Don't bike without a tail light
« Christmas Gifts For Bicyclists | Home | Obama Inauguration Bicycle Rip-Off »
Don’t Sign The Rails To Trails Petition
By spokesman | December 13, 2008
I recent saw a posting on the Biking Bis blog entitled “Obama’s public works plan should include bicycle facilities; here’s a petition” . It included a link to a petition on the Rails To Trails website requesting infrastructure spending on bicycle and pedestrian projects.
While I am a big fan of Rails-To-Trails, I am against the petition. President Elect Obama has announced his plans to proceed with a large infrastructure based stimulus package to create jobs and improve the economy. He made the announcement at a meeting of Governors. In order to get the money flowing quickly, he emphasized that the focus will be on projects that are ready to go. The result has been a flood of requests as governors, mayors, congressmen, lobbyists, unions, companies, think tanks, and other organizations try to position their pet projects in order to get their share of the money.
I believe that economic stimulus is needed but projects should be selected based on their investment merits and not on which project is ready to go or which project gets the most lobbying. It should be based on which projects will have the greatest long term economic benefit. While I would love more bike paths, as a taxpayer I would rather have the money invested in projects that could significantly reduce our dependence on oil, reduce greenhouse gases or improve health care delivery. We can even finish re-building New Orleans.
If you like this post then please consider subscribing to my full feed RSS . You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.
Topics: Bikes and Politics, Trails/Bike Routes |