Bicycling is an important factor in less carbon-intensive commuting

Of all the Fastlane entries over the first days of this Administration, the one that has generated the most responses is the one on my address to the National Bike Summit. We all know that bikers are passionate about their wheels; we also know that bicyclists are vulnerable to automobiles and need secure lanes and greater awareness from drivers. On Earth Day, it seems appropriate to talk about bicycling, not only as recreation, but as an environmentally sound commuting option. And, about what the DOT is doing to improve the cyclist's commute.

Bicycling was one of the earliest beneficiaries of stimulus funding, with portions of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act explicitly devoted to bicycling, and this department has been very active in getting that funding out the door. States must spend 3 percent of their allocation on the Transportation Enhancements program, which is a primary source of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure funding. The remainder of the “highway” money also creates an opportunity to build complete streets. All of the highway funding is flexible, and bicycle and pedestrian projects are eligible. The 3 percent in Transportation Enhancements is a floor not a ceiling. 30 percent of a state’s allocation is sub-allocated to urbanized areas, where commuting by bicycle is most likely.

$3.1 billion is provided for the Energy Efficiency and Block Grant Program, which provides formula funding to cities, counties, and states to undertake a range of energy efficiency activities. One eligible use of funding is for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.  $1 billion is provided for the Community Development Block Grants program, which provides formula funding to cities and counties that meet certain criteria to undertake community improvement activities. One eligible use of funding is for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

So, a number of funding opportunities exist, but cycling advocates must get their cities and states to request funds for these purposes. Many states, counties, and municipalities have already done so.

When I told the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit that "Cyclists are important users of America's transportation systems," I meant it. And, when I wrote that "With DOT, bicyclists have a full partner in working toward livable communities," I meant that as well. President Obama has challenged us to transform the way transportation serves the American people by creating more choices and encouraging less carbon-intensive transportation, and we are working hard on that challenge.

The upcoming reauthorization of DOT’s surface transportation programs provides an opportunity for us to feature bicycling as part of a new American mobility within livable communities.  As I said today in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this includes fostering communities where bicyclists feel both safe and welcome on the roadways. Bike-friendly development also has the potential to contribute significantly to the revitalization of downtown districts and offer an alternative to sprawl and automobile-focused commuting.

Earth Day is today, but we'll need the sustained engagement of bicycle commuters and their advocates in the weeks and months to come to help keep the wheels of bicycle-friendly legislation on the road.

Comments

[Thomas Brois]

I meant to comment on Sarah B.'s post above: yes, the neigboring state: New Jersey, although heavily urbanized, pitifully lacks in bicycling resources. This is probably the most potentially rewarding state for an investment in bicycling infrastructure because the distances are long enough to commute by bicycle but not long enough to require a car or mass transit. I see so much potential for your agency's help in developing New Jersey's bicycle infrastructure.
By the way, my wife is polio-stricken, and yet manages to use a tricycle anyway--proving to the hordes of people out there who too often think that commuting by bicycle is not "do-able" that almost everyone CAN DO IT!
So, there truly the potential for a huge proportion of people to reduce their carbon footprint and simultaneously to save their own lives that would otherwise be lost to the premature illness associated with physical inactivity.

[Don Burrell]

Secretary LaHood:
I continue to be encouraged by your support for bicycle transportation. I am a fair weather bike commuter (once or twice a week) in Cincinnati plus riding a thousand or so recreational miles a year. I find the motorists here reasonably tolerant of cyclists, but education is needed for both motorists and cyclists.
I would repeat what others have said: US DOT will have to "encourage" the states to follow thru with the federal guidelines for implementing multi-modal transportation and complete streets. They won't do it on their own.

[Betsy]

Thank you for your attention to the needs of bikers. I bike daily in Seattle with my 5-year-old son on a trailing bike, and I find that drivers are much more careful with the two of us than when I'm alone on my bike. We have developed a culture where each person's personal agenda is more important than someone else's life, where saving 30 seconds by unsafely passing a biker is an acceptable choice. I think driver education is a great place to start investing some of this money.

I would like to suggest that one cost-effective strategy for encouraging more biking is a study of the true safety of biking in relation to driving. I've heard that cycling is safer per mile but I don't think a scientific study has been done. Lowering speed limits on roads that are heavily traveled by bikes might be another cheap strategy to keep things safe.

[Robin Roby]

Thank you for recognizing, in a public arena, the viability of bike as transport. Truth.

[Paul Tay]

How does promoting more bicycling and growing green collar jobs consistent with the President's efforts to save Chrysler, GM, and the U.S. auto industry?

Shouldn't America stimulate bike companies like Trek and Specialize with financial incentives to produce bikes in America, not China?

[Drew Wade]

Many good comments here. One thing that your department could do in the very near term is to prioritize bike projects ( e.g. East Coast Greenway) when you publish criteria for the ARRA discretionary grants for surface transportation.

[Champe Burnley]

Secretary LaHood:

On May 1, the Virginia Bicycling Federation presented a resolution to Virginia Governor Tim Kaine asking for inclusion of Rails With Trails on all rail enhancement, expansion and improvement projects receiving federal and state tax dollars.

see: http://www.vabike.org/vbf-passes-rails-with-trails-resolution/

On behalf of twenty-eight statewide, local, and national organizations the Virginia Bicycling Federation called for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, rails-with-trails, as an integral and mandatory component of railroad expansion, enhancement, and improvement projects in the Commonwealth and throughout the nation.

We are encouraged by the strong support the Administration has shown for highspeed and freight rail projects, and we agree that these solutions decrease air pollution, energy consumption, traffic congestion, and wear on our highways.

As these rail corridor projects–including the service roads–are being planned, designed, engineered and constructed, we believe they should fully integrate access for pedestrians and bicyclists to the greatest extent feasible.

Providing Americans safe, non-motorized access along and across these corridors would create an unprecedented expansion of shared-use trails throughout the state. Citizens would benefit, as would the communities connected by these trails.

We believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create facilities that will benefit our citizens for generations. We hope that we can create a network of trails spanning the nation.

[Julia Gibb]

Thanks for your support of complete streets. I work for a rural county Council of Governments. We are trying to develop countywide trails and paths for non-motorized transportation. We need planning and development funding and look to the reauthorization bill to help this effort.

[Jeff Hyland]

Check out Project: Southern Tier. A cross-country bicycle ride that collects environmental perspective from the different regions it rides through.

http://vimeo.com/channels/36364

[Steve A]

I don't "need secure lanes." I need laws that don't discriminate against me as a cyclist, and I need law enforcement that doesn't discriminate against me as a cyclist. It's not a funding or development issue. It's a consideration and respect issue.

All the money in the world spent on infrastructure is wasted if cyclists don't have the two items listed above. And they don't currently have either of them.

[steve]

A strong bicycle-as-transportation policy is good for our cities, our environment, our energy policy, economy, and of course, our expanding American waistlines.

[Heidi Perry]

I have been a bicycle commuter for over 25 years. I also want to thank you for your support of cyclists and of complete streets. In my small town, we wanted to have road improvements of bike lanes and sidewalks added to a state maintained road. The state would not consider the project as a road project unless it could also widen the road to 3 lanes. Said we would have to re-apply for the improvements to be made from the tiny amount of money in the Bike/Ped division. We wanted a project that cost millions less, required much less right-of-way acquisition, and would discourage car traffic and encourage other, healthier forms of transportation. This should be considered a road improvement, and the money for such improvements either needs to be from the same pot that funds road improvements, or the separate bike/ped pot of money should be a much larger percent of the money. I look forward to following your leadership in this area.

[Natural Hemorrhoids Cure]

I just love the " bicyclists are DRIVERS of VEHICLES that operate in TRAFFIC" comment. :D

For me, bicycling gives us a chance to make a difference while having fun and saving money.

Hemorrhoids Cure

[Andrew Wood]

Thanks for the interesting post

[Andrew Wood]

I live in the country so i cycle everwhere and so do most other people in my area.

[Windows Ottawa]

More cities should have biking programs and encourage citizens to use bikes. But to be a devil's advocate, many bicyclist need to learn the road rules as well. I see too many bikers disobeying all of the traffic rules and putting themselves and others in danger.

[serial numbers]

If every city had this type of construction devoted to bicycles and pedestrians, we'd all be healthier and have a greener world and stronger economy. It truly is more efficient: you are completing your commute while "going to the gym" SIMULTANEOUSLY!

[jewelry reviews]

I continue to be encouraged by your support for bicycle transportation. I am a fair weather bike commuter (once or twice a week) in Cincinnati plus riding a thousand or so recreational miles a year. I find the motorists here reasonably tolerant of cyclists, but education is needed for both motorists and cyclists.

[Hemorrhoid Treatment]

While I do enjoy bicycling when the weather allows, I often worry about the safety issues of doing so. Sidewalks often have a no bicycle policy, leaving the streets as the only option. This means competing with cars for road space.

[Radiant Informatics]

This simple activity can cure the primary ills in society, a cleaner environment and a healthier population

[darren]

As a cyclist I pray for more awarness towards the cyclist. I want to thank you for bring this to the table.

Many Thanks

[Annie]

I agree that we need more environmental friendly transportation system in this country. Riding a bike is one of them. We have a long way to go to be awake and see what we are doing to this planet by not choosing zero carbon transportation system every day. Thanks for the informative article.

[Jeff Franz]

We need to design roads made for bicyclists...to many times it's just an after-thought.

[web hosting company in india]

@Jeff you are right. the government should design roads which will be specific for bicycles only.

bicycling will also make the people healthy & fit automatically.

this will truly help both the environment and the health at the same time. :)