Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Earl Blumenauer

Blumenauer: Don’t Let American Streets Remain Unsafe Routes to School

Yesterday the House debated the GOP leadership's oil drilling-with-a-side-of-highways bill, which may or may not survive the House floor.

false

A lot of folks are upset about this proposal, which would eliminate dedicated federal funding for transit, biking, and walking, open up some of the country's environmental treasures to oil drilling and delay infrastructure insolvency for all of two years.

Leave it to Oregon's Earl Blumenauer to really let 'em have it. The Hill reports that Blumenauer delivered an impassioned speech accompanied by this sign that really hits home.

Some highlights below:

This is a wildly popular program, costing a fraction of a percent of the transportation budget, and it's had a huge impact nationally on our children because it deals with real consequences for them.

Doesn't it make sense to do something about the congestion, the injury, the death and the obesity?

So why are my Republican friends advancing a transportation bill attacking Safe Routes to School, stripping it out, making it an unsafe route to school? Well, it's a fitting metaphor for perhaps the worst transportation bill in history.

Well said, sir.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Security Blanket: Will NYPD Smother Mamdani’s Love of Transit and Bikes?

Zohran Mamdani likes taking the train and riding a Citi Bike — but the demands of being New York City’s mayor may not be compatible with his transit habit.

November 18, 2025

Gov. Hochul Vague on Free Bus Plans As Her Open Budget Salvo Nears

Hochul has said she would neither support a plan that would deprive the MTA of a key revenue stream — fares — nor would she raise taxes to make up for the missing swipes.

November 18, 2025

Report: Traffic Injuries Increase Near Amazon Last-Mile Warehouses

Injuries are increasing near last-mile warehouses and advocates want to change the model for more accountability.

November 18, 2025

Trump Admin Seeks To Decimate Federal Transit Funding

"When you're talking about taking away money from transit, your proposal is flawed from the get-go," said one expert.

November 18, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Soft Focus Edition

The DOT unveils its latest effort to get car drivers to stop killing us. Plus other news.

November 18, 2025

Delivery App Regulation Should Learn from Commercial Carting Reform

Third party delivery apps say they have no ability to police the very system they created — while the city's patchwork regulation isn't addressing the root of the problem.

November 17, 2025
See all posts