Legislative Alerts and Updates!
In This Issue
Safe Routes to Schools
Transportation Bill
Complete the Streets
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 www.pccsc.net                                         Columbia, SC 29201

Good Afternoon!

Congress is writing a bill that will define our national transportation system for the next 6 years.  With these and other bills heating up in Congress, there are a tremendous amount of policy changes afoot that would impact bicycling and walking in South Carolina.
 
We need your voice and support more than ever to help shape these critical pieces of legislation.

Now is the time to let your members of Congress know how important these issues are to you.  Below you will find information on one of these new bills, as well as updates on other issues.  Please take five minutes today to let your Senators and Representatives know your thoughts.

Using the advocacy resources of the League and Complete Streets Coalition, you can edit or personalize the emails that you send to your legislators, which will help strengthen your message. Feel to add a story of your own from your community. Talk about local streets that are unsafe or the demand for biking that exists in your community.

rk signature
Rachael Kefalos
Palmetto Cycling Coalition
Safe Routes to School Reauthorization Bill
SRTSOn May 21, 2009, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Burr (R-NC) , Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined together to introduce the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act (S. 1156).  

This is an exciting and important step forward as these five diverse Senators have agreed to champion the federal Safe Routes to School program.  To get more Senators to step up as leaders on Safe Routes to School, we need your help.  Your Senators need to hear from you about the importance of growing and strengthening the Safe Routes to School program in the next transportation bill.  

Please take just five minutes to contact your two Senators to ask them to show their support for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program by co-sponsoring the legislation.  To do so, follow this link.

Then simply type in your zip code to be directed to the appropriate message.  For more information on the Safe Routes to School partnership, visit their website.
The Next Federal Transportation Bill Funding
Representative Daniel Lipinski (D, IL) is circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter proposing that the upcoming Transportation Bill, which is currently being drafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), promotes and funds alternate transportation options.  Representative Lipinski is asking his colleagues in the House of Representatives to join him in a call for increased federal funding for bicycling and pedestrian programs.    
 
We are thankful for Congressman Lipinski's efforts on behalf of cyclists nationwide and urge you to contact your Representative to ask them to join Mr. Lipinski and lend their voice to this important debate.
 
Please contact your Representatives office today and urge them to sign onto Congressman Lipinski's policy letter today.  You can use the League of American Bicyclists Advocacy Center to contact your Rep by clicking here.
Completing America's Streets
CS logoMillions of Americans are walking and bicycling and catching the bus along roads that are not properly designed - most everyone has seen the pathways tramped in the grass alongside a major roadway. This is a problem on many levels, making our streets more dangerous and encouraging more people to drive everywhere-which means more congestion and more pollution and more hard earned money going to fill up the gas tank, among other problems.

We know how to design roads that are safe for everyone - but in most places this is only done for 'special' projects. This needs to change. A federal complete streets policy would result in better roads getting built around the country - and better use of the billions of dollars invested every year in building and maintaining roads.

Please use the Complete Streets Coalition resources by clicking here, entering your zipcode, and then write and tell your representative to support federal complete streets legislation in 2009.  The bills are S. 584 introduced by Senator Harkin and H.R. 1443 introduced by Representative Matsui.

To find out more about the Complete Streets Coalition, visit their website.
Support our mission with your financial contribution! To better improve the state of bicycling in South Carolina, the Coalition relies upon the financial contributions of supporters like yourself.  Donate an additional gift today, or if you're not already a member, please become one!  We rely on your continued support to fund our programs and advocacy work.  You can donate online here or you can download our membership form.  Thank you!