Washington Whispers

Lance Armstrong and Ray LaHood Push Bike Paths

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May 4, 2010 RSS Feed Print
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By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who struck public opinion gold when he lambasted people who text while driving, has hit the jackpot again with another personal peeve: the need for more bike paths. This time he's getting shout-outs from seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and President Obama. Armstrong tweeted praise for LaHood last weekend: "Sec of Trans Ray LaHood talked about need 4 bike infrastructure on NPR today. Pretty sweet." Also last week, when a White House guest praised LaHood to him, President Obama said, "Oh, you must be a bicyclist." So what's the deal? LaHood and his wife are longtime bikers, often seen along Washington's C&O Canal. He's advocating for more bike paths as part of the nation's infrastructure and green plan.

Tags:
Ray LaHood,
Department of Transportation,
Lance Armstrong,
environment

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Around here we have bike paths on top of the levees that were already in place, and an old railroad line that has been out of service for many years has now been converted to a bike path. The progress is slow but getting better. I ride at a fairly slow pace, about 12-14 MPH

so I am not a hazard, but a few road bike riders think that blasting past people at a speed usually over 20 MPH is OK. Sometimes I get into a chat with other cyclists or walkers and we all enjoy the outdoors. The people I meet are almost all against the road bikers speeding and their snobbish attitudes and dangerous riding.

Bill Baka of CA 5:29PM May 10, 2010

Of course, come to think of it, most of the users of police services are crime victims. Since I have never been a crime victim, why should my tax dollars go to pay for police. Also, I have no children, so why should I help pay for schools.

Ahh, you might say that it has a societal benefit, or I may eventually need police services, or might have a child.

Well, you might one day ride a bike.

Alan of CA 4:12PM May 05, 2010

I agree with you in theory. Still, I would like those who advocate for the bike paths to propose means (other than general revenue tax dollars) to pay for them. The fact of the matter is, bike paths are used by a fairly small group. We would be better off if it were a larger group, perhaps, but I'd like to see the small group that actually exists to engage the issue with private money.

I live near Albuquerque. It has many paths, especially up and down the Rio Grande river. I see too many core cyclists in speedos riding way too fast on those trails on $2,000 bikes, often quite rude to walkers. Tell me how to get those people to pay for the trails they want to build and ride on, and I'll line up to support them. Otherwise, not so much.

Muser of NM 2:04PM May 05, 2010

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