cartky.org

Bike Shop owner Jackie Green reports a wave of stolen bicycles all across the city. Says Green: "It is locked bikes, bikes in fenced back yards, rear wheels, bikes - even with training wheels - momentarily abandoned, all variations on a theme." He suggests the following counter-measures:

1. Record your bike's serial number.
2. Lock your bike.
3. Report to the police if it is stolen.
4. Do not buy a bike off E-bay, Craigs list or anywhere else if you cannot confirm the seller is the owner (not the possessor).

The time to contribute money to transit is now. We can take a major step towards improved regional transportation around Louisville. Through the tireless efforts of Metro Council, KIRA, and CART, we are very close to operating two exciting demonstrations:

1. An "inspection train" on the Paducah & Louisville track, going from downtown Louisville out to Elizabethtown KY, a model of what a commuter rail line could look like on that corridor.
2. A city-to-city bus ride back to Louisville aboard a Miller Transportation's bus, a model for a better way of connecting Kentucky's cities.

Click Read More for how to contribute!

If you attended the CART Annual meeting on Wednesday, July 23, you heard the discussion of an exciting proposal to demonstrate that commuter rail is a real possibility in Louisville. 

CART is partnering with KIRA, the Kentucky and Indiana Rail Advocates, to sponsor an “inspection train” down Dixie Highway toward Fort Knox, using the Paducah & Louisville Railway.  It will be a trip for various city officials to see the railway and imagine what the corridor could become. A similar inspection train led to the creation of the Music City Star on the Nashville & Eastern railroad. 

Wednesday, July 23rd, 6pm-~7:30pm. Clifton Center.

Join us as we welcome featured speaker Stephen George of LEO Weekly, and his talk entitled "Road to Ruin: How Politics is Wrecking your Commute".

This quarterly meeting also happens to be our annual meeting, so prepare for elections of board members, financial reports, and all those annual goodies.

Light snacks will be served.

We all know that public transit has been in the news.  More than ever, we have a climate that will support public transit if we can build a base and momentum.  Thanks to you long time, committed advocates, CART has successfully raised awareness of the need for increased funding for transit. Now is the time for all of you to take you energies and recruit others.

CART, along with the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, Kentuckyians for the Commonwealth, AARP, the Center for Accessible Living, and other friends, is developing education and advocacy tools for you to use.  We want to have people and organizations show their commitment to increased public transit by signing onto some basic principles.  If you are interested in this phase, let us know.

This does redirect our energy from the petition for the August 16 deadline to add a transit funding initiative to the 2008 ballot.  But we know that educating the public and growing the base of supporters is the most important way to use our time.

CART to address Metro Council regarding increased TARC funding proposal

On Monday we need all friends of Transit to turn out at the Metro Council Transportation & Public Works meeting. Show our leaders that transit is a priority.

The meeting is at 5pm sharp at City Hall.

CART is proposing the city increase funding to TARC by $40 million to restore bus service to meet current demand and massively improve the system. Read our full proposal here.

After-party at Bearno's by the Bridge, 131 W. Main Street. 584-7437. Bring your own pizza money! Wheelchair accessible through the back.

Jon is leaving his position as Bike/Ped coordinator for Louisville. The position has not been eliminated. CART is sad to see him go, and wishes him success in his next endeavor.

Dear Metro Council Representative:

We urge you to act immediately to increase funding for TARC!

Higher Gas Prices Rob Our Local Economy;
“Keep it Local” Through Public Transit Investment

A coalition of local organizations is working on a ballot initiative to increase local funding for TARC. We're aiming for the big election this fall. CART will be sending a representative - most likely yours truly - to most of the TARC fare increase meetings in early June. It's a very exciting time.

Update: the C-J covered the meetings, and wrote an article about the idea.

Grim news from the Courier-Journal:

Just one month after TARC officials forecast dime increase in bus fares, the transit authority’s executive director said yesterday that skyrocketing diesel fuel prices require a bigger hit.

Barry Barker, TARC's executive director, said he’ll recommend the adult cash fare go up 25 cents, to $1.50 per ride on July 1, along with about $1 million in previously announced service cuts.

Before they were giving the community a choice:

• Small fare hike and Big service cuts or
• Big fare hike and Small service cuts

Now it appears they're forced into:

• Big fare hike and Big service cuts

In contrast, CART's position is this: When higher fuel prices are forcing more and more of our fair city's residents onto the public transportation system, we need to be expanding service, not cutting it.

CART is working on a plan to expand TARC service. Please contact us immediately through the "Contact Us" link above if you are willing to contribute knowledge or time to this campaign.