News for bike commuters!!
From the beginning of the AEA bikeclub many of the club members have been involved with bicycle advocacy. As such advocates, club members have been working with city and county officials for several years to get more funding for roads and better plans for bicycle-related road improvements. Below is a picture of our first bike club president, Dan Guitierrez, who has been involved in a number of advocacy actions standing with LA Mayor Riordan who is, himself, a bicycle advocate. A related link is
http://www.labikecoalition.org/.
In a message dated 1/20/99 7:11:59 PM EST, morf@jps.net writes:
INTRODUCTION
California Bicycle Coalition is preparing to introduce legislation that would tack a few bucks onto moving violations to create a Pedestrian and Bicyclist Education and Safety Account. We estimate we can raise as much as $10million annually. The money could be used, among other things, to:
1) Teach adults and kids how to bicycle properly, and;
2) Educate motorists about the rights and welfare of pedestrians and bicyclists.
The possibilities are stupendous! For starters, how about "Share the Road" and "Right-to-the-Road" posters in every place of employment, a massive infusion of funds available for Effective Cycling and other hands-on programs, a TV and radio campaign featuring a celebrity cyclist in a series of PSA's teaching proper cycling techniques and encouraging bicycle transportation, a brochure which could be attached to every bicycle (or car!) sold in California, etc. Think about it--over time such a bill could change the image AND reality of cycling in California!
ACTION REQUIRED:
CBC has met with a couple of Capitol staff members of State Senator Betty Karnette. While receptive, they need to know that her constituents care about this kind of stuff. So, we need some phone calls and letters into her office ASAP. CONTACT HER OFFICE with the message asking that "Senator Karnette should please author California Bicycle Coalition-sponsored legislation which would add a fee onto moving violations to improve bicyclist and pedestrian safety."
Your call/letter is absolutely vital: legislators are being bombarded with requests to carry legislation, and even though Sen. Karnette is a strong supporter of bicycling, we won't get her to use one of her few remaining bill openings on this one unless she senses people in her district care. YOU HAVE THE POWER--Phone calls from 15-25 Long Beach cyclists this week could auger in a new era for bicycling in California.
Senator Betty Karnette
3711 Long Beach Blvd. Suite 801
Long Beach, CA 90807
Phone calls are fine! (562) 997-0794
Sincerely,
Chris Morfas Executive Director, California Bicycle Coalition
(916) 446-7558 voice *
http://www.jps.net/cbcP.O. Box 162848 * Sacramento, CA 95816-2848
NEW FAX NUMBER!! * (916) 446-7292 fax *
NEW STREET ADDRESS!! * 909-12th Street #114 Sacramento CA 95814 *
same mailing address (see above)