The Petri amendment to restore Transportation Enhancements to the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act has failed by just two votes, 29-27.
Arguments that walking and cycling are legitimate modes of transportation worthy of federal support fell on deaf ears in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), noting that his amendment was supported by the National Association of Realtors and the National Heart Association, said bike and pedestrian projects “add value to our neighborhoods” and provide “a balance to our national transportation program.”
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) added that increased walking and cycling would reduce congestion on American roads.
“This is not just throwing something out for recreation. This is truly transportation,” he said. “We have to recognize that we’re never going to build enough roads to accommodate everyone. We need to encourage people to be taking other forms of transportation.”
But Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Penn.) said the cuts to bike-ped funding were “fundamental” to reforming the nation’s transportation program.
“Spending money on bike paths is nice, but it’s a community-based function,” he said. “It’s not for the federal government up here in Washington to tell states that they must spend these monies.”
Uh huh. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va), ranking Democrat on the committee, noted that the 845-page bill was introduced just a few days before markup and asked for those who had read the entire measure to raise their hands. Asked how many hands he saw, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) replied, “I can’t count that low.”
So just what is it that the federal government is supposed to do? Beyond straining at gnats and swallowing camels, that is?
Mad Blog Media 
As a fellow Wisconsinite, I feel compelled to point out that Petri is a Republican, though one of the decent ones (if such a thing exists at all).
Why, so he is. I notice he doesn’t admit to it on his website. And he’s a co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus. Thanks for the catch, Steve.
Sickening about the cuts and disheartening that the Petrie amendment failed. At least it was close.
Where I live two contradictory “transportation enhancements” occur. Traffic circles to increase traffic flow and increase difficulties for pedestrians, including children, stroller-pushers, and cyclists. Narrowing roads and installing sharp curbs while eliminating shoulders. Instead, the shoulders are transformed into paved areas that are the height of the curb and are used to “store” snow. Another curb then drops down to a sidewalk. Making the road narrower is also supposed to slow down traffic. Makes it harder to avoid maiming and killing humans killing wildlife and pets, too,
Libby, we have the traffic circles here now, too. Nobody knows how to drive in ’em and God help anyone who cycles or walks through one. Better to stay at home and hit yourself in the head with a hammer.
Bulb-outs are a problem, too. Better for peds trying to cross a busy street, not so much for cyclists who suddenly find themselves running out of street unless they’re taking the lane.
Patrick, I had to look up bulb-outs. That is not commonly done around here. Although I imagine it may occur on a school campus or industrial or tech campus. The road narrowing I described virtually eliminates street parking and instead of bulb-outs there are a few areas cut out for cars to park.
Every single Nay had an R next to their names. At least the few from NC on that committee voted Yes. I sent my Rep an email even though she isn’t on the committee.
Where does the line form for a 99% Party?
Barry, I emailed mine too, twice. I hate doing it ’cause I know it’s a total waste of pixels. Although our guy is getting opposition in the primary this time around — which means, alas, that he ain’t crazy enough for the Tea Baggers, and believe you me he’s plenty fuckin’ crazy.
Meanwhile, my spies tell me we ain’t dead yet. The amendment may live to fight another day.
That MIT publication is light years ahead of the dinosaur thinking in Congress.
Same song and dance we hear from the TxDot guys. “We don’t serve people on bikes because it’s recreation. We serve people who are commuting to/from work and not many bikes do that.” So with that logic, why don’t we cut about half of funding for roads because my estimate is that about half of the time people are in cars are not to and from work – higher if you consider all the retired people that are in their cars. And don’t get me started about people in their cars who drive to lunch everyday or parents who cart their kids to/from work and a million other places. Those too are not to/from work. How do we get to a more healthy environment with less spent on health care when everything we do is cater to lazy people who get in their car even to go one half mile to pick up a half-gallon of milk.
Sharon, I take an infarction daily during the school year watching the land yachts queue up at the four schools within stone-throwing distance from Chez Dog.
(Warning to young people: Incoming geezerage.)
When I was a sprout we walked or rode bikes to school. I recall a few exceptions on Randolph AFB outside San Antone because the new high school (seventh through 12th grade) was situated a long ways away from Officer Country and the access road was kind of hairy.
But otherwise we walked or rode. It was great exercise, and it gave us a few precious minutes each day when we were not under adult supervision, which I consider important if a kid is ever to develop a personal style. Acting out around Depression-era parents was hazardous to your health.
Seems nowadays that a combination of parental paranoia (perverts!) and institutional idiocy (bicycles are toys) is depriving the younguns of their chance to dodge authority and make their own way in the world. Sucks.
Like Patrick, I trudged through the snow, mile after mile and had Depression -era parents who would have kicked my ass up between my shoulder blades had I acted too dependent. Detroit didn’t invent SUVs and overprotective parents till I was an adult. Thankfully.
Kids these days are helpless and soft.
what do except from these dinosaurs.