Putting Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure on an Even Footing with Roads and Transit

I'm not making this, it's from a story on today's Bike To Work Day, emphasis mine:

"At DC's Freedom Plaza, Under Secretary for Policy Roy Kienitz spoke about why we are so keen on putting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on an even footing with roads and transit--and laid out a number of practical points to bike skeptics:


"We have some cold, logical reasons for this policy. We believe all transportation investments should justify themselves based on how effective they are in meeting overall goals like safety, environmental sustainability, convenience, etc. And it turns out that travel by bike helps us achieve all of these things. Plus, bike infrastructure is flat-out less expensive."

Also at Freedom Plaza, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff spoke about the role that bikes and transit can play in fostering livable communities. "When I'm not riding public transportation," he added, "I'm on my bike!"

Many of my old colleagues in Congress agree, especially Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon who has been a passionate biking advocate for as long as I can remember. Rep. Blumenauer and 23 members of Congress--from both sides of the aisle--sent me a very kind letter yesterday thanking me for and DOT for "recognizing biking and walking as important components of our transportation system that deserve dedicated funding." Rep. Blumenauer has a great op-ed in the Huffington Post today on this subject as well.

Exciting things were also happening closer to DOT headquarters this morning. Next door, at Nationals Park, the Federal Highway Administration's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager Gabe Rousseau spoke about the $1.2 billion federal investment in bicycle-pedestrian projects this fiscal year. He also reminded attendees that over 4 billion trips last year were taken by bicycle. Both of these are new records."

See more on this fantastic development at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/bicycle-ped.html
These are quotes from people with the power to make the profound changes they now advocate.  This is an exciting and overdue change in the way transportation dollars are allocated.