Earl Blumenauer Speaks Up For Alternative Transportation
As someone who’s started just this month to lead a car-free lifestyle, I want to express my personal thanks to Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon’s 3rd congressional district for speaking up in favor of alternative transportation – alternative to the gas-guzzling, air-polluting, space hog 20th century tradition of roads swarming with automobiles.
In a way, it really bugs me that we even have to defend walking and bicycling as a form of alternative transportation. They’re much more natural than driving a car.
It seems that Republican John Boehner got on the airwaves and mocked bicycle lanes as something frivolous, not understanding that people who use those bicycle lanes to get around are doing a big favor for their communities, helping to reduce traffic, keep the air clean and reduce the cost of gasoline.
On Wednesday, Representative Blumenauer spoke before the House of Representatives to set the record straight.
“Last week the Republican leader went on CBS to state that the American people don’t want beautification projects or bike lanes in the economic stimulus program. Instead, Mr. Boehner felt American families want larger and expanded highways.
He’s just wrong on the facts. A 2009 survey by the National Association of Realtors and Smart Growth America reported that three-quarters of Americans believe that smarter development and improved public transit are better long-term solutions for reducing traffic congestion, better than building new roads.”
[...] way for Americans to get around. Some members of Congress, such as bike-pin wearing enthusiast Earl Blumenauer, will even be speaking at the [...]