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Box 1072 E-Mail: league@sunflower.com Board of Directors
League of Women Voters of League of Women Voters of
Copyright © 2004 by The
League of Women Voters of |
STATEMENT OF POSITION ON
Local League Position--Updated and Revised at the 2006 Annual Meeting: The sections relevant to Public Transportation read as follows: Support for a comprehensive public transportation system for Lawrence and measures to achieve that end: local subsidies, federal grants, innovative operations, and city planning that considers transportation and environmental problems… PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION “A reduction in the number of cars driven to high schools is desirable. “Bus routes should be planned to provide adequate service to those persons needing it most, while trying to maximize the number of riders. “Transportation needs should be an important consideration in city planning in the future. A comprehensive bus system would reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, thereby providing greater safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.” Support for a comprehensive public transportation system for Lawrence and measures to achieve that end: local subsidies, federal grants, innovative operations, and city planning that considers transportation and environmental problems. Support for
adoption
and implementation of a plan for a comprehensive
bikeway system for Lawrence to provide for and
to encourage the safe and efficient use of bicycles
as a means of transportation The League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County supports public transportation for the City of Lawrence. Local and federal governments should share responsibility for meeting local transportation needs. The City should see that comprehensive bus service is provided, either as a city owned or as a private, subsidized service. The City should investigate federal funds available for mass transportation. The League believes that transportation by bus can be encouraged through introduction of innovative methods, such as, but not limited to, dial-a-bus plans, persuasive advertising and educational campaigns, and combined school-city bus service. A reduction in the number of cars driven to the High Schools is desirable. The League believes that public transportation needs are not being met in some areas of the city, particularly those areas with greater numbers of low-income and elderly citizens. Bus routes should be planned to provide service to those persons needing it most, while trying to maximize the number of riders. Transportation
needs should be an important consideration in city planning in the
future. A comprehensive
bus system would reduce air pollution and traffic
congestion, thereby providing greater safety for pedestrians
and bicyclists. The
League of Women Voters of Lawrence–Douglas County
supports the adoption and implementation of a plan
for a comprehensive bikeway system for Lawrence to
provide for and to encourage the safe and efficient use of
bicycles as a means of transportation and recreation. The
City should enforce state and local laws that pertain to
bicycling and provide appropriate parking facilities for
bicycles.
We support the use of any available federal and state
funds for the development of the system. The remainder
of the costs for implementation and maintenance
should be funded by local public and private sources.
We
support the annual licensing of bicycles at a minimal
fee such as one dollar. In order to promote safety
and education of bicyclists, the licensing of bicycle riders
should be a long term goal. Any funds from bicycle licenses
exceeding costs should be used in ways to benefit bicyclists. We
support the use of Class I bikeways (bike paths) and/or
Class II bikeways (bike lanes) along principle streets
rather than Class III bikeways (bike routes). Planned bicycle paths/lanes should be installed when principal streets are constructed or widened. Bicyclists who are familiar with the problems of bicycling in our area should be actively involved in the development of the bikeway system. The comprehensive bikeway plan should be reviewed and updated periodically. Plans should be made for the development of bikeways in new areas as the city expands. Planning and implementation of engineering design should take into consideration such factors as safety, length and width of bikeways, vertical clearance grades, intersection design, continuity, drainage, signing and surfaces. The City and County should be responsible for the maintenance of the bikeway system. When a bicycle path is adjacent to a roadway, the bicyclist should be required to use the path. |
