Today, the House Transportation Committee is slated to vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. This bill would eliminate funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School - the two largest federal outlays for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, such as safe, interconnected paths, trails, greenways and routes. These initiatives provide essential support for safer streets and active transportation, which help to ensure health and safety for everyone on the road.
Investing in cost-effective, proven solutions to improve health and the economy should be a top priority for our country. It’s time to think differently - to stand up to those who still say the car is king, and to create a new norm. Read our article in Nation of Change, “Creeps and Weirdos: the auto industry agenda for keeping you on four wheels.” Auto companies are doing their best to ensure that Americans remain reliant on cars, from releasing ads that shame bikers and demonize public transit, to pouring millions of dollars into lobbying Congress. Communities across the country are countering by investing in policies and rebuilding environments and practices that support pedestrians and cyclists. People with disabilities, the young, the elderly and low-income communities rely especially on safe passages for activities of daily living, like purchasing food and commuting to work and school. Read more to find out how investing in a fair and equitable transportation system can improve physical activity environments, prevent injuries and promote local business.
The article opens with story from Dr. Richard Jackson (Prevention Institute Advisory Board Member and a leading expert in health and the built environment), who received a letter from his building's management demanding he move his bike –-which was leaning against the wall of his rented parking spot. But they picked the wrong person. Dr. Jackson has worked extensively on the impact of the environment on health, and is the series host and narrator of “Designing Healthy Communities,” a new show debuting this week on PBS affiliates. The series explores how supporting walking, biking and rolling can decrease health costs, then analyzes and illustrates how residents are looking upstream for innovative, community-based solutions. Find out more about the show, and when it will air in your city.
