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Home :: Projects :: Ventura Bike Union :: 25% of the Casualties 1% of the Budget - Increase Funding for Safe Biking and Walking
Bicyclists and Pedestrians make up a whopping 25% of all traffic injuries and fatalities in Southern California. (2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System)
And currently 21% of all trips in the So Cal Region are done via walking and bicycling. (2009 National Household Travel Survey)
This Spring the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) a six-county planning agency, will vote on a new Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that will affect 18 million people. It is a 25 year plan that won't be revised till 2016. The draft RTP now out for public comment recommends 1.3% of the budget for walking and bicycling investments. How can 1.3% of the funds tackle 25% of the safety issues, and 21% of the trips?
In addition, there are so many reasons our communities desperately need to switch to "Active Transportation." From childhood obesity and diabetes, to the climate change crisis, to rising gas prices in a struggling economy, we need safe, viable bicycle and pedestrian routes. We simply cannot afford to wait another four years to start working on the solution!
Please sign our petition today, and urge SCAG to increase the RTP budget for safer bicycle and pedestrian routes to 5% - 8%. (Cost methodology for a bikeable/walkable region developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)
Public comment ends February 2012, so it's critical to add your voice in support of active transportation biking and walking today, and then invite your friends!
Petition: Increase Funding for Active Transportation
Whereas 25% of roadway injuries and fatalities in the SCAG Region are bicyclists and pedestrians.
Whereas childhood obesity and diabetes in our communities have reached epidemic levels.
Whereas public roadways must be accessible to all people, including those who cannot afford the skyrocketing prices of gasoline.
Whereas bicycle infrastructure costs for lanes, wear and tear on roads, and parking space are exponentially lower than those for cars and buses, at a time when State funding for cities and counties has been drastically cut.
Whereas a large portion of people living in Southern California do not own a drivers license, including all people under the age of 16.
Where 10% of the households in the SCAG Region do not own cars.
Whereas California Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in her December 7th, 2011 press conference stated that climate change is an "...urgent threat facing the globe."
Whereas State law AB 32 requires California to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, the equivalent of taking approximately 28 million cars off State roads.
Whereas 40% of all trips people make are 2 miles or less. (National Household Travel Survey.)
I therefore respectfully petition the Southern California Association of Governments to amend the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan, increasing the amount for Active Transportation to 5%-8%.
NOTE: Your e-mail is strictly for the purposes ID for this petition.
Sign the Petition
Signatures
Collected so far:
1011 signatures
Goal:
5000 signatures
Fullname
Comment
John Gomez
Kent Strumpell
Barbara Torres
To have liveable communities we need to have people centric transportaion. This is a win win situation for all of us: businesses, real estate values, and a clean environment.
Carl Kloos
Please improve funding for pedestrian and bicycle oriented transportation. Traveling without an automobile is very dangerous in our region, and funding is necessary to improve our pedestrian/cycling oriented infrastructure. This will save lives!
Rachel Wing
Valerie Watson
Leslie Frederika Kline Capelle
Ashley Heatherly
MJ Looby
Carina Downing
Frank Nilsen
Cities built with a primary focus on dealing with automobile traffic and storage have no future. Cities built on a human scale, with public spaces that are pleasant, safe, convenient and rewarding will be better positioned to deal with future realities of
lucy cartagena
yeah
Nancy Shuman
Matt Korner
Pedestrian-friendly places that are well-connected by high-quality /fixed-guideway transportation is absolutely essential for the region's economic sustainability. How can we improve land-use and transportation patterns when SCAG, itself, isn't trying to
daria cross
jewel willard
Maria E Ramirez
Glory Bautista
As someone who chooses not to own a car for environmental and health reasons I strongly urge you to increase the amount!
jon portera
David Gist
The percentage of the plan addressing cycling and walking is woefully low. Please prioritize Active Transportation.
