Did you know 2020 is a leap year? That means this year, we all get an extra day—February 29—to do whatever we want or need to do. For us at the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads (LCFOR), we’re going to use this extra day to spread the word about Louisiana’s crumbling roads and bridges!
What Is A Leap Year?
According to History.com, leap years—like many other things—started with the Romans. When Julius Caesar began ruling, the calendar systems were in a mess. To fix this, he met with astronomers and decided to add in a day every four years. This additional day helps to realign the calendar year with the solar year. Since then, leap days have taken on different meanings and traditions. British tradition maintains that women can propose marriage to men on leap days (instead of the cultural norm of men proposing). Some Greeks and Italians believe getting married in a leap year is bad luck. The chances of having a leap day birthday are one in 1,461.
More Time To Take Action
So, now we know WHY we have leap days—WHAT are you going to do with the extra time? It’s true—we’re all strapped for time these days. And our terrible roads waste even more of it! An additional day to get some stuff done sounds pretty nice. What can you do with an extra 24 hours? To think of it another way, that’s 1,440 minutes. We suggest using just a few of those minutes to take action to fix our crumbling roads. Louisiana’s roads are giving us a terrible reputation, hurting our tourism, and costing us money. You probably already have a personal experience with the deteriorating roadways. Either way, take a glance through the 2019 Louisiana Road and Bridge Report. You’ll see in stark reality how their condition has reached crisis levels.
How To Take Action
With our online form, you can easily contact lawmakers to urge them to address our crumbling roads and bridges. In the text box, you can use our pre-filled information, or you can write in your own about a terrible road or bridge near you. Additionally, you can even share a picture! The more messages they get, the more they’ll consider calling a special session to address this statewide crisis. Remember, legislators are elected by YOU—which means they work for YOU. Make them listen!
After using our website, you can take even more action on social media. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and check out the #FixLARoads hashtag. We’re always sharing updated facts, statistics, and stories to help convince EVERYONE that we need to fix Louisiana’s crumbling roads and bridges. Time is simply not on our side anymore. Use your extra time on February 29 to take action and make a difference!