Surprising words from our Transportation Secretary

I ran across a post in Commute by Bike about how Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is telling viewers on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer that we're inappropriately spending our transportation tax on bike paths.

MARY PETERS: Well, there's about probably some 10 percent to 20 percent of the current spending that is going to projects that really are not transportation, directly transportation-related. Some of that money is being spent on things, as I said earlier, like bike paths or trails.

So I responded with a letter:

Secretary Peters,

I've just read a transcript of your interview with Gwen Ifill on PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer. I'd like to hear your explanation of how bike paths are not transportation infrastructure.

My wife works for the PATH Foundation in Atlanta which is building bike paths for the metro area. Yes, these trails are used recreationally, but they are also a big part of the city's transportation infrastructure.

When I ride my bike to work, there is less congestion because I don't bring my car. I've used the car 6 times over the past 3 years.

When I ride my bike to run errands, there is more room in the parking lots and less CO2 in the atmosphere.

Although much of my commute is on roads, the amount of time I do spend on the bike paths reduces competition for road space with motorists.

Not everyone rides a bike to work everyday, but I know more people would if there were better facilities. It seems so obvious that the bicycle 1) reduces congestion, 2) reduces demand for motor vehicle infrastructure, 3) improves air quality, and 4) reduces the overall cost of transportation (not to mention addressing obesity). As the nation's Secretary of Transportation, I would think your comments would be more sensitive to the growing portion of the population who can help you address so many of the transportation issues our country is facing.

If this burns you the way it burned me, you can send your message to Secretary Mary Peters using a web page hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. You'd probably enjoy the Commute by Bike article as well.

Commute Summary

Round Trip Distance: 35.4
Number of Cyclists seen: lost count going through Ga Tech; around 35 total
Number of people walking around in their underwear: just 1 (not pretty)
In-bound Route: All over
Out-bound Route: All over
Weather: Not quite as hot as it has been this month