Urgent! Tell Your Legislators You Want Bike Ped Funding

There are 6 days left in the legislative session, budget negotiations are in full swing, and funding for bike ped initiatives is still undecided.  

Take Action!  Please tell your legislators you want funding for a first-rate bike and pedestrian transportation system! 

If we really want Connecticut to be a great place to bike and walk, we need to send that message loud and clear to our legislators.  We did a great job getting 153 people to submit remarks supporting the Governor's transportation funding proposal, HB 6840,  to the Finance Committee back in April.  Now we need to repeat that message to all of our legislators. 

Background:  The Governor's proposal includes $101 million for bike ped funding authorizations for 2016 through 2020, which is the "five year ramp up" phase of the 30 year plan.  HB 6840 includes a variety of bonding requests that will allow the state to fund improvements to our active transportation system, including bike lanes, greenways, multiuse paths, and pedestrian networks, along with improvements to bridges, transit, rail and roads.

Take Action!  Please tell your legislators you want funding for a first-rate bike and pedestrian transportation system! 

1. Find out who your legislators are and how to email them here:  Find Your STATE Legislators (not your US Senator or Congressperson)
2. State your support for bike ped funding in the subject line.
3. Please cc bikewalkct@bikewalkct.org so we know how many people are responding. 
4. Include your name and town in your message.
   
5. SAMPLE MESSAGE-- Feel free to tailor these points below to make your message your own.
   

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Subject:  Please support funding for a first-rate bike and pedestrian transportation system!

As a member of Bike Walk Connecticut, I urge you to support funding proposals for a first-rate bike and pedestrian transportation system that includes a network of bike lanes, greenways, multiuse paths, and pedestrian infrastructure. 

• Biking and walking are cost-effective ways to reduce traffic congestion, and they're good for the environment, our health, and our economy. 
   
• Bike lanes, sidewalks and greenways cost a fraction of what it costs to build and maintain roads.  People want to bike and walk more, but many don't feel safe without bike lanes, greenways and sidewalks. Build them and people will use them.
   
• Since transportation is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases in Connecticut, consider that biking and walking couldn't be greener ways to get around. Active transportation must be a key piece of our climate action plan. 

• Connecticut's car-dependent lifestyle is not the lifestyle that millennials or the creative class have in mind.  A well-designed active transportation network will help bring millennials and the creative class to Connecticut and keep them here, strengthening our economy.  Additionally, walkable, bikeable places would boost tourism immeasurably, with benefits spreading throughout our economy.

For so many reasons, it's time for Connecticut to become a great place to bike and walk.  Please support funding for a .first-rate bike and pedestrian transportation system.

Thank you.