Build Bicycle Facilities With Economic Recovery Funding

Per the March IMBA-SORBA eNews:

Ask Your Governor To Build Bicycle Facilities With Economic Recovery Funding Congress has set aside funding for the transportation enhancement program, which funds bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, states have a time limit. If they don’t identify which projects they want to fund, and obligate the funding to those projects, they will have to give back the money. Call or write your Governor now to ensure that important bicycle and pedestrian projects get built. The League of American Bicyclists has an online form to make sure your voice is heard.

Dirt Rag also has a very nice write-up: Help Bicycle Projects Get Economic Recovery Funding.

Now for something really cool: the League of American Bicyclists has provided an online form that allows you to select and edit tidbits of information that you find important. You then fill in your personal information such as name and address (this is very important since the letter is going to your governor), select whether you wish to send an email or a letter, and hit send.

I selected a couple of points and changed a little of the wording. The letter doesn’t flow as smoothly as I would normally have it, but it is short and sweet and gets the point across – exactly what you want when sending a letter to a representative.

Diane Ursu
XXXXX XXXXXXX Rd
XXXXXXX, MI XXXXX-XXXX

March 11, 2009

The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor of Michigan
PO Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909

Re: Build Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities With Economic Recovery Funding

Dear Governor Granholm:

I am concerned about our community’s plans for the transportation funding that Congress provided through the economic recovery bill. Don’t let this funding go to waste. Please allocate the Transportation Enhancement funds by the deadline by building bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Bicycle and pedestrian projects help the economy.

Investing stimulus funding in roads but not in improving bicycling, walking, and Safe Routes to School denies the current trends in transportation and the safety needs of the American public. This is currently a huge problem in Michigan – a very bicycle-unfriendly state.

Bicycling has increased rapidly in the US—in some cities it has increased more than 35% in the last two years. With the popularity of cycling in Michigan, this is something that our state desperately needs to take advantage of.

Sincerely,

Diane Ursu

Do Your Part

Use the League of American Bicyclists‘ Bike Advocacy Center to tell your governor to build bicycle and pedestrian facilities with economic recovery funding.