Budget panel cuts $5 million for bike/pedestrian projects
Backing Gov. Scott Walker, the Republican majority on the Joint Finance Committee has voted to eliminate $5 million in state support for bicycle and pedestrian paths from the 2011-'13 transportation budget.
Based on the vote 12-4 vote on Tuesday, state support for transportation enhancements from gas tax and related revenue appears to be short-lived, lasting only one budget, 2009-'11.
According to the Department of Administration, money is limited in the $6.4 billion transportation budget, and the elimination of the spending for improvements to bike paths and pedestrian amenities reduces the overall spending.
Most of the money the state spends on improvements for non-motorized transportation comes from federal funds.
The governor's budget projects that the feds will provide nearly $18 million through the transportation enhancements and bike and pedestrian programs over the next two fiscal years. Another $23 million will be available in congestion mitigation grants, which may be used for bike projects.
Kevin Hardman, executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, said the action by the Joint Finance Committee cuts a valuable investment.
The state money helps municipalities design biking and pedestrian networks, and to make them more usable.
“What suffers when we don’t make those investments is our economic development, and connecting tourist aspects, for communities up north,” he said. “It compromises our health.
“Bicycling is a choice people make to get around and burn calories. What it compromises is our own competitiveness in attracting people to our state, for tourism and a work force.”
Convincing legislators to reinstate the state dollars for bike and pedestrian projects remains the No. 1 lobbying priority for the Bike Fed, according to Hardman.
“What I am being reminded of is that the perception still exists that bicycling is somehow outside of our transportation system or a nice thing to have,” Hardman said. “We’re working aggressively to change that perception. Bikes are legal vehicles on our roadway and should be accommodated in our transportation system.”
Oak Leaf to Interurban: Federal grant dollars have been used to make improvements to the Oak Leaf and Interurban trails in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties. In his Over the Bars in Milwaukee blog, Dave Schlabowske covers plans to link the two paths with an off-road connection.
162 Comments for "Budget panel cuts $5 million for bike/pedestrian projects"
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 1:49 PM
bike-riders over age 16 are there in WI?"
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Why does being over 16 make any difference?
When I was young we need a license plate on our bicycles, period.
Can't remember how much they cost, how/where we got them or any of that stuff, but I'm quite certain we were required to have them.
Heck, I have a bike hanging in the rafters of my garage right now that has a license plate on it (1980-81).
BigJim May 04, 2011 1:49 PM
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 1:52 PM
"The option of mass transit is not practical in our situation due to the sprall we have."
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You're absolutely right, of course, but liberal idealogues envision the day when the US is like Europe -- where people live in dense, highly-concentrated population centers connected by high speed trains.
Suburban America doesn't fit the liberal mold; their idea of how people should choose to live.
BigJim May 04, 2011 1:59 PM
Just a follow-up: You Wrote: "...You keep "loving your car" and your "personal space"."
Thank you for pointing out what my loves are, even though I never said it was me that loved them.
I have experienced well run mass transit. I have also seen well run, well thought out mass transit that's hardly ever used. It's great in theory, JsMom, but as the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
Back on the topic of bike paths...
What a great day for a ride in the park!
puzzled May 04, 2011 2:01 PM
bayview2509 May 04, 2011 2:03 PM
Would you like help packing? Sounds like you'd rather live in Europe. We certainly wouldn't want someone who doesn't like here to stay.
puzzled May 04, 2011 2:08 PM
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 2:09 PM
beadhead May 04, 2011 2:10 PM
4 or 5 times this amount for a stadium for a mediocre baseball team?
Wisconsin's problem, as shown by it's obesity figures, isn't needing more
things to sit around and watch other people do -- it's getting outside and
enjoying what used to be known as a beautiful state.
madcoca May 04, 2011 2:13 PM