This Spring, the Southern California Association of Governments, representing 191 municipalities, 6 counties and over 18 million people, will vote on its regional transportation plan for the next three decades. The plan will direct how billions of dollars are spent, and currently only 1.3% of the budget is dedicated towards bicycle and pedestrian funding combined despite 21% of all trips being done on foot or on bike.
For advocates of green transportation, that dedication is woefully low. Activists, from Transportation for Alternatives to the Safe Routes to School's National Partnership to bicycle and pedestrian groups in Los Angeles have all called for SCAG to increase their bicycle and pedestrian funds to 5-8% of the budget.
And it's not just new urbanists making the case anymore. The above video, simple, straightforward and effective, was produced by VC Cool, a Ventura County organization fighting global warming through better policy. At its website, VC Cool explains why clean transportation is just as important to those living in the suburbs as it is new urbanists.
...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!
If you agree with VC Cool, they've set up a petition to ask that cyclists and pedestrians get their fare share and you can sign it, here.
