Bike/Ped Funding Safe for now.

Thank you for all your great work and preparation to protect federal funding for biking and walking this week. I know many of you have done some incredible outreach to your members of Congress and their staff, educating them about the important ways that biking and walking contribute to our health, our economy, and our communities.

Well, great news: It worked!
Of the nearly 600 amendments to the 2011 House budget bill (HR1), biking and walking, Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School were not singled out to be cut. It's an amazing testament to your work, and the work of all the partners in the America Bikes coalition, that we're still standing. Special thanks to Caron Whitaker, America Bikes' Campaign Director, who has been a strong voice for our issues on Capitol Hill. It's still possible that, in a few weeks, we may face amendments in the Senate that attack biking and walking. So keep your radar up for upcoming alerts.

In the meantime, though, I wanted to share some information that we encourage you to act on, as appropriate, to show your support for other vital programs. In the House, dramatic cuts have been proposed to transit, recreational trails, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition — of which IMBA is a member — is circulating an alert about Amendment 361. Offered by Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), the amendment would kill the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides public access to public lands, including trails. Ask your Representative to vote NO on Amendment 361. Click here for more information on this alert.
• Transportation for America (T4) is concerned about massive cuts to transit and rail. Click here for their alert. They are not sure whether they will do another alert today. If so, it will not be live until later this afternoon. 

Thank you again for all you've done!
More detailed followup can be found here

Jeff Miller
President/CEO