action alert

Our colleagues at the Safe Routes to School National Partnership are making a special push in California this week, and they need you to contact your State Assembly and Senate Members TODAY.

ACTION ALERT

• -Contact your California State Assembly and Senate Members this Week.
• -Ask Them to Sign-On to a California Letter to Senator Boxer urging her to protect Safe Routes to School and bike/ped funding in the Federal Transportation Bill.

California Friends of Safe Routes to School,

Head to Transportation for America to email your Senator in seconds.

This year, around $700 million of Federal transportation funds, which in reality is less than 2 percent of total transportation dollars, will be spent on bicycling and walking. In 2012 that figure might be a big fat zero.

This Action Alert is from Dan Snyder, Relaunch Director and CEO of the California Bicycle Coalition. Let's all help support the passage of this important bill!

Senate Bill 910 (Lowenthal) would require motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing from behind under most circumstances.

Next week SB 910 will be heard by the full Senate and we want to ensure that it receives strong support. So we're asking bike advocacy organizations and individuals throughout the state to send their own letters of support to their state senators.

The California Bicycle Coalition is warning that Caltrans may be getting ready to take away millions of dollars in bicycle and pedestrian funding.

In the latest budget deal, the two parties agreed to rescind $2.5 billion in unspent federal transportation funds. Caltrans has to give back some money, but they can decide which funds they send back. Based upon history, we know what happens next: Caltrans mostly gives back the funds that your community uses to pay for bike lanes, trails, and education programs!

Do you ride a bike in the City of San José? Wouldn’t you like to see more buildings in San José with quality bike parking for employees and visitors? Now’s your chance!

Let the San José City Council know you support the proposed new standards for more and better bike parking when new buildings are constructed in the City. Email the Mayor and City Council with a subject line like “Support 10-26-10 Council item 4.1 – Better Bike Parking."

A team of SVBC staff and board members will head to Washington D.C. next week to participate in the 2010 National Bike Summit. This year’s Summit marks ten years of cycling advocates from across the nation meeting to learn, share, and advocate in the nation’s capital. While in D.C., attendees will participate in workshops designed to unify our message on issues affecting the bicycling community, in preparation for a series of meetings with Congressional representatives and their staff.