) claim that AAA is asking
Congress to cut funding for bicycle and pedestrian paths is not true.
AAA respects the work of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, but its
current petition campaign wrongly characterizes AAA as actively lobbying
to eliminate funding for bike paths and walkways. AAA is and always has
been in favor of a safe, efficient, multi-modal transportation system.
AAA's position on federal transportation program and funding reforms
includes support for a transportation system that:

o provides choices and multi-modal opportunities;
o is affordable and accessible for all users;
o facilitates personal travel needs;
o preserves and maximizes the utility of the current system; and
o increases capacity to address growing congestion.


Nationwide, AAA is committed to not only meet but exceed our members'
expectations in services like emergency roadside assistance, mapping and
discounts while also providing valuable traffic safety education and
information.

In fact, many AAA clubs have implemented bike programs for their members
from offering participation in community planning of bike paths and
children's bike rodeos to bicycle roadside assistance.

We value your loyal membership and appreciate your taking the time to
write and share your thoughts.

Best regards,

Wave Dreher
Public Affairs Director
AAA Colorado

In the economy we currently live, everyone is looking for money and it seems will do anything they can to get it. I enjoy riding on the trails and on the road. I pay my taxes and fees as required and like everyone else I expect the most for what I pay. One problem I see is companies and organizations spend large amounts of money in lobbying to try to get there share of the money. What would happen if this amount of money they soend on lobbyists was spent on the acual cause they are representing. I for one would not have a problem if our taxes went to the purpose they were intended and not to the expense accounts. Taxes should be to provide the basics needs of a government. Defense/Protection of citizens, infrastructure expansion, and basic governing services. If this was the case the taxes would and could be lower and people would be able to support the things they enjoyed. The people that wanted the trails and bike lanes (like I do) would be able to organize and come up with ways to raise the funds.The peole that want the roads repaired pay for this bypaying the appropriate gas and registration taxes and fees. The problem is our tax money is not being used for the purposes that we are paying it for.

Thanks for this information. I just signed the petition. My AAA membership is not up for renewal
until August of next year. If AAA does not change their attitude, I will simply not renew my membership, simple as that. But, I will write to them and let them know why.

And the battle rages on.....

If any one is interested I just rec. this from Rails to Trails. I plan to attend.

Rails to Trail vs AAA Petition
The time has come. For months, we’ve been gathering the names of tens of thousands of people like you (thank you!) from around the country who don’t agree with AAA’s narrow view of transportation funding.

Next week, I will deliver these petitions to AAA’s national headquarters in Heathrow, Fla., and I invite you to ride along with me!

A few weeks ago, we showed you a video of AAA Mid-Atlantic’s office, which enjoys a TE-funded* trail in its backyard. It turns out that AAA National has a TE-funded trail in their front yard—the Seminole-Wekiva Trail. So, I invite you to join me on a trail ride to deliver these petitions to AAA National’s headquarters.

WHEN:
Monday, December 13, 9:30–11 a.m.

WHERE:
The ride starts at Out-Spoke’N Bike Shop (1061 South Sun Drive, Suite #1073, Lake Mary, FL). We will ride the Cross Seminole and Seminole-Wekiva trails to AAA headquarters in Heathrow, Fla., for our petition delivery and commentary.

WHO:

Myself, Keith Laughlin, president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Vice President of Policy Kevin Mills
Florida Bicycle Association Executive Director Laura Hallam
Other special guests
Note: This is an out-and-back ride; total mileage is approximately eight miles. You will need your own bicycle and helmet for the ride. Please wear business or casual riding clothes rather than spandex and cycling jerseys.

Please R.S.V.P. now so we know how many riders to expect!

I hope to see you on Monday. If you cannot join us in person, stay tuned… we will send out an update of the event next week.

Thank you,

Keith Laughlin, President
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy


P.S. Haven't signed the petition yet? It's not too late! The petition will be taken down at midnight tomorrow, Wed. Dec. 8, so sign your name now! If you have already signed on, thank you! Now, please ask a friend or two to join you by signing on at www.railstotrails.org/AAA.

* Transportation Enhancements (TE) is the nation’s largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. TE and Safe Routes to School are funded through trust funds, which mostly come from gas taxes, so would be excluded under AAA’s call to remove active and public transportation from the trust fund.

Wish I could make it... best wishes though.

I think this is related. I will try not to rant as it has impacted our business in a big way.

The morons in Congress do not even have a Highway Authorization bill for 2010. According to my Mickey Mouse watch most of 2010 is gone. I guess that if they really wanted to create some real jobs they would have done this at the start of 2010? One of the best movie lines ever, from Mars Attacks "Look! they blew up Congress."