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C'MON NOW, TOOMEY 

This week in the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) introduced an amendment to eliminate the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – AKA the biggest source of federal funding for walking and biking projects, AKA the reason Safe Routes to School can exist, AKA how cash-strapped communities pay for sidewalks and crosswalks to keep grandmas and grandkids safe – from the federal transportation bill. Smart move, sir, because eliminating a funding pool that amounts to less than 2% of the entire federal transportation program could definitely make up the $170 billion in funding we'll need to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent over the next ten years. End sarcasm. 

Advocates in states whose U.S. Senators sit on the Senate Finance Committee jumped into action in response to an alert by the League of American Bicyclists. 

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia encouraged the Senate Finance Committee to vote no.  

Bike Delaware was not pleased, and asked supporters to ask Senators Wyden and Carper to politely decline to allow Mr. Toomey's amendment to escape committee alive. 

Maybe Senator Toomey needs to hear from these Portland kids, who together logged over 300,000 walks and bikes to school. 

INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS

San Diego is considering some super promising design improvements along several major corridors. 

THE BIG PICTURE

Trails for Illinois reveals the new logo for the Illinois Trail Corps, which was funded through a crowdfunding campaign. 

Chicago's Active Transportation Alliance has announced the #RollTogetherChi campaign with AAA and PeopleForBikes. 

Bike friendly Amtrak baggage cars are coming to New York! And to Washington state! 

The new CyclePhilly app shows exactly where people are riding in Philadelphia, giving transportation planners a glimpse into where future investments should settle. 

ADVOCACY AVENUE

Bike San Diego advocates push for a Vision Zero commitment after a new report shows that 59 walkers and bikers have been killed by hit and run drivers in the county so far this year. 

Meanwhile in the Rust Belt, Bike Cleveland has recorded 8 car-on-bike crashes this month, 5 of which were hit and runs. 

But the number of people killed in crashes with cars is down in Wisconsin. 

Advocates from Walk San Francisco and the SF Bicycle Coalition walked the corridors of San Francisco City Hall to drum up about $1 million in add-back funding for Vision Zero projects. 

Here's a tip: Pittsburghers can give feedback on their region's draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). 

These posters are a fun way to thank decisionmakers for a pro-bike vote. 

LEGISLATION LANE

The New York State Assembly passed a bill to allow New York City to set its default speed limit at 25 mph. Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets are so, so pleased. 

The Lee County, FL MPO passed a land use scenario that will encourage more density and multimodal transportation. 

Lots of biking and walking action in the California State Assembly this week. In particular: 

• The Assembly's new state budget includes no new funding for biking and walking. 
• An act that would give local agencies the freedom to use the best available guidance to build protected bike lanes faces opposition in the Senate.
• The legislature has watered down a Vulnerable Road Users act. Under the amended act, the maximum fine for causing great bodily injury would be $300. California's maximum fine for littering is $1,000. 
• Two bills sponsored by Assemblymember Mike Gatto would help stop hit and runs throughout the state. 

Virginia's new three-foot passing lane will go into effect July 1. 

Delaware's new state budget includes funding for a gorgeous walking and biking bridge over the Christina River. 

PROGRAMMING

PlayStreets, Chicago's Open Streets initiative, is returning this summer!  

Bike Pittsburgh held their second Women and Biking Zine Night. 

You can bike across the entire state of Delaware twice! (It's 31 miles.)

MassBike has launched a Bike Safety Education and Awareness Campaign in Cape Cod. 

Atlanta advocates are organizing a Heels on Wheels ride. 

Portland's Community Cycling Center had a successful first week of Bike Camp! I'm not totally clear on what that is, but it sounds like these kids are having a blast. 

GET A JOB

Portland's Bicycle Transportation Alliance is hiring a Communications Director. 

TRAILER

Today is the last day to ask US DOT to create a safety performance measure for nonmotorized transportation. Make your voice heard!