Proposed Surface Transportation Bill: What's in it for bicyclists?
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Proposed Surface Transportation Bill: What's in it for bicyclists?
I'll try to remain as unpolitical as possible about this.
Our current US President will soon be proposing that a new surface transportation bill to Congress to replace the highwaw bill that will soon expire. It hopefully will address (and hopefully improve) roads, bridges, and highways that are in need of repair or improvement. Given that many areas of the country have also received damage to its infrastructure due to natural disasters, such a surface transportation bill would not be refused.
Where this leaves the bicyclist is that he/she has to use many of the same roads that people operating other vehicles do. Paved shoulders and/or bicycle lanes were added to some roads for the benefit and safety of the bicyclist. Unfortunately, less and less money has been allocated for the construction and upkeep of these projects. As time passed, adequate road maintainence was focused on fewer miles of travel lanes while paved shoulders and bicycle lanes were ignored and left to deteriorate. Hopefully, a newer surface transportation bill would give construction and repair of these and other transportation facilities.
I'd like to go further with this but I don't want to get this thread moved or closed. Do you think this proposed bill should have more for the bicyclist? If so, what? Discuss.
Our current US President will soon be proposing that a new surface transportation bill to Congress to replace the highwaw bill that will soon expire. It hopefully will address (and hopefully improve) roads, bridges, and highways that are in need of repair or improvement. Given that many areas of the country have also received damage to its infrastructure due to natural disasters, such a surface transportation bill would not be refused.
Where this leaves the bicyclist is that he/she has to use many of the same roads that people operating other vehicles do. Paved shoulders and/or bicycle lanes were added to some roads for the benefit and safety of the bicyclist. Unfortunately, less and less money has been allocated for the construction and upkeep of these projects. As time passed, adequate road maintainence was focused on fewer miles of travel lanes while paved shoulders and bicycle lanes were ignored and left to deteriorate. Hopefully, a newer surface transportation bill would give construction and repair of these and other transportation facilities.
I'd like to go further with this but I don't want to get this thread moved or closed. Do you think this proposed bill should have more for the bicyclist? If so, what? Discuss.
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Depending on states, it might.
NYS just passed the Complete Streets Legislation, which requires multi-modal consideration is given to any road project which uses any state funds. Since federal funds are generally not the sole source of funding for a road project (Federal + State + County + City), it would in effect be included.
Of course, this would vary from state to state. And, I think it should. States are the best at figuring out how to use the funds inside of their states.
NYS just passed the Complete Streets Legislation, which requires multi-modal consideration is given to any road project which uses any state funds. Since federal funds are generally not the sole source of funding for a road project (Federal + State + County + City), it would in effect be included.
Of course, this would vary from state to state. And, I think it should. States are the best at figuring out how to use the funds inside of their states.
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