U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters Derides Federal Spending on Bicycle Paths
The Bush administration is blaming the collapse of the bridge in
Minneapolis on the diversion of highway funds for the construction of
bike paths. The best defense is always a good offense. Apparently
this is a new Republican mantra - attack money being spent on
bicycling infrastructure as an example of Democratic pork, and by
inference a waste of tax dollars.
In the interview Mary Peters says, as a criticism of the way funds
authorized by highway spending bills are being spent: "There are
museums being built with that money, bike paths, ..."
Along the same lines, here are some comments about bicycles and tax
money by Congressman Patrick McHenry, a Republican representing the
10th District of North Carolina. McHenry, as quoted in the
Congressional Record:
"A major component of the Democrats' energy legislation and the
Democrats' answer to our energy crisis is, hold on, wait one minute,
wait one minute, it is promoting the use of the bicycle. Oh, I
cannot make this stuff up. Yes, the American people have heard this.
Their answer to our fuel crisis, the crisis at the pumps, is: Ride a
bike."
Here's the note from the League of American Bicyclists about the
interview. Their response to the Secretary is below.
League of American Bicyclists Responds to U.S. Transportation
Secretary's comments on PBS
To listen to the program click here:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/newshour/rss/media/2007/08/15/20070815_dot28.mp3
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters talks about infrastructure
problems and travel initiatives.
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. (Response of the League is below)
For those of you who feel strongly about bicycling issues, we would
also urge you to contact the Secretary to share your personal
viewpoints.
August 16, 2007
The Honorable Mary E. Peters
Secretary of Transportation
U.S Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Secretary Peters:
I listened with dismay to your recent interview on the MacNeil Lehrer
Newshour, August 15 airing, on the subject of transportation funding
and the Minneapolis bridge collapse. I was particularly taken aback
by your comments related to the funding of bicycle projects in the
United States.
1. Your statement that bicycle trails and paths are not
“transportation-related” or “infrastructure” is baffling. I have been
riding to work every day in Washington DC for almost 20 years on one
of the regions many well-used bicycle paths, many of which have
benefited from Federal transportation funding. Tens of millions of
bicyclists and pedestrians in communities across the country use
trails to get to work, school, shops, and to visit friends and family
— and every one of these trips prevents congestion, pollution, and
energy consumption while improving the health of the rider or walker.
2. You left the impression that an enormous percentage of Federal
transportation funds are spent on projects such as these. The reality
is that only one percent of these funds are spent on bicycling and
walking projects despite the fact that these two modes account for
ten percent of all trips in the country and 12 percent of traffic
fatalities each year.
3. You also left the impression that critical bridge projects are
being left unfunded because of this. You did not point out the huge
sums of money that states have been allocated for bridge projects
over the years but they have failed to spend. Indeed, states have
returned to Washington hundreds of millions of “unspent” bridge
program dollars as part of recent rescissions ordered by the Congress.
I find it astonishing that, almost 20 years after the groundbreaking
ISTEA legislation that created flexibility and allowed greater local
input over Federal transportation funding, you would single out
bicycle trails in this way. At a time when individuals, communities
and as a nation we are battling congestion, obesity, energy
consumption, global warming, and air quality issues, projects and
programs to help people use alternatives to driving are a wise
investment.
More than 40 percent of trips in urban areas in the this country are
two miles or less; one quarter are just one mile or less and most of
even these trips are made by car. I urge you to stand beside
Congressman Oberstar, Congressman Blumenauer, and others in Congress
who are attempting to efficiently and effectively unclog our highways
by shifting some of these short, polluting car trips to healthier modes.
Secretary Peters, as Federal Highway Administrator you delivered
remarks at the 2002 National Bike Summit that presented a much
different view of the role bicycling can play in our national
transportation system.
As you stated then, and I quote, “Many people in our country use
bikes for more than recreation. For them, bikes are their vehicle for
the commute to work and for the errands of daily life. We need every
mode of transportation to keep America mobile. What modes did you use
to get to your hotel? Very few of us depend on a single mode. I
strongly agree with Secretary Mineta, bicyclists are an integral part
of our nation’s transportation system and we all need to work
together to develop a better more balanced transportation system that
provides facilities and programs for bicyclists on a routine basis.”
Secretary Peters, I urge you to stand by your words in 2002, and
publicly correct the misleading impressions regarding bicycling that
you left with the viewers of the MacNeil Lehrer show.
Sincerely,
Andy Clarke
Executive Director
League of American Bicyclists
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