At first glance, it just seems like another serving of talk-radio red meat from Colorado’s favorite Republican train wreck Rep. Lauren “Q*bert” Boebert–a presumably dead-on-arrival appropriations amendment striking a blow against that most un-Godly of communist contraptions, the bicycle:
Rep. Lauren Boebert has filed an approps amendment which would prevent the Interior Department from subsidizing employees’ travel by bicycle
— Sam Mintz (@samjmintz) July 26, 2021
On the one hand, it’s easy to understand: Boebert is a big fan of oil and gas, the kind of devoted fan you can really only be if you don’t think about it too much “Drill Baby Drill” style. Naturally, ICE-loving (internal combustion engine, though we assume either works) red-blooded Americans like Boebert don’t ride stinking bicycles.
The thing is, though, a lot of people in Boebert’s district do ride bicycles. In fact, the Colorado Tourism Office says some of the greatest cycling destinations are in Boebert’s own Western Slope district:
Colorado has more gold- or platinum-rated bicycle communities than any other state, according to the League of American Bicyclists. Boulder and Fort Collins are ranked platinum, while Breckenridge, Durango, Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs are gold. Silver status goes to Aspen, Colorado Springs, Denver, Gunnison and Longmont, while Arvada, Carbondale, Castle Rock, Golden, Greeley, Lakewood, Summit County and Vail make the podium with bronze.
Boebert may not value bicycling as a means of getting around, but a whole bunch of tourism-reliant communities in her district value the hell out of bicycles and the visitors Colorado’s magnificent bike trails bring. That’s in addition to the fact that people who ride bicycles are statistically much healthier, and bicycles and emit neither carbon nor coal-roll soot.
In short, Boebert just insulted a big economic stakeholder in her district for the shallow gratification of another.
We can’t see how that makes Boebert, you know, any new friends.
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I'm old enough to remember 2010 when the Republican gubernatorial nominee, Dan Maes, was ranting about the bicycle kiosks in Denver being a part of a UN plot to take away our freedoms.
And then this happens…..
Former Wyoming U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi seriously injured in bike accident, was flown to hospital (msn.com)
Ex-US Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming dies after bicycle accident
Love to see Bobo take on Greg Brophy on state funding for bicycle commuters. Brophy, a frequent bike racer, proposed several bike-friendly laws when he was in the legislature.
Now that Brophy is a Denver lobbyist, he probably still takes advantage of metro bike trails and county- subsidized racing and riding events.
Don't make me remember Greg Brophy fondly. That's not a world I want to live in.
I'm puzzled what subsidies Interior is purportedly handing out for bike commuting. A reporter with an inquring mind might ask Boobert.
Not a reporter, but Interior actually has a Bicycle Subsidy Benefit Program. I did a full 60 seconds of googling yesterday trying to find out how much money was involved, but failed. Woodward and Bernstein are not impressed.
https://www.doi.gov/ofas/bicycle-subsidy-benefit-program
Oh Bobo. Didn't Mommy tell you that you need to wear a helmet when you ride a bike?