On Thursday Sept. 4, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected a move by the appropriations committee to eliminate funding for bicyclers and pedestrians.
During consideration of the 2004 Federal Transportation Appropriations bill, the House voted in a 327-90 decision on an amendment that would restore funding for the Transportation Enhancements program, a favorite of environmentalists. The TE program delivers $600 million each year for bike trails, underpasses and sidewalks.
The amendment to the bill, presented jointly by Rep. Thomas Petri, R-WI, and Rep. John Olver, D-MA, was heavily favored by both Democrats and Republicans and received support from bikers and activists across the country.
“Congress responded to the clear message delivered by thousands of Americans who called and wrote their representatives: We need to invest in safe places to bicycle and walk,” said Martha Roskowski, manager of the America Bikes campaign.
“The strong support from both sides of the aisle for preserving Enhancements shows that Congress, and the American people, want a transportation system that works for everyone,” Roskowski added.
This is welcome news locally, as the TE money supports state, county and local government efforts to fund projects for improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities and safety education.
This money has been a primary source of funding for these types of projects since the State Transportation Program Discretionary Fund was cut from the 2004 Wisconsin State budget.
“The [House] vote to continue the Enhancement Funding was really important because it is the main source of dollars for many current and future projects,” said John Rider, local bicyclist and bicycle safety educator.
Since 1992, $94,872,330 in TE funds have contributed to 310 bicycle and pedestrian projects in Wisconsin.
“Enhancement funds helped build projects like the Southwest Commuter Path, East Railway Corridor Trail and [the addition of] bike lanes during road upgrades, which help make bicycle commuting and general riding safer and more pleasant,” Rider said.
There is currently a TE funded project in Madison, due to begin in 2005, called the “Missing Link.” The project will connect the Lake Monona bike path to the Southwest Commuter Path, completing a 20 mile paved route in the Madison area.
“Just think: people could park at the Home Depot and ride to the Kohl Center for a game,” said Madison alder Robbie Webber, District 5, also of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
This is exactly the type of activity experts say is missing in everyday American life, especially in sprawling communities. A new national study has correlated auto-centric communities with obesity. A peer-reviewed study released published in the American Journal of Public Health found that Americans who live in sprawling areas are heavier, by an average of six pounds, and more prone to high blood pressure than those who live in more densely populated places.
Webber said she challenges state, county and local governments to stop waiting for TE money to become available and to start putting money for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the yearly budget instead.
“The State always comes up with money for the roads,” Webber said.
