A young coalition recently formalized under the name the "Active Michigan Initiative," or AMI, is gearing up to take the message of non-motorized transportation and outdoor recreation to the Legislature. The AMI recently formed a Legislative Welcome Wagon Subcommittee to begin visiting new and returning legislators individually, educating them about the many environmental and land use issues facing Michigan's biking, horseback riding, non-motorized transportation, paddling and public health communities.

"I was invited to a meeting with Senator-Elect Mike Bishop about environmental issues," said Nancy Krupiarz of Rails to Trails, who is heading up the AMI legislative visits. "I took the opportunity to tell him about AMI. He and the other invitees who attended (Trout Unlimited, Oakland Land Conservancy and Clinton River Watershed Council) were very enthused about the breadth of groups who had participated in the AMI discussions so far and the potential that the coalition has to make some great changes for the environment."

Bishop told her the AMI represents the types of groups and coalition building that legislators need backing them up to be able to make good changes.

"I imagine this initiative is unique in the experience of many legislators," said Brad Garmon of MEC, who manages the coalition. "These are passionate people bringing issues legislators can understand and relate to personally, like riding their bike in their hometown, being able to go cross-country skiing or take their children out to experience Michigan's great outdoors. In that respect, the AMI group holds incredible potential for engaging elected officials in Michigan's most pressing environmental issues, especially those related to land use, transportation and the devastating health and mobility impacts of unchecked sprawl."

The AMI partners, who came together under the leadership of MEC in 2001, aim to advocate as one voice for the improvement of Michigan's environment specifically for active transportation and outdoor recreation. The AMI Legislative Welcome Wagon Subcommittee is continuing to identify crucial committee assignments for its visits.

"The meetings will basically be for the purpose of building rapport, not any specific requests," said Krupiarz. The AMI is using the meetings as an introduction to the principles of the Active Michigan Initiative, and to the organizations represented, like Rails to Trails, the League of Michigan Bicyclists, the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and the Michigan Horse Council. For more information, contact Brad Garmon at bradmec@voyager.net.

AMI advocates that Michigan should:

• Improve responsiveness of governmental and public agencies.
  
• Build effective Citizen Advisory Boards to address state policy issues.
  
• Mandate full reporting and accountability of public funding now designated to active transportation and outdoor recreation.
  
• Secure all available funding for active transportation and outdoor recreation.
  
• Make the rights-of-way of Michigan roads more accommodating to non-motorized users by mandating consideration of non-motorized needs throughout project planning and implementation.
  
• Foster Smart Growth policies and practices.
  
• Educate the public about the benefits of active transportation and outdoor recreation.
  
• Educate the public about non-motorized users' rights and responsibilities concerning active transportation and outdoor recreation infrastructure.