Category Archives: action alert

ACTION ALERT: Tell our elected officials to stop taking oil money

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As you might have seen a few weeks ago, the California Assembly Transportation Committee killed a bill that would have ensured that our neediest communities are represented in state transportation decision-making. Apparently, some on the Transportation Committee think the interests of the freight industry are more important than those of disadvantaged communities.

The fact is, oil industries dump millions of dollars into ensuring that they can continue polluting our communities and limiting people’s transportation options to the one mode—driving—that requires buying more gasoline. The oil industry spends more money on lobbying in California’s capital in one year than the California Bicycle Coalition spends on our entire operation in twenty years. Our state lawmakers take money from the oil industry, and then roll over and play dead when pressured by their lobbyists.

Sign your name immediately to tell lawmakers: You represent us, not Big Oil.

As some California lawmakers are more willing than ever to take bold action to work to help our communities be less dependent on automobiles, lawmakers backed by secretive PACs and oil companies regularly disappoint us. Most recently they killed our bill to ensure the most environmentally burdened communities are represented on the California Transportation Commission; they gutted the provision of SB 350 that would have cut petroleum use in half by 2030. The members that take oil money talk about “pavement health” more than public health.

That’s why the California Bicycle Coalition is teaming up with a dozen partnering organizations in getting our collective members to demand that California’s elected officials stop taking money from oil companies.

Take action now. Demand that California lawmakers stop taking oil money.

Thanks for your support,

Jeanie Ward Waller
Policy Director
California Bicycle Coalition

PS–share this message with your friends on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word!

Community & Transportation Advocates Call for More Funding for Walking & Biking

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Investing in Place and Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
Release Joint Statement: 
“Community and Transportation Advocates Call for More Funding for Walking, Biking and Safe Routes to School”

In response to Metro’s draft expenditure plan released the morning of March 18th, Investing in Place and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition released the following statement. Stay tuned for complete policy analysis on the draft plan to be shared for discussion at our March 29th partner meeting.

EXCERPT BELOW:
“This morning, Metro released the draft expenditure plan for their potential ballot measure identifying the agency’s funding priorities for over $100 billion in new sales tax revenue over the next 40 years…

Investing in Place and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition appreciate that, for the first time, funding for walking and biking has been included in the ballot measure. However, the need for active transportation is so great in the region that we call on Metro to increase this proposed investment to better match their peer agencies. Walking and biking are the most basic forms of mobility, particularly for low-income communities of color, people with disabilities, youth, and older adults – all of whom are at the greatest risk of being killed on unsafe streets. We encourage Metro to match the needs of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents.”

Full statement is available on the Investing in Place blog.

Please contact Jessica Meaney for any questions.

Created in January 2015 as a new non-profit effort, Investing in Place works to support a constituency for equitable planning and build strategic relationships with agencies and efforts that invest in the built environment in Los Angeles County.

 

Your support is NEEDED to get to National Bike Summit 2016

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Santa Monica Spoke’s Cynthia Rose finalist for National Advocacy Award: 

Forget Hollywood. The Oscars may be over, but the best awards show is yet to come. Next week, on the first night of the National Bike Summit & Women’s Forum, the Alliance will open the envelopes for the 2016 Advocacy Awards, honoring excellence in the walking and biking movement.

Help send our Director to the Summit!

We need your support to send our Director Cynthia Rose to National Bike Summit and the 4thNational Forum on Women & Bicycling 2016! To share our local successes and learn from other advocates what exciting successes are building the momentum around the country.
The Summit has shown it’s real impact, leveraging increased investments in bicycling at the federal, state and local levels. This year, with the theme of “Together We Lead,” the Summit will activate and elevate leaders from all areas of the movement. The Summit will propel this unified and diverse voice for change on Capitol Hill and and beyond.

Santa Monica Spoke is led by 100% volunteers, including our full time Director Cynthia Rose. This dynamic event includes keynote addresses from top government officials, members of Congress, and leaders from advocacy and industry; workshops that highlight innovative advocacy ideas and trends from around the country; and an organized Lobby Day to bring our message about the benefits of bicycling to our elected officials on Capitol Hill.
We are requesting donations to cover costs to send Cynthia to the Summit 2016.

Our goal is to raise $1500.00 to cover the Women’s Forum, National Bike Summit, and travel expenses. PLEASE PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT Click HERE
or email your pledge amount to Donate2@SMSpoke.org  we will reply to complete the pledge. Donations are tax deductible. 

The voice for cycling is growing stronger on Capitol Hill, and with your support, our director can share lessons learned and gain experience in professional advocacy from top experts from all 50 states and bring it home to Santa Monica & LA County.

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National Bike Summit 2016: Together We Lead

Last year’s theme – Bikes+ –. Launched the conversation to change the equation for bicycle advocacy. To build a bicycle-friendly America for everyone, we can’t stop at bicycling as an end in itself. We must consider how bikes can add value to other movements and how our movement can expand to serve broader interests. The 2016 National Bike Summit will again unite the voices of bicyclists on Capitol Hill to advance bicycle safety, funding and equity. More than 700 participants from all 50 states will build momentum in Congress for a Bicycle Friendly America

Update: LA Mobility Plan 2035

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Planning Commission Keeps Westwood & Central in
LA Mobility Plan 2035


At today’s L.A. Planning Commission hearing, Planning Commissioners unanimously adopted staff recommendations for Mobility Plan 2035 (with minor clarifications) to keep Central Avenue and Westwood Blvd bike lanes in the plan! We are glad that Mobility Plan 2035 will foster conversation and commitment by the City to engage with communities before making decisions.Thank you to all who went to today’s hearing or emailed the Planning Commission to voice your support. The next step is expected concurrence by Mayor Garcetti, followed by consideration by the Los Angeles Planning & Land Use Management (PLUM) and Transportation Committees. We will continue to keep you updated.You can catch up on the hearing highlights by following @lacbc and the #LA2B hashtag on Twitter.

Tell NHTSA to test new cars for bicyclist safety

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Bike League Action

NHTSA recently announced an update to its 5-Star Safety Rating for new cars. This is a key means by which the federal government promotes consumer awareness of safety technologies. According to the proposed update, the 5-Star Safety Rating will for the first time include an assessment of crash avoidance technologies and pedestrian protection. While this is a great step forward for promoting the safety of people outside of cars it is not clear how or whether the safety of bicyclists will be included in these assessments.

The League of American Bicyclists has submitted comments asking NHTSA to:

  • Consider the completeness of crash avoidance technologies and whether they are effective at avoiding crashes with all road users when assigning a crash avoidance rating;
  • Include all non-occupants, including bicyclists, in the pedestrian protection rating; and
  • Develop appropriate tests and procedures if the lack of appropriate testing and procedures means that bicyclist crash avoidance and protection cannot be included in the 5-Star Rating System at this time.

Join us and endorse the League’s comments calling for an assessment that includes the safety of all people, including bicyclists, or submit your own comments to ensure that bicyclists are considered when crash avoidance and other new vehicle technologies are assessed by Clicking Here. This comment period will end on February 16th.