By: Diane Benjamin
A lawyer friend/reader sent me a copy of the Illinois State Bar Association email newsletter. This story was in it:
July 1, 2019 is a notable day in the history of transportation in Illinois. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill that puts $45 billion towards state construction projects. Within that $45 billion is $50 million annually toward projects for pedestrians and bicyclists. This is a massive victory by the Active Transportation Alliance, other advocacy groups, and the legislators who worked to get the bill passed and on the governor’s desk.
The funding will work towards efforts to increase bike ridership and public transportation use across Illinois. The additional resources will substantially increase the size of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). Funds will be allocated via a competitive grant process and focus on the creation of projects such as pedestrian refuge islands, protected bike lanes, new bike and pedestrian trails via the conversion of abandoned railroad corridors, upgraded crossings, and additional safety infrastructure. Additionally, the bill requires that at least 25% of funding to be directed towards projects in “high-need communities, based on community median income and total property tax base”, thus providing access and increasing connections across the State.
Read on for the first fail:
Remaining Risks
Although the program is a tremendous leap forward, groups such as, the Active Transportation Alliance recently mentioned that the bill is not perfect as, “It lacks a data-driven, performance-based planning process to allocate funds.” The Active Transportation Alliance notes that there is a risk that funds could be allocated to roadway expansion leading to higher congestion in the long run.
In other words, it doesn’t matter if the current local bike lanes aren’t being used. Data isn’t used to make decisions. The State passed the bill with funding, so it will get funded.
The City Hall meeting is tonight. https://blnnews.com/2019/07/10/bike-lanes-on-empire-not-a-joke/
Welcome to the Twilight Zone.
The good news is that Denver is now writing tickets to bicyclists that go over 15mph. Due to Bikes Blow Now I’m hoping to see it here as well, asap. First one $100, 2nd $250, then 3rd one $500.
https://www.dcclothesline.com/2019/06/25/denver-citizens-now-face-up-to-500-speeding-tickets-for-riding-bicycles-over-15-mph/
I’m going to just assume that most people here understand where this little agenda is headed, right? If you don’t understand, I highly doubt anyone could quickly explain it to you, you have to have been paying attention for a LONG time and have the ability to see past the glitter and read between the lines.
At any particular time I can drive on any street in B/N and not see one bicyclist in any of the bike lanes. Why do they want more bike lanes? I think there are several reasons, one of them is this.
Bike lanes are being pushed by Socialists in their idiotic attempt to do away with the use of fossil fuels.
And to make driving inconvenient
Diane and Darrel gave 2 of the reasons, another is control of mobility and the ability to raise prices at will as more people become dependent on public transport – the prices in the UK for instance for train travel are insane unless one books months in advance, the tube in London is also insane, buses are pretty bad too, and again for inter-city travel one must book well in advance to get any sort of “deal” – there are a couple companies that do provide better rates more often though which helps the less well off financially to actually GO somewhere. For a prime example it would have been cheaper for me recently to fly into Dublin Ireland then fly into Cardiff, Wales (round trip even) than it would be to take a train one way from London to Cardiff. This is what happens in societies where many people do not drive or have cars, of course parking in major cities in the UK and Europe is another nightmare – take Chicago and at least triple it in most instances. Thus their sudden desire to push bikes so hard, drone on about the need for (more) buses, make car ownership more expensive and make parking more and more expensive. Having spent a LOT of time in the UK and spending a decent amount of time in several European countries as well, I have seen this stuff coming for a LONG time. Their urgency seems to have increased dramatically though in the last 2-3 years.
Agenda 21, that’s why.
Agenda 21 – BINGO – all part of the plan.
The Left hates the liberty and individualism afforded by private vehicles almost as much as they hate Donald Trump. Almost.
What’s next? Affordable housing?
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-10/pod-life-costs-millennials-1200-month-california
Everybody’s dream home!
As a mom and someone not comfortable riding a bicycle next to a 2000lb vehicle, I would appreciate more trail extensions rather than these bike lanes.
So the residents on Empire Street are set to lose 223 parking spaces for bike lanes??? Thought I saw that on the TV (news) tonight. If true that’s ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!!!
If they are getting bike lanes increased using taxpayer monies then its time to force the bikes to be registered,just as vehicles are, and the operators of the bikes licensed just as vehicles are. They should be mandated to take a rules of the road drivers test as well as a behind “the wheel” test like we do. They should also be subject to the same laws that the rest of us follow(or dont) Being on a bicycle, on state roads should be just exactly like the rest of us: Over regulated and heavily taxed.
Sounds like some of the SAME CRAP that comes out of the mouths of our local mayors, councils, etc.. Must be a conspiracy..