Ron and Dorothy Strasser
I agree. It is important for people to comment. Huge step backwards! Our voices need to be heard or we accept what others deem necessary for our mode of transport. We are talking making riding and walking more safe for all levels of people who use these modes of transport........including kids going to school, people going to work and the store as well as training rides and trips across the country. These activities (walking and riding) help us control the amount of oil we import, are healthy modes of transport and doggone it make us feel good. Safety for people, less need for oil imports and jobs building infrastructure for non-motorized transport. Go figure!
Only takes a few minutes.
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Todd Mobley
To: Long, Steve
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 7:28 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FW: AASHTO To Weaken USDOT Bike Policy
Wow, that is surprising to see from AASHTO. Sounds like a big step back! I clicked on the "take action" link and submitted comments, with some edits to the standard form letter. I would encourage others to do the same...
-Todd
--
Todd E. Mobley, PE, PTOE
Principal
Lancaster Engineering
(503) 248-0313 phone
(503) 248-9251 fax
On Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 1:42 PM, Long, Steve wrote:
I didn’t see this on the OBRA list so I thought I’d forward it on.
From: League of American Bicyclists [mailto:bikeleague@bikeleague.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 1:36 PM
To: Long, Steve
Subject: AASHTO To Weaken USDOT Bike Policy
AASHTO wants to weaken US DOT bicycle accommodation policy
Take Action!
Contact Your State Department of Transportation
On Friday, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a letter and supplemental document, which asked the US Department of Transportation to weaken their guidance on accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians. The supplemental document, submitted as part of a formal review of regulations, asks that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) withdraw their guidance on the meaning of “due consideration” of bicyclists and pedestrians to make it easier for states to ignore the needs of non-motorized travelers. AASHTO prefers the weaker “consider where appropriate” to allow states to avoid having to justify failure to accommodate bicycling and walking.
This request is misguided. At a time when cities are building entire bicycling networks for the cost of one mile of urban four-lane freeway, bike projects are putting people to work, and benefiting business, this is not the time to move backwards. When more and more states – 23 and counting – are embracing Complete Streets policies, AASHTO should be a leading voice in shaping holistic and comprehensive transportation systems, not resisting them. In fact, AASHTO’s own 12 year-old Bicycle Guide, due to be up dated this year, says that bicyclists and pedestrians can be expected on any roadway they are legally allowed to operate and therefore should be accommodated.
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