The other thing I said that didn't make it into the article...

In today's Examiner, "Governments squeeze drivers to fill budget gaps," I am quoted in this article, saying:

"I wish that our friends at the AAA would be advocating for increases in these fines every year regardless of these budget issues because the average motorist breaks a law every day," said Richard Layman, a local bike and pedestrian planner. "The real problem is the roads are designed to allow high speeds all the time regardless of context."

But in response to the grandstanding from the AAA:

"They're using motorists as their ATM machines," said John Townsend, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman. "It's patently wrong."

I said something else, which wasn't used in the article.

What I said is that the AAA should know that about 50% of the cost of roads is not paid for by registration fees, gasoline taxes, and tolls--the other 50% of the cost of roads comes from general funds.

So that it's inherently reasonable to assess drivers more for the costs that their driving--especially bad driving--imposes on others. (See this research report by Martin Wachs, Improving Efficiency and Equity in Transportation Finance published by the Brookings Institution.) And that AAA ought to be advocating that drivers pay their way, not that they be constantly subsidized.

The other point I made is that the Better World Club is an automobile club that also advocates for bicyclists and pedestrians, not just drivers. They have a bicycle option which I have (it also provides membership in the League of American Bicyclists and a subscription to Bicycling Magazine).

That I do drive--Zipcar and rental cars--but that I am a member of BWC to promote a more equal and balanced approached to mobility advocacy.