$1.2 billion on cycling and walking initiatives

[BendtheBar]

Obama administration spends $1.2 billion on cycling and walking initiatives

Obama administration spends $1.2 billion on cycling and walking initiatives - Telegraph

The Obama administration more than doubled spending on cycling and walking initiatives to $1.2 billion (£810 million) last year as it seeks to coax Americans out of their cars.

Spending on biking and walking projects rose from less than $600 million (£407 million) in 2008, according to the Federal Highway Administraion. Twenty years ago, the federal government was spending only $6 million a year on such projects.

The spending on biking and walking projects was scheduled to rise last year anyway, but the administration boosted it with $400 million in funds set aside under the economic recovery program.

The new focus on biking and walking represents a turnaround from the administration of President George W Bush. Mary Peters, transportation secretary under Bush, dismissed biking paths and trails as projects that "really are not transportation," saying they had no place in federal transportation policy.

In March, Mr Obama's transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, announced a policy "sea change" that gives biking and walking projects the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money.

The new policy is an extension of the Obama administration's livability initiative, which regards the creation of alternatives to driving – buses, streetcars and trains, as well as biking and walking – as central to solving the nation's transportation woes.

Biking and walking is on the rise, according to the report, which is based on annual survey data. The number of reported walking trips has more than doubled since the first survey, from 18 billion in 1990 to 42.5 billion in 2009. Bicycling trips saw a similar increase, from 1.7 billion to 4 billion during the same period.

Together, the two modes account for 11.9 per cent of all reported trips by Americans. Biking is less than 1 per cent of the total.

"Americans want and need safe alternatives to driving," Mr LaHood said in a statement. "By making biking and walking safer and more accessible, we'll be able to provide Americans with more choices and help foster more active, liveable communities."

[BendtheBar]

"Biking and walking is on the rise."

...So is poverty and unemployment. Anyone else see a tie-in?

[nighttrain]

yeah its hard for people that cant afford gas in thier cars to drive, so walking or biking is the only alternative...

this clown is slowly brain washing the general public...

[BendtheBar]

I think we need to spend 2 billion dollars to study the use of canoes, and see if they are a viable travel option. Maybe we can set up a system of man made rivers and canals. Possible a $500 billion dollar project...

[nighttrain]

great idea... you should run for president

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by nighttrain

great idea... you should run for president

I will stimulate the economy with the use of foolish spending!

[nighttrain]

i will vote for you!!

if you appoint me to your board of advisors

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by nighttrain

i will vote for you!!

if you appoint me to your board of advisors

Done!

[ricka182]

I hate cyclists. Seriously hate them. Part of me swears that if I knew I could get away with it, I would just run them down. It doesn't matter how many good cyclers there are; for every 1 good, there are 5 bad. I am absolutly positive, beyond any doubt that asphalt and road paving were not created to allow cyclers to do their thing. They ride in packs as opposed to single file, they expect all other vehicles to let them pass and give up right of way. They ride up to a crosswalk, push the button, then ride across when still red. So then, the damn light for motorized traffic turns red, and everyone is stopped for nothing.

Cyclists should not have the same rights as motorized. They are not the same, they don't pay road taxes for the bike, they hate all drivers, and generally are just complete a$$holes.

I hate them. May they all get flats and be forced to carry their stupid cycles; uphill; with a sudden thrunderstorm.....

/endrant

[BendtheBar]

We have a billion miles of wide, new, paved biking trails in our county and around our house, yet cyclists choose to ride on the state highway and disrupt traffic.

Why?