Tell Ohio to keep its cycling money!

Today ClevelandBikes emailed this alert to Ohio cyclists:

The federal government is asking states to rescind (or send back) money that they previously provided and cyclists are concerned Ohio Dept. of Transportation, already eager not to fund cycling and walking, will only be too happy to send money for cycling projects back. Contact the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Governor to say "NO! Don't single out cycling and walking projects when you make rescission recommendations."

Governor John Kasich
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Oh 43215-6117
http://governor.ohio.gov/ShareYourIdeas.aspx
Phone: (614) 466-3555

ODOT Director Jerry Wray
2nd Floor, 1980 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43223
Phone: (614) 466-2336
fax: (614) 644-8662
no email address provided

Background: The Federal Highway Administration informed state Departments of Transportation of another rescission of funds, this time totaling $2.5 billion. Unfortunately, we need to act quickly as FHWA issued their notice as the nation started to go on holiday, asking for the states to respond by July 8th. Here is a link to the information from League of American Bicyclists. In August 2010, almost $1 billion was returned to FHWA from the funds that are primarily used to fund cycling and walking projects, out of a $2.2 billion total rescission.

Tell ODOT and the Governor, cyclists have already given enough!

Nationwide, less than 1.5% of funds authorized under the federal transportation law have been allocated for projects to improve the safety of walking and bicycling, even though pedestrians comprise 11.8 % of all traffic deaths and trips made on foot account for almost 9% of total trips.

By all measure, bicycle riding is up, fatalities are down and a reason is better public awareness of safety and the construction and use of better public facilities for riding, with lanes, paths, lights and signs:

* The number of bike commuters rose in the US by 64% (1990-09), with the bike share of commuters rising from .4 to .6%.

* Cycling fatalities (down 21%) and serious injuries (down 31%) (1988-2008).

*Cities are using a range of activities to encourage riding, such as creation of infrastructure such as lanes and paths.

Source: “Analysis of Bicycling Trends and Policies in Large North American Cities” Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University (2011).

Here's the League of American Bicyclists' web page of information:

http://www.advocacyadvance.org/site_images/content/Rescissions_FAQs.pdf

Thanks for all your efforts to support cycling and walking projects in Ohio.