[SDCBC] FW: League Responds to U.S. Transportation Secretary's comments on PBS

[John Forester]

Andy Clarke's letter sent by the League is largely misrepresentation.

If the issue is the extent to which bike paths and trails serve 
largely transportation or largely recreation purposes, I think it has 
been accepted by most who have discussed this issue that, by length 
and probably by cost, the larger part of bike paths and trails serve 
largely recreational purposes. In any case, I have seen no careful 
study of this issue that might refute my hypothesis. One of my 
suspicions is that this is an issue that most would rather keep under 
the rug, afraid that a careful study would show the recreational bias.

Clarke then writes of the need to encourage bicycle transportation 
for trips of less than 2 miles and less than 1 mile. Considering the 
few possible urban locations for bike paths and trails, the 
probability that any randomly chosen trip of 1.5 miles would be well 
served by a bike path or trail is extremely small, far too small to 
be considered in transportation planning.

It is this kind of mendacity that makes reform of the League an 
absolute necessity.




At 10:01 AM 8/17/2007, Kathy Keehan wrote:
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>
>If you heard the interview with DOT Secretary Peters, you know that 
>she thinks bicycle infrastructure is a waste of money. Links below 
>if you would like to send her an email about her misguided ways. :-)
>Thanks to the League of American Bicyclists for their excellent 
>response letter and getting the word out!
>Kathy
>
>From: Walter Finch [mailto:walter at bikeleague.org]
>Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 12:50 PM
>To: Kathleen Keehan
>Subject: League Responds to U.S. Transportation Secretary's comments on PBS
>
>Take Action Now
>Image removed by sender.
>
>League Responds to U.S. Transportation Secretary's comments on PBS
>Transportation Secretary Mary Peters talks about infrastructure 
>problems and travel initiatives.
>
><http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/1/OUUQHNJXDR/OHFCHNJYBL/1358931826>More Info
>Peters cited "bicycle paths" as a prime example of the waste
>
>Last night on the PBS NewsHour with Jim Leher, DOT Secretary Mary 
>Peters was interviewed by Gwen Ifill.
>
>Peters, when asked about a possible gas tax increase, repeated 
>President Bush's response - No, there can be no tax increase because 
>Congress is wasting the money they already get.  Peters cited 
>"bicycle paths" as a prime example of the waste because bicycles are 
>not a transportation use of the gas tax money.
>
>It is disappointing that the administration is attacking Jim 
>Oberstar for his efforts to get the Minneapolis bridge repaired 
>along with raising all the funding for transportation maintenance, 
>by using Oberstar's support for bicycles as a weapon.
>
>The League of American Bicyclists feels strongly that this should 
>not go without a response and we have sent a letter to Secretary 
>Peters voicing our view. 
><http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/1/OUUQHNJXDR/DFNIHNJYBM/1358931826>Click 
>here to view our response.
>
>For those of you who feel strongly about bicycling issues, we would 
>also urge you to 
><http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/1/OUUQHNJXDR/ABCPHNJYBN/1358931826>contact 
>  the Secretary to share your personal viewpoints.
>
>To view a copy of the program 
><http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/1/OUUQHNJXDR/BNYCHNJYBO/1358931826>click here
>If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click 
><http://capwiz.com/lab/lmx/u/?jobid=89284147&queueid=1358931826>here.
>Image removed by sender.
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>
>
>
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John Forester, MS, PE
Bicycle Transportation Engineer
7585 Church St.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945-2306
619-644-5481 www.johnforester.com
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