The Honorable Ted Strickland
Governor of the State of Ohio
Columbus, Ohio

March 9, 2009

Dear Honorable Governor:

Congratulations on successful passage of the Administration's stimulus package. ClevelandBikes was pleased to assist, encouraging support for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure to rebuild neighborhoods, promote good good health to reduce health care costs, increase employment productivity and business success.

*  Investing in cycling and pedestrian transportation infrastructure has a strong stimulative impact and offers a shovel-ready “big bang for the buck” for modest public investment. Investing in active transportation is a fiscally responsible step to recreate thriving neighborhoods. A recent report of the “Rails to Trails” Conservancy identified:

*  The financial value of improved mobility, fuel savings, greenhouse gas reductions, and health care savings ranges between $10-65 billion, outstripping any public spending costs in creating a bicycling and walking transportation infrastructure.

*  For $50 million, the price of a single mile of a four-lane city highway, hundreds of miles of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can be built, completing an entire network of active transportation facilities for a mid-sized city.

*  Modest increases in bicycling and walking could lead to an annual reduction of 70 billion miles of car travel, with higher increases cutting as much as 200 billion miles per year. The decreased auto travel is the same as cutting oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles by 3-8%.

In addition to the broad benefits for the region, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure provides benefits for individuals and households, already strained by job loss and the economy:

*  Reducing transportation costs to ease household budgets: For most Americans, transportation is an expense second only to housing (higher than health care, education and food). Even before runaway gas prices, the average American spends 19% of their income on transportation, with households that heavily rely on cars for transportation spending 50% or more. Based on AAA reports of typical transportation costs 56.1cents/ mile and $5 daily parking, typical car commuter costs are more than $11,500/year.

*  Improved health and fitness: A walking and biking transportation infrastructure is a practical way for many to achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Modest increases in bicycling and walking for short trips could provide enough exercise for 50 million inactive Americans to meet recommended activity levels, reducing America's activity deficit.

To further the goals we share, I encourage the Strickland Administration to review projects in Northeast Ohio with the intent of promoting healthier transportation options for the public, such as bicycle riding and walking. Cycling and pedestrian infrastructure projects deserve your support, as “stand-alone” projects, like the bicycle station for Cleveland's Gateway neighborhood, as well as important elements in broader transportation projects.

We would particularly encourage cycling and pedestrian accommodation in any effort to invest in Cleveland on the following projects in Northeast Ohio, including:

*  Cleveland's Innerbelt Bridge could readily accommodate cycling infrastructure to promote bicycle riding for recreation, health and basic transportation and improve pedestrian access as well. If there is to be a”signature bridge” into Cleveland, it should be one cyclists and pedestrians, not just motorists cutting through town, can enjoy.

*  Cleveland's West and East Shoreway can be improved to provide more pedestrian crossing opportunities to create a more accessible roads and parks, while feeding cyclists into a smoothly functioning transportation route. However, care must be taken to ensure that improvements don't reduce safe cycling on “feeder” streets and related routes. The East Shoreway is an important element of the Lake Front Bike Route and should be improved, well maintained and accessible for cycling.

*  The Bicycle Station for Cleveland's Gateway neighborhood is supported in Mayor Jackson's capital budget and is “shovel-ready.” The facility, planned for a City-owned parking garage near the basketball arena, will offer a combination of services, including secure bicycle parking, showers and lockers, and can be an important part of a cycling infrastructure, serving cyclists commuting for work, school, entertainment or to enjoy all that Cleveland has to offer. The Bicycle Station at Gateway will be an important part of cycling tourism as well.

Cycling is not a “fringe” activity, but an important transportation option. 20% of Americans used a bicycle for transportation in the 30 days measured in the Census Bureau Household Survey. Bicycling is the second most preferred form of transportation after the automobile, ahead of public transportation, with 22.3% of those who bicycled did so more than ten of the 30 days (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, October 2000 Omnibus Household Survey). Active transportation would provide tens of billions of dollars in benefits, through reduced oil dependence, climate pollution and obesity rates while providing more and better choices for getting around. Accommodation of cycling is consistent with “green building” trends embraced by the Administration and transportation infrastructure should reflect these priorities as well.

Cyclists have always cared about good roads and effective transportation, initiating the "good roads" movement in the 19th century, before there were cars, calling for quality roads to serve the economy and population of a growing nation. Cyclists are ready, again, to help support the 21st century needs of our neighborhoods. I look forward to talking further with your staff about these exciting priorities. If you have questions, comments or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kevin Cronin

ClevelandBikes, a volunteer administered 501(C)(3) charitable organization, is committed t o advancing all forms of bicycling for health, transportation and recreation for the region's residents.

Attachment:

INVEST IN CYCLIST AND PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

NE OH has the opportunity to rebuild our neighborhoods to offer healthier,more active transportation choices to create thriving neighborhoods where people want to live. Our current transportation network leaves us behind, but investment is a cost-effective step for tight financial times. Americans deserve options, and will choose to bike or walk when they have safe and convenient infrastructure that connects places that matter in their daily lives -- home, work, school, stores and entertainment.

Creating transportation options to meet people's needs: 50% of the trips in America can be completed with a 20-minute bike ride, and 25% of trips are within a 20-minute walk, yet, the vast majority of these short trips are still taken by car. Bike riding encourages support for neighborhood assets, like libraries, parks and stores. The more we invest in a transportation infrastructure that encourages cycling and walking, the more people will choose walking, riding and public transportation, leaving the car in the driveway for the bigger trips.

Fuel savings: Modest increases in bicycling and walking could lead to an annual reduction of 70 billion miles of car travel, with higher increases cutting as much as 200 billion miles per year. The decreased auto travel is the same as cutting oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles by 3-8%.

Reducing transportation costs to ease household budgets: For most Americans, transportation is an expense second only to housing (higher than health care, education and food). Even before runaway gas prices, the average American spends 19% of their income on transportation, with households that heavily rely on cars for transportation spending 50% or more. Based on AAA reports of typical transportation costs 56.1cents/ mile and $5 daily parking, typical car commuter costs are more than $11,500/year.

The public wants to bike more and drive less: When asked how they would allocate federal transportation dollars, Americans sat they would spend 22% of transportation funding on biking and walking infrastructure—about 15 times what is currently spent. More than 1/3rd of America do not drive, while many households have several adult drivers sharing one car. Our transportation system needs to offer public services to the non-driving public.

Improved health and fitness: A walking and biking transportation infrastructure is a practical way for many to achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Modest increases in bicycling and walking for short trips could provide enough exercise for 50 million inactive Americans to meet recommended activity levels, reducing America's activity deficit.

Infrastructure investment encourages more cycling, increasing safety for cyclists. Otherwise, cyclists are at risk. Bicycles account for 10% of trips, 13% of fatalities, but only 1% of federal funding. As cities increase their cycling infrastructure, cycling increases, with all the energy, health, traffic congestion reductions and environmental benefits that go with it.