Senator Jim DeMint, the South Carolina Republican who said that directing stim funds toward bicycle and hiking infrastructure will not help the economy or create jobs, has gone too far. He and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, another pro-highway Republican who is no friend of bicyclists, have just proposed an amendment that would kill all stimulus funds for bike and hiking trails.
In a statement, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) said it shows how short-sighted and out of touch Republicans are:
Investment in bike paths will not only improve oureconomy, and take our country in the right direction for our future; itis precisely the kind of investment the American people want. Americanfamilies have indicated time and again in the passage of bond measuresacross the country that they favor spending on alternativetransportation, such as bicycles and mass transit, over spending onmore highway capacity. Americans want a real solution to the economiccrisis, not just a band-aid fix. These investments will stimulate theeconomy in the present and point our nation toward the economic andenvironmental realities of the future.
Call or write DeMint and Coburn and tell them what investing in bicycle infrastructure really means:
Coburn's Washington office: 202-224-5754 or email.
DeMint's Washington office: 202-224-6121 or email.
And then call Senators Feinstein and Boxer and tell them to kill the amendment:
Feinstein's Washington office: 202-224-3841 or email.
Boxer's Washington office: 202-224-3553 or email.
