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MassBike Action Alert: Call Your Rep Now To Support Cleaner Better More Bicycle Friendly Transportation
Written by Boston Biker on Mar 03ACTION ALERT
SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION REFORM: CALL/EMAIL TODAY!
Governor Patrick has introduced a bill to implement his plan to reform the transportation system in Massachusetts. The plan addresses not only our failing transportation system, but also urgent economic, environmental, and public health issues. The Governor’s plan has three main components:
Restructure the transportation agencies to decrease costs and better implement a unified transportation
Raise revenue by increasing the gas tax to prevent toll increases, maintain MBTA services and prevent a fare increase, support public transportation and rail projects statewide, and more
Create a more sustainable transportation system, including increasing biking and walking, requiring “Complete Streets” that work for all users, expanding the Safe Routes to School program to encourage children to bike and walk, and strengthening the connection between transportation options and public health initiatives.
The sections of the bill most directly supporting bicycling are Section 10 (establishing the Office of Transportation Planning), Section 12 (establishing the MA Mobility Compact), and Section 13 (establishing the Healthy Transportation Compact, including Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School). In addition, people who bike or walk to public transportation will bear a significant share of any reductions in public transportation services or fare increases, so it is in our interest to support the Governor’s plan to prevent this. Though many of us may be impacted by a gas tax increase, it will encourage everyone to drive less and convert more trips to biking, walking, and public transportation.
Click here to see the Governor’s plan.
Click here to see the full text of the bill.
What can you do to help?
1. Call or email your State Senator and ask him or her to support the Governor’s bill to fix the transportation system.
2. Call or email your State Representative and ask him or her to support the Governor’s bill to fix the transportation system.
3. Attend one of the public hearings being held by the Joint Committee on Transportation (you do not have testify – your presence alone will demonstrate grassroots support):
Springfield : Wednesday, March 4, 4pm, Springfield Technical Community College
South Shore : Thursday, March 5, time and location TBD
Methuen : Tuesday, March 10, 5pm, Methuen City Hall, 41 Pleasant Street
Boston : Wednesday, March 11, 1pm, State House, Room A-1
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Call The Governor NOW! Get The Bike Safety Bill Passed!
Written by Boston Biker on Jan 13Just got this from MassBike.
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TELL THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THE BICYCLIST SAFETY BILL
Thanks to you, thirty-two legislators signed the letter of support delivered to Governor Patrick yesterday! We can still add more legislators to the list, so call your state representative and state senator today if you have not already done so. Click here for yesterday’s Action Alert and instructions.
Today, we’re asking you to contact Governor Patrick directly by phone or email, and ask him to sign the Bicyclist Safety Bill, S. 2573. Tell him that the bill will help get more people bicycling, which will protect the environment, make us healthier, and, perhaps most important during the economic crisis, promote more affordable transportation options.
To contact Governor Patrick:
1. By Phone: Dial 617-725-4005 for Governor Patrick’s opinion line. Be sure to give your name and city or town.
2. By Email: Go to http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us and scroll down to fill in the Email Form.
Please do not delay – call or email today!
About the Bicyclist Safety Bill (S. 2573): The key provisions of the bill are: police training on bicycle law; clarification of how to safely pass a bicycle; clarification of how to safely make turns in front of bicycles; “dooring” subject to ticket and fine; riding two abreast permitted when it does not impede cars from passing; improved enforcement of bicycle law for both motorists and bicyclists; and additional legal protections for bicyclists who choose to ride to the right of other traffic. The full text of the bill can be found here. For more details about the bill, including links to the affected statutes, see our previous Action Alert.
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The Word On The Street
Here is what people are saying
- Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →jsallen
- Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →jsallen
- It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022... Continue reading →commonwheels
- It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022... Continue reading →commonwheels
- Hello world! June 9, 2021Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Continue reading →thecommunityspoke
- Run The Jewels Lead Free Pewter Hand Carved And Cast Pin Set January 3, 2021Made these lovely RTJ fist and gun pin set. Hand carved in wax, and then cast in lead free pewter. Because these are made by hand you can do fun things like add an extra small pin so that they sit just so (also means they have “customized” brass back plates to accommodate the extra […]Boston Biker
- My Work In The Wild: Feather Head Badge With Chris King Headset January 3, 2021One of my customers sent me this amazing picture of my feather badge installed on their (awesome!) bike. Check out Manofmultnomah (here and here), apparently Chris King took some interest in it as well. Want one of your own? Buy it here, or here... Continue reading →Boston Biker
- Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →greg
- Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →greg
- Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →greg
