LOCAL AND NATIONAL Advocacy ~ every single call, email, letter helps.

every single one.

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Calling All Bicyclists and Pedestrians! Please Take Action Today!

Thanks to calls from bicycle and pedestrian advocates like you, the Senate refused to hear an amendment that would have blocked any Economic Recovery Bill money from being spent on biking and walking infrastructure projects. Now we need EVERYONE’S HELP to make certain that there is strong support for Transportation Enhancements $ for biking and walking in the final bill!

Support Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects in the Economic Recovery Bill

The House and the Senate have each passed their own version of the Economic Recovery Bill, aimed at creating jobs and stimulating the economy. Both bills include billions for transportation infrastructure, but only the House bill includes funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the Transportation Enhancements program. The House bill includes approximately $1.35 billion for Transportation Enhancements of which 50-60% is traditionally spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects. The Senate bill does not explicitly include Transportation Enhancements, so it’s unclear whether this funding will be in the final bill.

We need to make sure Transportation Enhancement funding is in the final bill.

This week there will be a conference committee where several members of the House and several members of the Senate will work together to reconcile the two bills. Conferees need to hear that Transportation Enhancements are important to stimulating the economy, creating green jobs, and moving us towards a sustainable future.

CALL TODAY!   FIND OUT HOW … NOW!!!

Please call your senators and representative and ask them to tell the Conferees to support Transportation Enhancements in the Economic Recovery bill. Tell them:

• Bicycle and pedestrian projects create jobs at the same or better rate than highway projects.
• These smaller projects can move quickly to hire local businesses and help local economies.
• Providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access gives families healthier and cheaper transportation options.
• Improving sidewalks and bike lanes can make a downtown a destination further helping the local economy.
• Better biking and walking options also help ensure greater energy independence, less pollution, and a healthier United States!

Please share this email alert with all bicyclists and pedestrians you can, and encourage them to join you in supporting biking and walking today! Thank you – together we will make a big difference!

{Thanks Pedro!}

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PACIFIC GROVE CITY COUNCIL

Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 6:00 p.m.

Council Chambers – City Hall – 300 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA

We are pleased to announce that the Butterfly Criterium currently scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2009, is now on the Pacific Grove City Council agenda for Wednesday, February 18, 2009. We already have the support of all downtown PG organizations and this is the last step in the approval process to bring back this storied race to our community. The meeting starts at 6:00 pm and we are currently projecting to have our issue discussed and hopefully approved under “new items” around 7:30 pm. The agenda will be posted on the city’s website by 5:00 pm this Friday where we may have an updated time for our agenda item.

It is extremely important that we have a large showing of local support for this event. The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce and the Ghost Tree Racing Team is requesting all area cyclists and their families/children show up to show their support by attending this meeting. Cyclists are requested to wear appropriate team cycling shirts, vests or jackets. Please also distribute this email to all interested parties across the cycling community.

Here is the link to PG City Council meeting guidelines.

Bruce Skidmore
Race Director – Butterfly Criterium
Ghost Tree Racing Team
Cell: 831.233.0437
Bruce@mccvb.org
www.GhostTreeRacing.com

{thanks Leon}

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