This would be a good time to send LaHood a supportive letter. If I were him, I could use some support right about now.
2010-04-14 13:21:26
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(Federal) "Transportation's bicycle policy hits potholes"
AP article this morning:
Transportation's bicycle policy hits potholes
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a weekend bicyclist, might consider keeping his head down and his helmet on. A backlash is brewing over his new bicycling policy.
LaHood says the government is going to give bicycling — and walking, too — the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money. The former Republican congressman quietly announced the "sea change" in transportation policy last month.
"This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized," he wrote in his government blog.
Not so fast, say some conservatives and industries dependent on trucking. A manufacturers' blog called the policy "nonsensical." One congressman suggested LaHood was on drugs.
Complete article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h1IO2TqfWSOq0BkSo0JPJbw2RGyAD9F2R4380
2010-04-14 12:50:17
I can't believe how much Ray LaHood makes me swoon.
2010-04-14 13:22:10
Here's the Link to the manufacturer's blog with really thoughtful responses from bike-mided folks.
2010-04-14 13:33:48
After LaHood made that statement, and Ohio Sentator LaTourette made some riduculous offensive statement in response, I posted a message about LaTourette to the message list of the Ohio Bicycle Federation, and the only response I got was a really vague "yes, there is an interesting converstion going on in Ohio right now..." WTF?
I suppose I attribute it to the Midwestern tendency to avoid confrontation, but, again...WTF?
2010-04-14 13:50:10
Easy on the Midwest bit there...I think it has more to do with LaTourette than any "Midwest" mentality.
That being said, I am more than slightly ruffled by the opposition to the Secretary's plan on the grounds that we're a "modern industrial nation." That's a very weak argument in my opinion. Second, the "rickshaws" example is ridiculous. I would wager that, in fact, LaTourette needs his head checked. Bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks are different than having sherpas walking across country and LaTourette knows that. He just killed his own argument by bringing that out.
2010-04-14 16:08:22
I think there is some confusion by the opposition. Equal voice does not mean equal funding.
More importantly, fundamentalists and opposers to an idea alway use the most extreme example to get their point across. Does equal voice mean that all of a sudden all roads will be bike roads, umm. no.. and LaTourette knows that. He also knows that a lot of his campaign contributions come form big industry. And to him a bicycle is probably just a toy for his kids.. not a tool as all of us treat it.
I really have no idea where im going with my argument.. so umm. yeah. I give LaHood two thumbs up. Also, I think his response to the critics was adequate too. Its like he is letting the critics make fools of themselves.. basically letting them do LaHood's job for him.
2010-04-14 16:24:07
What a brilliant statement. These are the leaders of the sheep.
"So is it his thought that perhaps we're going to have, like, rickshaws carrying cargo from state to state, or people with backpacks?" asked the congressman.
2010-04-14 16:25:28
"He just killed his own argument by bringing that out."
To readers of this board, maybe, or anyone with higher than 7th grade education. His constituency are the same people who oppose health care because they really believe people in Canada and Britain are dropping dead because of socialized medicine.
2010-04-14 16:27:45
I think the GOP has become so obstructionist that they just start jumping up and down and yelling "No! No! No!" before they even think about what they are saying no about. It's childish, really.
2010-04-14 16:31:30
remember.. guns dont kill people, APES with guns kill people!.
2010-04-14 16:32:56