Via the Thunderhead Alliance, there is an alert that Senator DeMint of South Carolina wishes to propose an amendment to the federal stimulus package to specifically prohibit infrastructure spending on facilities to benefit bicyclists, walkers, and users of off-road vehicles.
It hasn’t been formally introduced to the package as yet, but the League of American Bicyclists has put together a way to get a call in to your Senator to urge they vote against it. Minnesotans will wish to call an office of their sole Senator, Amy Klobuchar.
To claim such projects do not help stimulate the economy is a little precious. I’m sure our friends in Northern Minnesota can tell everyone how the economy is hurting winter resorts that get a lot of snowmobilers, and who will feel similar impact around ATVs come summer. Similarly, providing better access to regular use of bicycles helps Amercans save money at the pump and reallocate their funds to food, shleter, and other niceties and necessities. Construction of these projects, as with any other construction project, employs people. Employed people are a good thing.
