May 3, 2024
Photo: David Marvin
Bicycle and Trail Advocacy Day is coming soon on May 14, where we’ll gather at the Capitol, meet with legislators, and ask them to pass laws that improve life through bicycling. I’m writing to give you a quick update on where things stand with our plans for the day and priority issues. But first, if you haven’t had a chance yet:
We’ll also hold a 30-minute webinar on Tuesday, May 7 at 12 noon to go through the issues. Even if you can’t make it to Lansing on the 14th, consider attending if you’d like to learn more!
Here’s a rough sketch of what you can expect on May 14:
– Ride from Potter Park to the Capitol at 7:30 a.m.
– Opening remarks at 8:00 a.m.
– Meet with your legislators
– Lunch at 12:15 p.m.
– Annual Awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
Top Priority: VRU Bills
These bills have been a long-term priority for LMB. Looking back, we’ve made similar efforts in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2021. They close a gap in existing law and give prosecutors more options to pursue justice when a driver hits and kills or seriously injures a bicyclist, pedestrian, wheelchair user or other vulnerable roadway user (VRU). They also define the term “vulnerable roadway user”, which is used frequently in federal transportation law. There are four bills in the package, two each in the House and Senate.
This spring, they’re making solid progress. The House bills had a hearing last Tuesday, April 23, in the House Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure committee, where Matt Penniman from LMB and Paul Runnels from Bike Friendly Kalamazoo (above) both testified in support. Committee members seemed very supportive. The Senate bills received a hearing in the Civil Rights and Judiciary committee on Thursday, May 2.
There’s a good chance that both bills will be heading out of committee around the time of Advocacy Day, making this the perfect time to make our case. Learn more about the VRU bills with a one-page fact sheet we handed out to representatives:
Community Bike Repair
We’re also requesting a $200,000 appropriation through the state budget process to support community bike repair programs. For some Michiganders, bicycling serves as a safety-net transportation option, especially low-income folks, refugees, the homeless, and kids. Community bike repair programs fill a key role but may struggle to find operating funds for parts and supplies, to operate programming and to compensate instructors. LMB can sustainably address this need by expanding our successful Micro-Grant (now Better Bicycling Grant) program to include a community bike repair fund.
E-bike Incentives
We were thrilled to see a $2.95 million appropriation for e-bike incentives in the initial House Transportation budget! This was not included in the governor’s budget request or in the Senate budget, though, so we’ve got some work ahead of us to make the case for it.
Michigan can join several other states, including Colorado and Minnesota, investing in the transformative potential of e-bike incentives. By lowering the upfront cost, incentives can make e-bikes accessible to the people who benefit most from more affordable transportation.
NMAMC and More
Finally, we’ll ask lawmakers to support a bill to create a New Mobility Asset Management Council (NMAMC), which would join the existing Transportation Asset Management Council and Water Asset Management Council.
The NMAMC would focus on New Mobility asset classes whose condition – or even existence – is not currently monitored or inventoried in a comprehensive statewide approach, such as non-motorized and motorized recreational trails, Electric Vehicle charging stations, clean alternative fuels stations, on-road bicycle lanes, sidewalks, side paths, micromobility stations, aeromobility, and V2X infrastructure.
With statewide asset inventory, condition reporting, and other data collected through the NMAMC, Michigan would be better positioned to make data-driven strategic decisions regarding these assets. Over the long term, this can make a significant difference for the coherence and effectiveness of Michigan’s active transportation network.
… and one more thing…
We’ll be sharing more on the final details of our issues and plans for the day as we approach Advocacy Day. There could be some pretty big surprises (in a good way!) But we’ll share those as – and if – they get confirmed.
Please note that there is a $20 registration fee for Advocacy Day, to cover lunch and expenses. If the cost is a barrier for you, please contact [email protected] to receive a free complimentary registration code, no questions asked. Thanks to an anonymous donor for covering these costs.
Hope you can join us!
Thanks to our partners for Bicycle and Trail Advocacy Day: PEAC and Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan.
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