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"
Aside from the "safe passing zone" part -- which often has as much to do with bicyclists riding abreast or straying too far into the roadway -- the same things happen to those of us who ride scooters & motorcycles.
It's a matter of preoccupied drivers, mainly texters & cell phone users, and it's tough to pass laws or design roadways that protect us from people who are too selfish and too busy to pay attention behind the wheel.
Bottom line: The best way to stay alive is to assume that people in cars, trucks, SUVs, etc can not see you and/or are not paying attention....because it's true.
After getting pinched into the curb by two texters last summer -- one incident was really close to being very, very bad -- I promised myself that the next person who did it would get an adjustable wrench through their windshield.
"There ya go. Maybe you can finish your super-important texting while waiting to getting your windshield fixed."
'Course I probably won't do it, even as much as I might like to, but the fact of the matter is that it's dangerous out there, and we can't fix the problem by tossing money at it.
BigJim May 04, 2011 1:09 PM
each year? How much to you think administrative costs would be? How many
bike-riders over age 16 are there in WI?
MKE Doer May 04, 2011 1:14 PM
wigwam May 04, 2011 1:15 PM
LP Hillclimber May 04, 2011 1:19 PM
From DOT's web site: "Bicycling plays an important role in moving people in Wisconsin, many of whom rely on or choose this form of travel for their main means of transportation. Studies show that as many as 5% of commuters in Wisconsin bicycle to work during peak months.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation recently released a state bicycle plan to help communities and individuals develop bicycle-friendly facilities throughout the state. All 14 metropolitan areas in Wisconsin also have their own bicycle and pedestrian plans."
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/state/docs/complete-streets-presentation.pdf
Here's a report on the economic impact of bicycing in Wisconsin.
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/econdev/docs/impact-bicycling.pdf
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 1:22 PM
Agreed. Assume every driver is texting. I'm amazed at the cyclists and dog walkers on county highways. Crazy.
wigwam May 04, 2011 1:23 PM
Agreed. Total waste of our tax dollars.
wigwam May 04, 2011 1:25 PM
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 1:27 PM
older? There's your $5 million ... easily!"
I'm just asking you to show your math
MKE Doer May 04, 2011 1:28 PM
Maybe if they had bike paths/pedestrian alternatives? Hmmm...well forget that.
I have a cabin up north and there is quite frankly no alternative when walking the dog but to walk part of the way on county highways. Same goes for biking.
Hopeful Wisconsin May 04, 2011 1:29 PM