Bike/Ped Advocacy

For too long, walking and bicycling have been ignored as serious transportation options. Despite the fact that an estimated 11% of all trips in the region are made by pedestrians and bicyclists, funding levels of pedestrian and bike programs had been incredibly low. No wonder 25% of people who die in car crashes aren't even in cars - they're pedestrians and bicyclists!

In the Bay Area this situation is changing fast. TransForm works closely with the the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition to enact regional change. Currently the most critical campaign is on the 2009 Regional Transportation Plan, where the draft investment plan would:

• quintuple funding for the regional bicycle network to $40 million per year
• initiate a regional Safe Routes to Schools program at $10 million per year
• quintuple funding for the Safe Routes to Transit  program from $2 million per year.   

These changes will provide critical benefits for our health and environment.  They also increase the livability of our cities while providing safer access for people with mobility challenges. 

Another great way to plug in is with your local bicycle coalition. 

To understand the impact that our urban design is having, TransForm has authored a few excellent reports including Can't Get There from Here, which examines the declining independent mobility of California's children and youth, and provides an excellent set of implementable recommendations

Our Roadblocks to Health report highlights the lack of transit and pedestrian access to health care, nutritious food and recreation. and Bringing Safe Routes to Scale helped make the case to MTC for the need for a regional Safe Routes to Schools grants program.

For information on TransForm's bicycle and pedestrian advocacy contact Carli Paine.