Last week, the US House of Representatives approved an additional $2 billion for the Cash for Clunkers program, in which consumers can receive a rebate up to $4,500 when they trade their old(er) car in for a brand new car. The U.S. Senate must still approve the bill.

Over the past decade, Amtrak has had to make do with about $1.2 billion in annual funding. Transit systems nationwide, who often provide the only transportation for the working poor, are hiking fares and cutting service. People who already own working cars, however, get a very substantial cash benefit with absolutely no concession expected from them.

Paul Dorn promised some thought on Cash for Clunkers also, though he hasn’t posted them yet (as of Sunday afternoon). He vented some of his thoughts on a discussion list so I hope he’ll publish them in a more public forum.

Elsewhere…

Holy Man: “Don’t give me any guff about transit and cyclists not paying their fair share, when the government is subsidizing private car ownership.”

SF Streetsblog: “The “cash for clunkers” rebate program, which promises new auto buyers up to $4,500 for fuel-efficiency upgrades as small as 2 miles per gallon, is back to life after burning through $1 billion in taxpayer cash.”

Green Grok analyzes the life cycle breakdown of how Cash for Clunkers works out.

World News Daily Blog: Cash for Clunkers benefits disappointing.

Baltimore Spokes: Your tax dollars at work to sell more horse and buggy whips.

Plan ignores bikes; 45 days to respond to DEIR

The Draft Environment Impact Review for the proposed 49ers Stadium in Santa Clara contains absolutely no provision for bicycling, and completely ignores the impact that stadium traffic will have on area cyclists who use the roads and trails.

Sunnyvale resident (and former member of the Sunnyvale BPAC) Patrick Grant urges all area cyclists to comment on the Draft EIR:

If you were considering riding the long proposed Hetch Hetchy aquaduct Trail, to Stadium, or between Cisco area and Sunnyvale or interconnecting directly between the trails in the heart of Silicon Valley tech industry, the 49 stadium EIR says nothing about bike transportation, zero, zip, its not in Santa Clara’s vocabulary. We need massive response to the EIR and to Santa Clara Council.

FYI, the Hetch Hetchy trail is on top of the Hetch Hetchy aquaduct from Cisco in First street to Sunnyvale and provides a direct route between them and it and Three Creeks trail (also endangered by car centric city planners) is the only trail interconnect central to the area. The trail route which sits yards from stadium and Great America has been in the county trail plan since the early 90’s at least. Hetch Hetchy trail parallels Tasman, a popular commuter route and access to ACE train. There is no mention of cars impact to bikability of Tasman or any other street in area either.

We need you help before it’s too late. Everyone please respond to the DEIR. Let every biker in the area know the DEIR and lack of any mitigation to bikers, will FOREVER MAKE THIS AREA UNBIKABLE!. Also, contact our VTA BPAC Representatives.

THERE IS NOW LESS THAN 45 DAYS FOR OUR RESPONSE!