Since I am in the mood for controversy at the moment, let me add a quick post about something nagging me.
I read over at Cyclelicious about the Bicycle Commuter Benefits Act. It had been sponsored (I am guessing that is what spearheaded means) by Congressman Blumenauer.
I got to listen to Blumenauer speak at the Bike Summit back in March. Neat person, I like his ideas (and his tie). Oregon has a really active cycling advocacy community, and I could tell that this person was a leader there.
So, why am I pissed angry slightly irritated? Maybe it has to do with this Congress going nutso with the pork on the bailout package (or as I wittily stated in the title of this post, the failout package [hah, get it?]).
My thinking is this, can we not get legislation like this passed on its own merit? Is there a reason it doesn't stand well on its own, or part of some, oh I don't know, related bill or resolution? At what point do we say, hey, bicycling is not only a viable mode of transportation, but it can also be recognized as such without contributing to the negative stigma of the largest financial shakeup we have had in at least a generation!
Right now is a politically charged time, where lots of folks are blown away by the surrealism surrounding current events and the immediate future of this country. I personally did not want another weird act of Congress to leave me in a daze. Can we get something clear and distinct and that feels right, please?
Comments
Paul
October 21, 2008 - 3:05pm
Permalink
Get Real
You know, sometimes the system works, and sometimes it does not. In this situation, an important piece of policy was enacted under the cover of a broader measure. It's better to have this provision in law, than not to, even if it was not done in the cleanest way.
The League of American Bicyclists has an excellent short discussion of just this topic, see:
http://www.bikeleague.org/action/trashtalk/index.php
Quoting from LAB:
What are the facts:
The Bicycle Commuter Act has been in front of Congress for seven years; it’s a simple, equitable provision that puts cyclists on the same footing as people who get tax breaks for taking transit or driving (or parking, actually) their cars to and from work. The total anticipated cost of the provision is a very modest $10 million over several years – hardly a deal-breaker in a piece of legislation with an $850 billion price tag. Ironically, the renewable energy programs (including the bicycle commuter act) in the legislation are all offset by other revenue measures.
The Bicycle Commuter Act is an important program that deserves our support – the financial bailout legislation may not be most appropriate legislative vehicle to get it passed.
Add new comment