Crystal City on Hill to Speak About Bike-Business Connection
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2012
CONTACT: Mary Lauran Hall, (202) 642-6617, mlhall@americabikes.org
New Survey: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Funding for Sidewalks, Bike Lanes, and Bike Paths
Washington, DC – New survey results reveal overwhelming support for biking and walking, with more than 80 percent of Americans favoring level or increased federal funding for sidewalks and bike lanes.
Shortly after students and their parents gathered to celebrate National Bike to School Day, members of Congress joined business leaders, organizers, and national bicycle advocacy organizations to announce the new data. The national survey, performed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, asked 1,003 adults in the United States about their opinions on federal funding f
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83 percent of all respondents support maintaining or growing the federal funding streams that pay for sidewalks, bikeways, and bike paths.
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80 percent of Republican respondents and 88 percent of Democrat respondents think Congress should maintain or increase federal funds for biking and walking.
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85 percent of Northeastern respondents, 79 percent of Midwesterners, 84 percent of Southerners, and 84 percent of respondents from Western states reported support for maintaining or increasing funding for sidewalks and bikeways.
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91 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 support continuing or increasing biking and walking funds.
These results add critical perspective to a pressing national debate about transportation, as members of Congress conference to develop a consensus transportation bill — and some propose eliminating dedicated funding for biking and walking.
“Americans overwhelmingly support federal funding for sidewalks and bikeways, and any controversy over this is an inside-the-Beltway issue. As more people choose to bike and walk for transportation, Americans want their communities to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that keep everyone safe,” said Caron Whitaker, campaign director of America Bikes. “Cutting programs such as Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails doesn’t save money; it just makes it harder for local governments to make their streets safer and more accessible for children and adults. Americans clearly want that small, but vital, commitment to continue.”
Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) commented, “It is important that communities continue to have access to federal resources to implement transportation improvements such as biking and pedestrian infrastructure that are meaningful to public safety, economic development and quality of life at the local level.” “This polling data clearly shows Americans want transportation options,” said Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). “Especially as gas prices increase, Americans want options that help them save money, spend time with their families, and burn calories instead of carbon. I hope that this new data will remind my colleagues that communities large and small support fully funding sidewalks, bike lanes, and other improvements to make biking and walking safer and more convenient.”
Representative Tom Petri (R-WI) commented, "As we continue work on transportation legislation in the House, we should be careful to produce a balanced program which includes sidewalks, bike lanes and bike paths. The transportation and health benefits of biking and walking are important, and it would be a mistake to reverse the progress we have already made there."
”Across the nation, thousands of kids were eager and excited to get on their bikes and ride to school this morning with their parents and friends,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “Federal funding plays a critical role in making it safe and enjoyable for students to bike to school and learn healthy transportation habits that can last a lifetime.”
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The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) is a public-private partnership established in April 2006 to promote the vibrant Crystal City business, retail, restaurant and residential community. The BID is committed to showcasing the area as a world-class destination for visitors, employees and residents. Crystal City is ACTIVE, ARTFUL, ACCESSIBLE, and GREEN. For more information, visit www.crystalcity.org.
