This email just came in my inbox.  I assume it's from the Alliance for Biking and Walking.

Dear Julie,
 

We've just won a big battle for biking and walking in the federal transportation bill. 

After several long weeks of intense work from advocates around the country and our partners at America Bikes, we are extremely pleased to report that the Cardin-Cochran amendment has been accepted as part of the base Senate transportation bill, MAP-21. 

This amendment will ensure that local governments, school systems, and metropolitan planning organizations are able to access much-needed funds for making bicycling and walking safe and accessible. 

THANK YOU for making this Senate win a reality! We are one step closer to a federal transportation law that makes streets safer for all users. Please consider calling your Senators to thank them for including the Cardin-Cochran amendment in MAP-21.

The list of Senators we need to thank for this important victory is long, but our most immediate thanks go to:

• Senators Cardin (D-MD) and Cochran (R-MS) for championing this amendment and ensuring that local governments have a voice in transportation planning and projects;

• The leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sens. Boxer (D-CA), Baucus (D-MT), Inhofe (R-OK), and Vitter (R-LA), for including this amendment;

• Dozens and dozens of national partners who helped get the word out about this amendment;

• Hundreds of state, regional and local organizations who spread the word to their constituents and got their local leaders to take action; and

• Tens of thousands of individuals who called and emailed their Senators to ask them to vote for the Cardin-Cochran amendment.

While this is a big victory and a significant step forward, we still have a ways to go before it can become law. 

Your help will be critical in coming weeks to ensure passage of the Senate bill, to restore bicycle and pedestrian funding in the House, and to make sure any extension of current transportation law retains Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails. 

But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let’s all take some time to celebrate this testament to the value that bicycling and walking have in our local governments and communities.

Stay tuned to the America Bikes website in the coming days for a more detailed statement.

Thank you for all that you’re doing to save biking and walking!

Sincerely, 
Jeff Miller

President/CEO