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Enhancements Crisis Addressed

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Enhancements Crisis Addressed

While attending last month’s National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., representatives of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation took time to discuss a range of legislative issues with members of Chicagoland’s Congressional delegation.

Executive Director Rob Sadowsky and Healthy Streets Coordinator RandyNeufeld joined League of Illinois Bicyclists Executive Director Ed Barsotti to discuss the funding crisis bicycle facilities are facing in Illinois.

Illinois, among other states, has been told several times in the past two years to “rescind” some funds from the federal enhancements program. As a result, the Illinois Department of Transportation is prioritizing its funding decisions and too often, not choosing bicycle programs. That means existing and future bicycle-related projects are now endangered.

“We wanted to convey that the opportunities for bicycle funding that were won in 1991 are in deep trouble,” Neufeld said

Sadowsky said he was excited that members of Congress were considering how the Farm Bill relates to obesity in Illinois. He also discussed with them the National Climate Report Card and what steps Illinois can take to negate global warming.