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Comment 28 for Transportation Comments for the GHG Scoping Plan (sp-transport-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Cathy
Last Name: Haagen-Smit
Email Address: tandems2@sbcglobal.net
Affiliation:
Subject: VMT Reduction
Comment:
As a long time bicycle advocate, I have the following comments about the scoping plan: REDUCE VMTs. Clearly VMT is out of control in this state. ARB has noted a trend for increased VMTs over the next 50 years. Of course this trend must not only be slowed down, it should be reversed starting sooner than later. (App C, page C-22). I ask for strong emphasis on the issues below: 1. Public Education: ARB has suggested providing consumer choices. Strong marketing, much like the state's "Flex Your Power" campaign, catching consumer's attention should be created. The bicycle as a solution should be emphasized. Cheap, easy, healthy. 2. Incentives or feebates or tax relief should be extended to individuals who ride a bicycle or walk to reduce vehicle trips, not just to those driving more fuel efficient cars. The converse, people who continue to drive when certain trips could be replaced by walking, biking or transit should be penalized, or given disencentives. Pay to park, for example. 3. Programs requiring employers to help employees reduce VMTs should be mandated. 4. Local governments and transportation planning agencies should be penalized for poor land use planning. All planning decisions must meet certain strict blueprint criteria before any new road, subdivision or strip mall is built. Decision makers are getting away with the worst case scenarios. I live in Placer County which suffers from extremely bad, car-based planning. If there was an economic disencentive for the decision maker, carbon footprints would be reduced dramatically. Many decision makers simply scoff at the notion of global warming. They hold key positions in determining a future of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. There need to be penalties for their failure to act. Thank you, Cathy Haagen-Smit
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-07-29 16:18:39
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