With blinders on, $3.5 million does sound like a lot of money. But the big picture does not only include current funding; it must include historical expenditures as well. When looking at the amount of money spent on bicycle (and pedestrian) improvements, one must also look at the amount of money that was spent historically on bicycle (and pedestrian) improvements and safety relative to those funds used strictly for motor vehicles. I think it is safe to say that one reason we don't see more people on bikes and on foot today is because those modes were historically not considered as meriting appropriate expenditures in the past. We are simply making up for a transportation system that until recently focused almost solely on cars. And by that measure, $3.5 million a year is a pittance. We must all remember that our transportation system is indeed a system consisting of many different modes. We must also remember that Federal, State and local DOTs are Departments of TRANSPORTATION, not departments of cars.
re: Bicycle Expenditures with Some Context
With blinders on, $3.5 million does sound like a lot of money. But the big picture does not only include current funding; it must include historical expenditures as well. When looking at the amount of money spent on bicycle (and pedestrian) improvements, one must also look at the amount of money that was spent historically on bicycle (and pedestrian) improvements and safety relative to those funds used strictly for motor vehicles. I think it is safe to say that one reason we don't see more people on bikes and on foot today is because those modes were historically not considered as meriting appropriate expenditures in the past. We are simply making up for a transportation system that until recently focused almost solely on cars. And by that measure, $3.5 million a year is a pittance. We must all remember that our transportation system is indeed a system consisting of many different modes. We must also remember that Federal, State and local DOTs are Departments of TRANSPORTATION, not departments of cars.