Fwd: Tell Ann Arbor City Council to stop raiding non-motorized transportation funds!

[Erica]

Please take a moment to read over this petition. Hope you're willing to sign and share with a few friends. Thanks! 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: WBWC <in...@wbwc.org>
Date: Sun, May 19, 2013 at 12:06 AM
Subject: Tell Ann Arbor City Council to stop raiding non-motorized transportation funds!
To: briggsw...@gmail.com

Promoting transportation options for a sustainable and livable community.  Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.   Tell A2 City Council to stop raiding the non-motorized transportation fund!  In the 1990's, in an effort to become one of Michigan's most bike-friendly cities, Ann Arbor City Council dedicated 5% of its "Act 51" funds (funding from the Michigan Transportation Fund) to non-motorized transportation improvements. This funding is the only source of dedicated non-motorized transportation funding for the City of Ann Arbor. It has been used to build bike lanes, install pedestrian crosswalk signage, and educate cyclists on the rules of the road, among other activities. City Council has cut this funding to 2.5%  and has chosen not to restore this funding to the past level of 5% this year.  We need you to tell City Council that this policy decision is not acceptable. Please sign this petition TODAY and pass this message along to your friends. It is 2013, we should not be reducing our dedicated non-motorized transportation funding, we should be increasing it! This funding is not even close to equitably funding the needs of our current transportation needs, let alone what we hope to see in the future. Today, Close to 5% of residents in Ann Arbor bike to work Over 15% of residents walk to work In addition, it does line up with Council adopted priorities. Council adopted plans, even those adopted in just the last 12 months, do not support cuts to non-motorized transportation funding: The City's Climate Action Plan (adopted December 2012) states that improving options for biking and walking are key to reducing greenhouse gas house gases in the future A key Sustainability Framework goal (adopted July 2012) is to "establish a physical and cultural environment that supports and encourages safe, comfortable and efficient ways for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users to travel throughout the City." In addition to the clear environmental and public health benefits of investing in non-motorized transportation facilities, this is also an economic development issue. The Michigan Municipal League has identified physical design/walkability as one of eight assets essential to creating desirable and vibrant communities in the 21st century.   Please take a minute today to sign our petition. If you have 10-15 minutes to write a personal note to the Ann Arbor City Council telling them you do not approve of the decision to defund the non-motorized transportation budget!  ~The WBWC team Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Upcoming Events Friday, June 14th, 6-9pm, Green Fair (ride your bike & park at the WBWC bike valet) Sunday, June 23rd, Ecology Center Eco-Ride (register now) Sunday, July 14th, 12-4pm, Huron River Days (ride your bike & park at the WBWC bike valet & you'll get a free canoe rental)  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Contact WBWC: in...@wbwc.org Copyright © 2013 WBWC, All Rights reserved. www.wbwc.org    unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Sent to briggsw...@gmail.com — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences WBWC (Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition) · 339 E. Liberty St., 3rd floor · c/o Ecology Center · Ann Arbor, MI 48104