Cycling Politics and Trash Talk?!
I got an email from the brilliant bike advocate, Tim B. (Bikes Belong.org) who was watching PBS Evening News Hour last night. On the show Professor John Cochran of the University of Chicago singled out the “Bicycle Commuters Benefits Act” which is included in the credit bailout bill that the House will vote on tomorrow, as THE prime example of what’s wrong with the revised bill that the House will consider.
I would have to agree with Tim that extra stuff tacked on to a rescue plan (presumably to broaden the bill’s appeal) isn’t the best light to put bicycling in, especially right now. But it is politics. Timing is everything.
Still, an election year is a good time to stay focused on growing the bike piece of the transporation pie. If you ride a bike to work or for exercise there has never been a better time to raise your voice in support of bicycle infrastructure.
When’s the last time you wrote a letter to your local or state lawmakers? Hummm?? If the answer is “more than a year” giddyonup to your desk and google your state legislator’s name and address and start writing . Not sure what to say? Here’s a simple, short message:
Dear ____; I ride bikes and I vote. What is your plan to increase the safety for bicyclists in (town/state)?
Feel free to ad lib, of course. Then, after you’ve sent your letter you can follow along on who ISN’T supportive of bikes at the Bike League.org. They’ve got a new page to track trash talking politicians and arms you with data so you can talk back. That’s courtesy of another brilliant bike advocate, Andy Clarke. This is good stuff:
CATEGORIES
ARCHIVES
JOIN THE REVOLUTION
RSS
Mark Wyatt Says:
At least the bike commuter act will help main street peeps. It may encourage more people to ride by defraying some of the costs. And for $240 per year for an employer, that is just $1 per day. I will talk with my board about a $1/day if you ride stipend. At the end of the month, you can turn in receipts for equipment that match that amount.
Rebecca Says:
Hi Mark, you raise a good point and I like the $1/day ride stipend. A lot of companies now provide metro/bus passes to employees to choose not to drive. Why not reward those who are choosing to ride?
Mark Wyatt Says:
This is actually the perfect “employee purchase” program. Each employee invests $100 as a down payment to a $340 bicycle financed over 12 months. Each month, the employee pays the principle minus $1 for each day they commuted to work.