Tell Metro to Fund Bike/Ped Projects
Thread started by
daymen at 07.14.08 - 1:06 pm
Thanks to Ingipet who put this up in the Bastille Day Thread, but to attract some other attention.
I put together a sign-on letter asking Metro to set aside some of the windfall they would get if they get voter approval for their sales tax proposal this fall. Basically, we're asking for a 1% set aside for bike projects and another 1% for pedestrian projects. I know it doesn't seem like much, I'd prefer the number to be closer to10% for each, but given that they're voting on the proposal 10 days from now it's the best we can probably get, AND it would over double their current bike/ped set aside.
The letter is below, if you want to sign on email METROLETTER@HOTMAIL.COM. We won't email back unless we have a question (for example, if we got an email from Ubrayj2, I might email back and ask his real name...just an example, Ubrayj was one of our first signators)
http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/14/bikeped-advocates-want-your-help-to-get-more-funds-from-metro/
(Read ingipet's post here:)
http://www.midnightridazz.com/forums.php?topicId=3850&pgnum=1
Dear Metro Boardmember,
As currently proposed, Metro's plan to spend the $40 billion that would be created by a half cent increase in the county sales tax includes no funds set aside specifically for bicycle and pedestrian projects. This is a critical mistake, both from political and public planning perspectives. Given recent headlines, it is impossible to argue that the county is meeting cyclists' needs and after all, anyone that uses public transportation is a pedestrian at the beginning and end of their trip.
By not funding two popular and sustainable modes of transportation, Metro is unwittingly alienating people who would likely support both the proposed increase and many of the projects the increase would fund. To fix this problem, we propose setting aside 1% of the annual intake to fund bicycle projects and another 1% to fund pedestrian projects from the windfall that will be achieved by increasing the sales tax.
The case for better funding for pedestrian projects is an easy one to make. No matter one's preferred mode of transportation, for part of every trip the traveler spends some time as a pedestrian. People who walk to and from transit stops deserve wide, flat, unbroken sidewalks and attractive and comfortable shelter at the stops. People who only travel by foot are engaging in the most sustainable form of transportation and should be encouraged by their government officials to continue to do so.
Tens of thousands of LA residents travel everyday on their bikes, and many of them aren't doing it by choice, but because of economic reasons. While the law states that cyclists have equal rights to the road, the reality is they are not treated as equals by their fellow travelers. To not set aside funding for bicycles in a $40 billion budget just affirms what so many people erroneously believe, that bicyclists are second class users of our roads and should not be treated with the same respect as an automobile. Of course, the state of the bike networks in LA County varies wildly depending upon what municipality you happen to be in. Setting aside money for everyone to compete for would create an incentive for all municipalities to put forward deserving and well thought out bike project proposals.
At Metro's June Board Meeting, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa compared those interest groups fighting for a favorite project to people fighting over who gets the biggest cookie. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky used the same analogy for pies. Taking their imagery to its logical conclusion, those fighting for better funding for bicycles and pedestrians aren't even allowed in the kitchen. Instead, we're being told to wait at the kid's table to battle it out for the leftover crumbs, i.e. the 20% of the budget called "Local Return" funds that filter back to individual communities to be spent as they wish. With just 2% of the total budget, you would not only send the message that non-motorized travel is critical to Los Angeles County's future, you also help create a future where cyclists and pedestrians have a safer and more enjoyable way to travel.
Sincerely,
Colin Bogart, Enci Box, Stephen Box, Josef Bray-Ali, Jason Burns, Liz Elliott, Rob Galbraith, Aimee Gilchrist, Siel Ju, Tony Jusay, Jennifer Klausner, Erik Knutzen, Dorothy Le, Jessica Meaney, Ron Milam, Deborah Murphy, Damien Newton, Ingrid Peterson, David Pulsipher, Shay Sanchez, Alex Thompson
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where's sexy?!!! start inciting the people sexy. sign the letter.
ingipet07.14.08 - 5:00 pm
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wow a half cent would generate $40 billion? make that shit 3 cents
Roadblock07.14.08 - 7:53 pm
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man metro needs mor biker friendly buses. how many times have i been with one person riding and we have to wait for like 4 buses to go bye so we can get two open bike spots on the front. shit is weaksauce
freshnistic flavor07.14.08 - 9:13 pm
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sexy.......start inciting the masses....ca'mon!!!
there is exactly NO fuding dedicated to bikes from this proposed tax increase and we can *try* to change that....
ingipet07.15.08 - 9:11 am
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this is still important.
sign.
ingipet07.15.08 - 12:42 pm
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Signed!
Bump.
This is important stuff.
kyber07.15.08 - 1:05 pm
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Do this. It takes no time at all - send one email to metroletter@live.com asking to add your name to the list of signatories.
Alex Thompson07.15.08 - 1:15 pm
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My email bounced for some reason (yes the address was correct)
Can someone just add my name?
kyber07.15.08 - 1:21 pm
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talked with damien about bounced back emails yesterday...i've been forwarding names to him...
how about this ---- just add your name to THIS THREAD and then damien can collect the names from here....
ingipet07.15.08 - 1:24 pm
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i'm on it....except for how i don't know your last name..... D'OH!
ingipet07.15.08 - 1:27 pm
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wow a half cent would generate $40 billion? make that shit 3 cents
so every hundred dollar spent you will pay $12.25 in sales taxs.
Now you pay $8.25. If this passes you will pay $8.75
I don't have any problem paying taxes. I have a problem with the way the pay to play politicians spend that money
Yes I'll sign the petition, but I don't see this whole bill passing. We pay too much in sales taxs as it is.
Yes Ingipet I'll think of chastising way to get people to sign this.
sexy07.15.08 - 1:42 pm
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Hey kyber, I got your message. It went to the SPAM box for some reason I don't know but I was able to add you to our list no problem. We're almost at 50 signatures, which is great but not enough to catch Metro's attention...so keep sending me notes and keep forwarding the message to friend's who might be interested.
Thanks,
D
daymen07.15.08 - 1:50 pm
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and aren't we paying a extra 1% sales tax that goes to the MTA in Los Angeles county already.
I appreciate what you are doing, but only 1%. When negotiating, you go in high and work down to what you want. How about 5% for bikes and 2% for pedestrians.
Thanks for creating the letter and the thread
Will send it out.
I think of a easier way to send this. Somebody who is web savy.
Do you know how to create one of those pages where the letter is already to send out all you do is input your email address name and address and press send. It sends it out for you that way.
I know it just cut and past, but this may get more people to send it in. Just a suggestion.
sexy07.15.08 - 1:51 pm
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you can send them the link to damien's story over on streetsblog. has the letter, info and email contact in there.... fairly straightforward.
http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/14/bikeped-advocates-want-your-help-to-get-more-funds-from-metro/
Click here to go directly to STREETSBLOG article
or just directly email your name to-->
metroletter@live.com
ingipet07.15.08 - 2:01 pm
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Sexy,
First, the email thing was because this whole idea came together quickly and I don't know how to put one of those things together. Also, because we're dealing with the Metro Board, a group of old-schoolers, I wanted actual signatures because I thought that had the best chance of catching their attention. These are some of the same people that would call LAist and bloggers extremists. Let's not confuse them with scary things like Internet addresses.
The 1% number has gotten a lot of attention and debate. We wanted a number that was low enough that they could actually meet it without screwing up the rest of their budget too much, and since it's 1% for bikes and 1$ for pedestrians, that would be 10% of their local aid funds. If we had organized earlier, I would have pushed for a lot more funding, but since they're voting on this a week from Thursday and they've barely heard a peep from cyclists, I thought we should give them a request they could actually meet if they so chose.
daymen07.15.08 - 3:29 pm
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I love how the topic appears in the left column.
marino07.15.08 - 4:47 pm
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^ i know. i didnt want to say anything. love it.
HANDBONE07.15.08 - 4:48 pm
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^Me too.
Please add my name! :)
Chynna Monforte
imachynna07.15.08 - 5:14 pm
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keep on truckin'! i really hope we get a lot more than 50 signatures. i say that our goal should be at least 300 by thursday. i mean. come on! it's just a signature.
bah! we better get people!
gohomedorothy07.15.08 - 11:59 pm
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I sent this to METROLETTER@HOTMAIL.COM
and was returned as a failure
I sent the same email to
metroletter@live.com
My email like it.
What are you waiting for, sign this letter and send it in. Unless you don't want any of the possible money they may tax you on to go to bike and pedestrian project
Sign on, send it in. It's easy.
sexy07.16.08 - 4:47 am
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yeah i think the metroletter@live.com ----works better...
all right, i knew it would come to this.
sign the letter.
i will give you beer.
ingipet07.16.08 - 8:06 am
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Lord, I'm an idiot. yes @live.com . That I have to go to hotmail.com to check the account makes me screw it up from time to time.
daymen07.16.08 - 8:41 am
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BEER I'll one up you on that. Sign the letter and if it gets the MTA boards attention to where they act on the request. Then if this bill passes. I'll get you 40 billion for bike way programs.
beer and $40 billion for bikes. You'll be stupid not to sign it.
If you don't pay attention to politics, well then I guess you are _______
sexy07.16.08 - 10:09 am
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300 would be awesome. We're currently not yet at 100, but we pick up a couple new sigs. every hour.
daymen07.16.08 - 12:50 pm
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how we doing daymen?
i don't know if even beer will work!!
less whining.
more signing.
ingipet07.16.08 - 8:11 pm
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In my mind, you have no right to complain about cycling conditions in LA if you do not sign this.
kyber07.16.08 - 8:23 pm
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just signed it... where's my stella?
or was i not the 300th signature?
thanks for all you guys are doing. i wish i had more time in the day to be a little more relevant with what's going on and being proposed. just know i back it up 110%.
July07.16.08 - 10:06 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
Great work people!