Rights of Passage

The Federal government has finally ruled that the needs of American pedestrians and cyclists must be equal to and not lesser-than the rights of motorists on the road. “In what amounts to a sea change for the Department of Transportation, the automobile will no longer be the prime consideration in federal transportation planning. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says the needs of pedestrians and cyclists will be considered along with those of motorists, and he makes it clear that walking and riding are ‘an important component for livable communities.’ ‘People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning,’ LaHood wrote on his blog. ‘This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.’ He goes on: ‘We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.’”