Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) sees a future for cycling, walking and transit in the House GOP’s relentless pursuit of the Ghosts of Transportation Past.
Speaking with Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org, Blumenauer said advocates could use the GOP’s dismantling of bike-ped and transit programs as “a springboard” toward proving that bashing alternative forms of transportation “isn’t a freebie but there are costs and consequences. … That a community doesn’t work without transit, walking and biking.”
“For the first time in history we are part of a very impressive, broad coalition that is all pulling in the same direction,” he continued.
“We’ve got an administration that has been the most supportive in history and we’ve got facts on the ground. The work that has been done with the cycling community, to broaden the base, to deal with things like economic development and Safe Routes to School, it’s all there. …
“It’s a chance for us not just to beat back this bad legislation, but to educate elected officials.”
The Republican offensive against bike-ped and transit programs should trigger a national response, like the ones that have followed attacks on Planned Parenthood and public broadcasting, Blumenauer said.
Read more at www.BikePortland.org.
Mad Blog Media 
I’m sure big oil is lobbying (paying off) hard to gut the bike and foot industry in this country, trying to make us even more dependent on their products. I guess multi-billion dollar profits just aren’t big enough these days.
Here’s a new line of crap the far right is spewing: After the Mitt and Newt Show has left them both as lifeless, un-electable caricatures slumped in the gutter, The Donald will rise up to challenge Obama. But, Obama will declare war on Iran and invoke marshal law, thus canceling the elections and staying in office as long as he wants. This will allow him to nationalize all industry and effectively convert the country to a socialist state. That is what the Teabaggers are now believing will happen. I thought the guy telling me this was kidding, but he truly was not. Larry, have you got a spare room over in Italy?
Boz, the Larry’s Wife Rule clearly applies in this instance. We have a ton of those knuckleheads around here, too. Blue helmets around every corner, black helicopters under every bed. Keeps ammo sales rollicking along at Sprawl-Mart.
Though I have doubts that most of these porky “patriots” have the upper-body strength to elevate their AR-15s high enough to target the drone that just air-mailed their dumb asses a Hellfire missile.
I sent a link from the NY Times yesterday along that line, Boz. The bike-ped and environmental movements are part of a UN plot. I thought only that whackjob from Colorado (Tom Tancreto?) was spewing this, but apparently there is plenty of the Kool-Aid to go around.
Indeed the center and moderate left have to build a coalition to take the House back from the far right wingnuts. I’m glad this is all happening in an election year. Whether it be the Komen Foundation incurring the wrath of everyone (including NY Mayor Bloomburg) or the House throwing our kids under the speeding SUV and mobilizing a coalition of environmentalists, transportation professionals, and us, we need to take this fucking country back. I hope the public can remember stuff longer than it takes to run from the TV set to the fridge, though.
Or was it Dan Maes?
K, that particular feeb was indeed Dan Maes. I added white “UN” lettering to a blue Rudy Project helmet in his honor. Tom Tancredo is the one who soils his KKK panties every time he sees anyone browner than a glass of 2 percent milk.
Isn’t it funny that the guys who scream the loudest over the ten commandments are the first to break the one about bearing false witness?
Ever hopeful. Mebbbe the putzes can be re-educated. My cynical nature says no, but my hopeful side wins out.
BTW, here is Wisconsin, Rep Petri (R) is what we used to have a whole gummint full of. Even handed, reasonable and thoughtful folk-both parties.
I’m not in his district- sigh… I wish I was. My rep is one repulsive Paul Ryan. Never been able to hold my nose and vote for him. My silly hope keeps on that he will one-day be voted out.
Of course, now we have Gov Dick H. Walker. I’m so embarrassed…..
Blester, seems like politics these days is mostly about watching fat rats doing laps around trash cans full of dirty money. In the rat race, the rats are definitely out front and taking time on the rest of us.
Meanwhile, good luck prying that walleyed poison toad out of the governor’s office. That’s one that really needs to get chucked back in the swamp.
Yep, this is exactly the way to combat the teabilly type legislation “ideas” slimeing around. 20 years of work should not be shot to hell. This ain’t about transportation. It is about safety and accessibility.
I’m in it for the long haul and I see more work for a decade at least. Back To the Future!
[from Wisconsin]