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Last month, we asked you to contact Senators DeMint and Graham to oppose Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn's plan to strip funding from the Transportation Enhancements program, which is the main source of the federal investment for bike projects of all types. South Carolina bicycle advocates like you contributed to more than 75,000 emails to Congress in 48 hours. This rapid and powerful grassroots response succeeded: Mr. Coburn withdrew his amendment and crucial funding for bicycling was preserved.
We are sorry to report that bike infrastructure funding is under serious and immediate attack again - this time in an amendment proposed by Senator Rand Paul (KY) that would redirect all funding for Transportation Enhancements to bridge repairs. Mr. Paul's amendment is set for a Senate vote on Tuesday, November 1.
If this amendment is successful, it will strip away the approximately $700 million of federal transportation funds- less than 2 percent of total transportation dollars nationally- that should be spent on bicycling and walking projects.
Please contact South Carolina's Senators TODAY and let them know you support continued funding for biking and walking and the repeated
We agree on the need to keep our bridges safe, but the lives of pedestrians and cyclists are important too. Thirteen people died when the Minneapolis bridge collapsed in 2007: since then, close to 20,000 pedestrians and 2,800 cyclists have died on our nation's highways, largely as a result of poor highway design and a lack of safe non-motorized infrastructure - exactly what the enhancement program was created to fix.
South Carolina especially cannot afford to lose what little funding we have. We rank 49th out of 50 for bicycle safety.
This is the third time in a month that a small group of Senators have targeted Transportation Enhancements. It is a waste of the Senate's time and taxpayers dollars to focus on this small and valuable program when we are in dire need of real and viable solutions to fix our failing transportation system.
We are asking you to contact Senators Graham and DeMint and urge them to support continued funding for biking and walking. Don't let Congress take away this vital investment program for smart, sustainable, safe transportation and recreation choices.
Thanks for your support and quick response.
Rachael Kefalos Bronson
Palmetto Cycling Coalition
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