League Defends National Safe Routes to School Program

National Review Screed Uncalled for, Unjustified

In response to an unjust article in a recent issue of the National Journal, the League's Executive Director, Andy Clarke, sent this letter:

“An interesting concept for a class of citizens accustomed to the speedy transport of automobiles.” Of the many odd sentences in Windsor Mann’s October 19 article, Walk this Way, this one stood out. While America is certainly sold on the chimera of cars providing ‘speedy transport’ we are equally accustomed to the pain of endless gridlock and the reality that no amount of highway user fee is going to be enough to build our way out.

Walking and bicycling to school teaches children important lessons about self-reliance and independence, as well as giving them a tantalizing taste of freedom. In addition to that, people that choose to drop their children off at school will be able to save time waiting in line at the door --- all the healthy children that are walking and bicycling will remove cars from the waiting line and surrounding streets .

As a country, we spend billions annually subsidizing the cost of driving and roads --- to the detriment of our children. We've created a generation of overweight, unhealthy kids whose health problems will cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars. Providing the means to walk and bike to school is a smart investment in these children's future. This investment has been championed by James L. Oberstar (D-MN) since its inception, and he has proven himself to be a leader with the vision to see and create a healthier future for us all.

Thanks in part to the leadership shown by Rep. Oberstar, my children are able to experience the joy of childhood in the front seat of their very own vehicle—a bicycle.

Andy Clarke

Executive Director

League of American Bicyclists

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