Call And Email The Mayor, Let Him Know You Want A Better Bicycling Budget!

Written by Boston Biker on Mar 15

From The BCU:

Email Script

Below is a template for emails to Mayor Walsh. Please personalize it and add your own information. The more personal details, the more effective the letter will be. Don’t forget to forward it to your your local district city councilor and the four at-large (city-wide) councilors with a brief note asking them to support the Boston Bike Budget. Thanks!

To:

[email protected]

CC:

[email protected], joyce.[email protected], budget@boston.gov, a&[email protected], ch[email protected], gina.[email protected], btd@boston.gov, info@bostoncyclistsunion.org

Dear Mayor Walsh,

As a resident of [YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD] who bikes [OR who would bike in Boston if it were safer], I’m writing to ask you to include the Boston Cyclists Union’s Boston Bike Budget in your FY18 budget.

The City of Boston has made real progress toward changing its official policies to make riding a bike in the city easier and safer, but changes to our physical infrastructure have been slower. For many people who bike in Boston today — or would if it were safer — there has been little visible progress on the ground. The City’s Transportation Department is doing what it can, but insufficient staffing and resources are holding us back.

[WRITE A SENTENCE OR TWO ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE RIDING A BIKE IN BOSTON]

This year, Boston allocated just $3.1 million for its Vision Zero Action Plan. That’s less than $5 per capita per year towards ending traffic deaths in our city. Meanwhile, New York City has dedicated approximately $13 per capita and San Francisco about $75. Boston is trailing behind cities that have been aggressive about building safe, protected bike infrastructure. In New York City, Mayor De Blasio recently proposed an additional $66 million per year for Vision Zero street projects, bringing NYC’s funding to over $20 per capita.

If Boston is going to end traffic fatalities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make our city more livable, we need a drastic increase in the city’s funding for safe, protected bike infrastructure.

Please include the Boston Bike Budget in your FY18 budget:

• Increase the capital budget for Vision Zero from $3.1 million in FY17 to $12 million in FY18.
• Increase the capital budget for the Strategic Bicycle Network Project from $900,000 in FY17 to $4 million in FY18.
• Increase the capital budget for Transportation Planning from $200,000 in FY17 to $800,000 in FY18.
• Increase the operating budget for Transportation Department Policy and Planning from $1,074,431 in FY17 to $2 million in FY18.

With our proposed Boston Bike Budget, we could build more than a dozen miles of protected bike lanes each year. Today, 2% of Bostonians regularly bike to work, and with just 2% of the City’s $898 million streets budget, we could make major strides towards allowing people of all ages and abilities to bike safely in every neighborhood of Boston.

[WRITE A SENTENCE OR TWO ABOUT BIKING IMPROVEMENTS YOU’D LIKE TO SEE]

In both the GoBoston 2030 Vision Framework and the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan, Boston set forth several positive goals to achieve by 2030, including increasing bicycling mode share fourfold, ensuring that all households are within a 5-minute walk of a protected bicycle facility or shared use path, and eliminating traffic deaths. If we are to reach those goals, we need increased funding for safe, protected bike infrastructure.

I hope you will include the Boston Bike Budget in your FY18 budget and help make Boston safe and friendly for people riding bikes.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

---

Call Script

Below is a script for calls to Mayor Walsh and City Councilors. Mayor’s office: 617-635-4500.

Hi,

I live in [YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD] and I’m calling to ask Mayor Walsh to include the Boston Cyclists Union’s Boston Bike Budget in his budget.

[SAY SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE RIDING A BIKE IN BOSTON]

If Boston is going to end traffic fatalities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make our city more livable, we need a drastic increase in the city’s funding for safe, protected bike infrastructure.

With our proposed Boston Bike Budget, we could build more than a dozen miles of protected bike lanes each year. Today, 2% of Bostonians regularly bike to work, and with just 2% of the City’s $898 million streets budget, we could make major strides towards allowing people of all ages and abilities to bike safely in every neighborhood of Boston.

I hope the Mayor will include the Boston Bike Budget in his FY18 budget and help make Boston safe and friendly for people riding bikes.

Thank you.

(If asked for details on which budget line items you are calling about:

• Increase the capital budget for Vision Zero from $3.1 million in FY17 to $12 million in FY18.
• Increase the capital budget for the Strategic Bicycle Network Project from $900,000 in FY17 to $4 million in FY18.
• Increase the capital budget for Transportation Planning from $200,000 in FY17 to $800,000 in FY18.
• Increase the operating budget for Transportation Department Policy and Planning from $1,074,431 in FY17 to $2 million in FY18.)

Tags: act now, boston cyclists union, call the mayor, email the mayor
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