Skip to content

Senator Jim DeMint Wants to Eliminate Bike Stim Funds: Take Action!

Senator Jim DeMint, the South Carolina Republican who said that directing stim funds toward bicycle and hiking infrastructure will not help the economy or create jobs, has gone too far. He and Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma have just proposed an amendment that would kill all stimulus funds for bike and hiking trails. 

Senator Jim DeMint, the South Carolina Republican who said that directing stim funds toward bicycle and hiking infrastructure
will not help the economy or create jobs, has gone too far. He and
Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma have just proposed an
amendment that would kill all stimulus funds for bike and hiking
trails. 

In a statement, Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer said it shows how short-sighted and out of touch Republicans are:

Investment in bike paths will not only improve our
economy, and take our country in the right direction for our future; it
is precisely the kind of investment the American people want. American
families have indicated time and again in the passage of bond measures
across the country that they favor spending on alternative
transportation, such as bicycles and mass transit, over spending on
more highway capacity.  Americans want a real solution to the economic
crisis, not just a band-aid fix.  These investments will stimulate the
economy in the present and point our nation toward the economic and
environmental realities of the future.

Call or write DeMint and Coburn and tell them what investing in bicycle infrastructure really means:

Coburn’s Washington office: 202-224-5754 or email.

DeMint’s Washington office: 202-224-6121 or email.

And then call Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and tell them to kill the amendment:

Schumer’s Washington office: 202-224-6542 or email.

Gillibrand’s Washington office: 202-224-4451 (no official email yet).

Photo of Bryan Goebel
Bryan Goebel is a reporter at KQED Public Radio in San Francisco. A veteran journalist and writer, he helped launch Streetsblog SF in 2009 and served as editor for three years. He lives car-free in the Castro District.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog USA

‘A Solution, But To What Problem?’ Experts Say AVs Are The Elephant In The Room, But There’s Still Time To Figure Out Their Role

April 20, 2026

When Traffic Violence Hits The Same Family Twice — Years Apart, On Exactly the Same Street

April 20, 2026

Monday’s Headlines Should Wean Themselves Off Fossil Fuels

April 20, 2026

Waymo Means Way Mo’ Cars, According To Uber Docs

April 17, 2026

Friday Video(s): Kidical Mass, Night-Biking in Tokyo, and More

April 17, 2026
See all posts