Bike Walk CT Weighs in on DEEP Energy Strategy

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has released a draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy, as required by a 2011 law.
That strategy includes a section on transportation, which was the subject of a hearing on November 14 in New Britain.

According to the DEEP document, the transportation sector accounts for 32% of the state's energy consumption, but produces about 40% of the state's greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, reducing the number of "vehicle miles traveled" (VMTs) would reduce pollution levels, our reliance on petroleum, and save money.

How do we reduce VMTs?  That's where we come in:  by encouraging more people to take more short trips by bike or by foot instead of by car.  

DEEP's energy strategy document does a great job of making the case for bikeable, walkable communities and bike commuting.  The document addresses biking and walking in a number of places, including the recommendation to "facilitate transit-oriented development to increase mobility and create more livable communities" (page 177).  The next step will be to develop and carry out an ambitious, effective implementation plan.

Our comments appear below.