Active Transportation Affirmative

Atlanta Urban Debate League (2012)

The PlanThe US Federal Government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the US by increasing transportation equity in planning and development including increases in active transportation infrastructure and public transit.

Wait… What?

I’m confused…

Let’s Break It Down…

• The Federal Government should increase– Transportation Equity• Equal Access To Transportation

But How…?• The Federal Government should increase equal

access to transportation through investment in– Active Transportation Infrastructure• Active Transportation Is ACTIVE! Includes Things Like

Bike Lanes And Jogging Trails.

What Else…?• The Federal Government should increase

equal access to transportation by increasing investment in… – Public Transit• Think MARTA And Cobb County Transit

I Still Don’t Get It….

What Does The Plan Do?

The Simple Version

The plan increases spending on public transit and active transit to restore social equity to transportation.

Some Important Questions….

1. Why isn’t this happening now (inherency)?2. Why does this matter (advantages)?3. How does the plan help (solvency)?

Why Isn’t This Happening Now?• Representation

Inequality– Urban Areas Are

Underrepresented In Government Transportation Agencies• This Means That

Transportation Strongly Favors Suburban And Outlying Areas

• In Other Words, We Have Awesome Highways And Roads, But Underfunded Public/ Active Transit Systems

Why Isn’t This Happening Now?• Funding– A House

Committee Recently Voted To Kill Funding For Non-Motorized Transportation

– This Means That Congress Won’t Support Non-Motorized Transportation

Why Should I Care?• Social Inequality– Current Infrastructure Favors

The Car (E.g. Highways/ Roads)

– This Excludes Low-Income And Minority Groups, Who Are The Least Likely To Own Cars • 20% Of All Black Households

Don’t Have A Car• This Creates Transportation

Apartheid, Where Affluent, White Communities Have Great Access To Transportation, But Low-Income, Minority Groups Don’t!

Why Should I Care?• Public Health– Focus On Highways And

Roads Promote Passive Activity, Which Causes Obesity

– In Other Words, We Sit On Our Butts In Traffic Rather Than Biking To Work/ School/ the MARTA Station

– Obesity Is BAD; It Kills 160,000 People A Year And Decreases Life Expectancy For Children

How Does The Plan Help?• Promotes Active

Transportation– Increasing Walking/ Biking

Via Active Transportation Infrastructure Promotes Physical Activity

– Increased Physical Activity Helps You Lose Weight And Combats Obesity

– In Other Words, I Bike To The MARTA Station And Enjoy Jogging Trails Instead Of Sitting On My Butt In Traffic

How Does The Plan Help?• Promotes

Transportation Equality– Increasing Public Transit/

Non-Automobile Infrastructure Helps Urban Areas/ Those Without Cars

– In Other Words, Building Highways Doesn’t Help You Move Around Downtown Atlanta, Especially If You Don’t Have A Car. The Plan Helps People Equally Access Transportation

Let’s Recap…• The Plan Increases Funding For Active/ Public

Transit Systems• By Increasing Active Transit Systems And

Promoting Physical Activity, The Plan Combats Obesity

• By Increasing Public/ Non-Motorized Transit, The Plan Meets The Transportation Needs Of Urban Areas/ Those Who Don’t Have Cars, Promoting Social Equality.

Let’s Strategize…• Affirmative Thoughts– Social Equality Is An Important Impact! The Plan

Mitigates The Effects Of (Arguably) Institutional Racism. Read Racism Bad Evidence!

– Emphasize The Moral Implications Of An Unequal Society! Many Judges Will Be Persuaded That They Have A Moral Obligation To Promote Equality.

– Obesity Is A Great Impact; You See Unhealthy People Walking Down The Street. Emphasize The Probability Of Your Impact. (I Can’t Remember The Last Time I Saw A Nuclear War Because Of A Bill The President Signed)

Thanks For Listening! Any Questions?