Post your cycling related only election news we can all agree on!

[Trek420]

Finally light rail is approved to Sonoma County, CA. Someday you will be able to pedal off the ferry boat in Larkspur and ride the trail to Healdsburg :D Sonoma county residents will get a fabulous bike route alongside the train route, everyone gets train and bike alternate to being stuck on 101

http://www.sonomamarintrain.org/userfiles/file/Press%20Release%20Nov%205%202008.pdf

[Eden]

We approved our transit bill here too. It means light rail to a lot more places.... but it won't be all done for 14 more years :(.... The section from downtown to the airport should be running really soon though!

[sfa]

I heard Earl Blumenauer's name mentioned as possible Secretary of Transportation. He's the congressman who commutes by bike and has repeatedly tried to get the Bicycle Commuter Act passed. It was finally included as part of the bailout bill. It would be pretty cool to have someone like him in charge of Transportation!

Sarah

[Blueberry]

Has anybody had experience with an employer offering a benefit under the Bicycle Commuter bill yet?

Just curious:)

CA

[shootingstar]

Next year in British Columbia there will be a provincial election.

Meanwhile this year the current provincial govn't has been aggressively announcing all sorts of things to make sure they win more votes..eventually.

Provincial Minister of Transportation, K. Falcon has dedicated $31 million for cycling infrastructure for British Columbia. Announcement was made this past Sept.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=512b1bf5-c010-42d2-bbfd-95a5858dbbff

Yet this guy is a bit wierd...he rammed through approval for building of more highways, bridges..right through Vancouver. ..despite heavy resistance to the proposal.

Anyway, at least more cycling infrastructure will still be there..

[Eden]

Has anybody had experience with an employer offering a benefit under the Bicycle Commuter bill yet?

Just curious:)

CA

From what I understand its not as simple as you get $20 a month if you bike commute.... Your employer is allowed to deduct $20 from their taxable income if they offer perks to employees who bicycle. So if your company has showers, covered, secure bike parking, gives maintenance certificates, etc. then they can get a tax deduction for each employee who bike commutes. That means its not even really $20 per person either, its whatever percentage of $20 that the company's tax bracket dictates. I doubt its enough to persuade employers who don't already give bike commuter perks to start, but it rewards the ones who already do.