Moronacity Cycling Journal » Advocacy
Michigan State Recreation Funding Update
This is a rather long post, so I’ve highlighted some of the key concepts for those of you who simply want the gist of it. The State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee bill passed the Michigan House of Representatives Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee and is currently under consideration by the Michigan Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. Senate Bill 389 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to provide for a State park, public boating access site, and forest recreation passport that a Michigan resident could obtain by paying an additional fee when registering a motor vehicle; and require the Secretary of State to transfer the fee revenue to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Senate Bill 388 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
Zack’s Not-So-Good Friday
On Wednesday, April 8, the proverbial shit hit the fan when Michigan State University International Relations and Journalism major Zack Colman wrote a rather controversial opinion article for the State News. I’m pretty sure that Zack had no clue what he was setting himself up for. Zack delivered lines such as Black 2001 Saturn SC2. That’s the car I drive — and if you’re a bicyclist on the road but not in a bike path and you see my car, I hope you’re wearing a helmet, because I might run you over. But you see, with all these things I can do in my car nowadays, such as choose a different song on my iPod, send a text message while driving or fall asleep at the wheel because I had to wake … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
Complete Streets
U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced The Complete Streets Act of 2009. The goal of this bill is to encourage the development of streets that safely support different modes of transportation including automobile, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic. S. 584: A bill to ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways. H.R. 1443: Complete Streets Act of 2009: To ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
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 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee
While I’ve had a lot of fun poking fun at the Iceman (Cold Blast for Iceman Registration and Grrrr, Phhhtt, Scratch, Claw, ROAR!) and Facebook, something worth writing about has come up. This is something that affects Michigan residents, and I believe it is something worth while. Currently, the MMBA is supporting it as many, many of Michigan’s mountain bike trails are located within state parks. There really is an amazing network … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy, Uncategorized
Getting Involved
When I wrote yesterday’s post, I was feeling pretty cruddy (upper respiratory infection) and all I wanted to do was sleep. I went downstate, last weekend, and all I brought back was this stupid cold! While swimming in my self-misery, I forgot to mention one of the key things that took me down to Lansing. As some of you may remember, I accepted a nomination to run for one of the Michigan … Read entire article »
Filed under: MMBA
2009 MMBA Expo
The Michigan Mountain Biking Association’s Expo and Annual Meeting was held last Sunday. Amanda and I headed down to Lansing to represent the Copper Harbor Trails Club and also show the world, or at least the Michigan mountain bikers, what the Keweenaw had to offer. The Keweenaw exhibit that was the source of so much excitement during the expo. Look at all those hot guys swarming around our table. We had a … Read entire article »
Filed under: MMBA
Finally! An Important Election!
I have a passion. I am passionate about my sport. I am a mountain biker who fell in love with cycling almost as if getting swept up in a whirlwind romance. At first glance, I don’t give a lot of my time to cycling and all it entails. However, if you look closer, you’ll find that I am a very busy person who tries to give a lot of my free … Read entire article »
Filed under: MMBA
What Bored Mountain Bikers Do
Someone once mentioned that we, the MMBA, should sells t-shirts with various quotes from our forum users. A few fun quotes from one of our completely ridiculous threads, which I, of course, am heavily contributing to, have recently come under scrutiny. I’m finding that quite a few forum users are quoting each other in their signature lines. Here are a few fun quotes from the forum. Many are mine. I think it’s funny how so many people on this forum have signature quotes from other forum users. – Di_bear, found in Blacksword’s signature Oh. I don’t recall (I’m pulling the Reagan card). I guess I’m lacking mental clarity because I don’t smoke pot. – Di_bear Love is like willingly putting your unit in a blender. … Read entire article »
Filed under: MMBA
Let’s Get to the Real Issue
Healthcare reform, oil dependency and alternative fuel, a crumbling economy, stinky feet – sure, all these issues are in the forefront of American voters’ minds, but what about the real issue? BIKES! Oh, yeah. I had the guts to bring it up. Here is a quick rundown of each of the candidates regarding the most important issue of all: the bicycle. John McCain Thanks to GetOutdoors.com for providing this dandy of a picture! The fact that I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
