Given the recent victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election, the headline above sounds highly improbable, but it’s true.
On the same day that the presidential election is held, when American voters go to their local polling booth they’re also voting for everything from their local Congressman down to in some cases County Sheriff.
Another of the unique features of the American system is their system of putting up specific local taxation ballots.
For example, the voters of Los Angeles County, which includes both the city of Los Angeles and most of the surrounding LA urban sprawl, voted by a majority of 70% for 30% against to increase their local sales tax by half a cent per dollar in order to fund more public transportation and cycling infrastructure. This proposal was called Measure M.
Whilst half a cent might not sound much, given the huge population and economy of LA County, this will result in a total of US$3.9 billion (A$5.1 billion) in predictable, long term funding for cycling and walking improvements over the next 40 years during which Measure M is in place. This is only a small portion of the total funds that will be raised that total over US$60 billion (A$79 billion)
Measure M required a two thirds majority to come into force. In other words, it needed a minimum of 66.6 recurring percent ‘yes’ vote to win.
That 70% of citizens of any country would vote to tax themselves more is remarkable.
That 70% of the voters of Los Angeles, the ultimate global case study for automotive Nirvana and decades of ingrained car culture, would vote to tax themselves more to move away from a car dominated culture should give everyone in the bike industry reason to stop and reflect upon the global significance of this decision.
Of course, the bike industry and grass roots cyclists had been proactively campaigning for Measure M and given the close margin, would have arguably made the difference in winning.
“Our staff worked ridiculously hard during this campaign season and I can’t thank them enough,” wrote the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Tamika Butler upon announcing Measure M’s success to her members. “We’ve been everywhere and doing everything we can to ensure victory and we did it.”
Although Measure M was the largest of a host of similar pro-cycling tax increase measures that was passed in cities around the USA on election day, at latest count there were 12 others passed, six others defeated and three yet to be finalised two of which where the pro cycling vote was leading and one where it was behind.
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