Window Closing Fast on Transportation Bill — Call Your Reps Today

By Mary Lauran Hall, Communications Coordinator for America Bikes

A small group of House and Senate leaders are still negotiating on the final transportation bill right now. The window is closing fast on our last real chance to impact the bill.

It’s all in their hands—whether or not local communities will have access to funds to build biking and walking infrastructure—and we need your help.

Today, America Bikes is joining with numerous other organizations from around the country to call congressional offices and make our priorities clear in these last few days to impact the transportation bill’s final outcome.

Can you take a moment to call your Senators and Representative and let them know that the transportation conference committee must preserve the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement? This agreement ensures that communities will have access to funds to build biking and walking infrastructure.

Here’s how to call:

1. Check out the profile on your senators and your representative using the America Bikes state and district resources pages.

2. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Use the script below to ask your elected officials to preserve the Cardin-Cochran agreement.

Hi, my name is [name] and I live in [city/town/county].

I’m calling to ask Representative/Senator [name] to support the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement in the transportation conference committee that ensures local governments have access to funds to build bikeways and sidewalks.

Americans support federal funding for biking and walking.  In a March 2012 poll, 83 percent of Americans said they support maintaining or increasing federal funding for biking and walking- That includes 88 percent of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans.

These projects are important to my community. (Mention a local project, or use some of the facts from your state  or district profile.

Please support the Cardin-Cochran agreement so that [your city/town/county] can build projects important to our community.

3. Repeat for all three of your congressional representatives.

4. Use the America Bikes tip sheet  to report back on anything you learn in your call.

Thank you!