My view from atop the table at the National Bike Summit

This picture © J. Maus of Bike Portland. View the Bike Portland Flickr stream here.

By now you may have heard about my "tabletop speech" at the National Bike Summit last week.

If you missed the summit or want to relive the excitement, here's some footage courtesy of Streetsblog SF; it's a bit jumpy, but that seems entirely consistent with the scene.

Somewhere in the frenzy, I managed to thank summit-goers for being such effective advocates for livable, sustainable, bike-friendly communities.

Well, that was fun, but the dust has settled and I have news. The crowd's enthusiasm was so contagious, the idea of introducing a major policy revision in that setting quickly evaporated.

Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.

We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

To set this approach in motion, we have formulated key recommendations for state DOTs and communities:

• Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
• Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
• Go beyond minimum design standards.
• Collect data on walking and biking trips.
• Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
• Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
• Improve nonmotorized facilities during maintenance projects.

Now, this is a start, but it's an important start. These initial steps forward will help us move forward even further.

Photo by Jeffrey Martin courtesy of the League of American Bicyclists.

And the Obama Administration hasn't been sitting idle on the bike front this past year either.

Just last month through our TIGER program, we funded major bicycle projects in Indianapolis and in the Philadelphia-Camden-Trenton region.

And our ongoing inter-agency DOT-EPA-HUD partnership on sustainable communities actively encourages planning for walkability and bikability. We think livability means giving folks the flexibility to choose their own mobility.

Look, bike projects are relatively fast and inexpensive to build and are environmentally sustainable; they reduce travel costs, dramatically improve safety and public health, and reconnect citizens with their communities.

So, thank you to the League of American Bicyclists and all those who gave me such a raucous welcome the other night.

Last year's summit was something; this year was something else. I can't even imagine what next year's gathering will produce, but I know I want to be part of it.

In closing, here's another angle from the League's YouTube channel:

Comments

[Lucy]

I think this is a wonderful program. I recently read "The Geography of Nowhere" by James Howard Kunstler, in this book he details why communities are disconnected and how this makes them disfunctional (I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the evolution of transportation and city planning). It's my opinon that making our communities walkable and bikeable will go a long to reconnect us from our bubbles that are subdivision and allow us to really get to know our neighbors. I'm excited to see some movement on this fundamental issue that affects all of our lives.

[Bruce Heerssen]

Secretary LaHood,

In many cities (Houston is one) sidewalks are owned by the city as an easement, yet responsibility for the installation and maintenance of those sidewalks fall upon businesses and homeowners. A direct result of that model is that sidewalks are not maintained with any consistency or reliability. Walk in most Houston neighborhoods and you will find broken, missing, or uneven concrete, areas where water pools, and other problems. The city is understandably reluctant to force property owners to fix these problems, and does not have the authority or responsibility to do it.

What can your office do to address such issues?

[Raymond Hood]

Thank you Secretary Lahood!
Your effort will be remembered in the history of the United States. Majority of Americans live in suburbs today. We need to figure out ways to make suburban lives sustainable for the generations to come.

[Darla Letourneau]

BikeWalkLee, a coalition working to complete the streets of Lee County, FL, was so excited about the Secretary's new policy statement on bicycle and pedestrian accommodations announced on 3/15 that we asked our MPO Board on Friday (3/19) to pass a motion in support of the policy, and they enthusiastically endorsed it! ... It's really helpful to local communities that are working on complete streets, without any assistance or leadership from the state DOT, to have encouragement and support from the USDOT Secretary. Thank you so much for your leadership!

See the link below to the press release we issued this morning about the MPO's action & our call for action by Florida leaders (Governor, Legislature, and FDOT). We're wondering if we're the first community in the country to endorse your new policy?

Darla Letourneau

BikeWalkLee Blog: BikeWalkLee applauds Lee MPO quick action in support of national complete streets.
http://bikewalklee.blogspot.com/

[LIDguy]

Streets will only be complete when they address the polluted runoff they convey. This is a great opportunity to include bioretention in street design and merge complete streets with green streets.

[Jeremy]

Dear Sec. LaHood,
Thank you for the positive statements and policy changes you are making on behalf of people who walk and ride bicycles to get around. The feasibility of these modes, and the safety of individuals who either do not have have another option for transportation, or who choose to bike or walk for a variety of reasons are in the balance everyday. We have never had such a positive voice and active leadership as you are now providing.

[John O'Neal]

Just wanted to say “thank you” for your important and enlightened new policy statement on bicycle and pedestrian transportation at and in the wake of the National Bike Summit in Washington DC
(http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/policy_accom.htm).

Making your national level policy statement a fact on the ground, institutionalized in state DOTs around the country, and embedded in our national culture, is the real goal. Bringing good federal policy like this to fruition at the state, MPO, and local level is the difficult task state and local governments and agencies, as well as federal transportation, environment, and health agencies all face. Please help us ‘locals’ get it done!

Keep up the great work! Be assured: enlightened and progressive governments and officials, planners, advocates, scientists, citizens –- the planet itself -– very much appreciate your work and are impatient to help create the ‘sea change’ you've promised.

Chicago, IL

[Chad Taniguchi]

Thank you Secretary for leading with vision! Please put your strongest team members on creating policies, rules, incentives/disincentives so state DOTs and county DOTs will be judged by their PERFORMANCE toward reaching the vision. In Hawaii we probably have the greatest year-round weather for walking and cycling, great state and city plans to promote them, but people in general are still SCARED TO DEATH to walk and bike. Policies and resources are needed to put in bike/multiuse paths and lanes.
Mahalo,
Chad Taniguchi
member Hawaii Bicycling League
Kailua, Oahu

[Amanda]

Thank you so much for promoting Complete Streets. This is one of the most powerful ways to address the nation's obesity crisis and to reconnect people to their communities.Now if you can just get Georgia DOT to agree with you....

[Strange Proportion]

I had to pinch myself when I read this. I live in DC and have been commuting 7 miles each way to work by bicycle daily for 2 years. There are some states that have made some headway toward accommodating non-motorized forms of transportation, but to hear actual encouragement of it coming from the federal government as a policy decision... I never thought I'd hear it. Thank you so much!

[Cyril Manning]

Hooray for Ray!

[Dave Stensaas]

Many Thnaks to Secretary LaHood! And best wishes for gaining approval of a meaningful "Policy on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation." Adopting clean energy systems in transportation is crucial if we are to rise to the challenges of global climate disruption, peak oil, petro-dictatorships, and declining health. I spent yesterday in a bike-friendly part of Louisville, KY and was inspired by the energy of hundreds of people biking for fitness and transportation, sharing streets with cars and buses, and with no apparent negatives. This is the future that I want to see across this country. We're with you Ray!

[John Mayson]

Thank you Secretary LaHood! This is long overdue and I believe will be a lasting legacy to your public service.

For the naysayers asking how this will be funded. Fuel and road taxes pay for only a small percentage of road construction and maintenance. Most of the funding comes from the general fund meaning I as a bicyclist have paid as much for it as someone driving a Hummer.

[Karl Boehmke]

Wonderful! Our nation will be healthier as a result of this policy change.

[steve]

This is the best news I've seen in a long time

[Nathan Lewis]

Secretary LaHood,

It's wonderful to have someone in government who doesn't favor the build-more-and-bigger-roads status quo in place since the 1920s.

However, it is not so simple as just replacing cars with bikes.

We need to look at the examples of Europe and Asia, what I call the Traditional City, which is how all cities looked before 1800.

Please come visit my blog, where I have many items on the subject. Thanks!

http://www.newworldeconomics.com/archives/2010/031410.html

[Dr. Dean]

"Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes."

Earth to DOT, walking and bicycling (which I wholeheartedly support) in a very real sense are not equal to "other transportation modes", i.e. cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, ships, buses and trains.

While such specious declaration sounds all green and all, and makes some people feel all warm and fuzzy inside, in the real world of 10% unemployment, soaring debt/deficits and an increasing uncertain future, such a pronouncement makes no sense.

Certainly, walking and bicycling should be encouraged by our government, and haven ridden across the US and back on a bicycle I would encourage everyone to get out and walk and ride - but treating walking and biking as equal to other forms of transportation in government policy is simply ludicrous.

[jack mayhoffer]

Friggin hilarious, all of you.
Thanks for the comic relief!

<--- 1975 8 cylinder, non-catalytic-converter-having Cadillac driver

[Private School Educator]

I know this is a government site, so I'm confused why opposing opinions are not being posted. Afterall, I'M PAYING FOR IT! It is NOT the right of the government to tell private people that "this is the end of of favoring motorized transportation." It's not the government's job to "favor" anybody. You took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Stop destroying it by undermining its founding principle; individual rights.

[Steve]

Sec'ty La Hood, this might work in the big urban areas - during the daylight hours, or where settled neighborhoods surround shopping areas. As far as the rest of the country goes, it kinda sounds like Red China or something.

Mass transit? We simply can no longer afford these unappealing experiments on the government's dime. If they will work, let private industry do it, just like in the "iron horse" days. That's what made this country work in the beginning generations.

[Saiful Rimkeit]

Time for State DOTs to charge annual bicycle fees.

[Mike D]

WHO are YOU to say how we private citizens decide to conduct our daily lives whether in automobiles OR on bicycles? Giving equal status to non-meaningful modes of transportation takes away, and re-directs the thinking and consideration of the Government. KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR DAILY LIVES. STOP this nonsense. Just get about your duties... which should be to cut expenses, remove rediculous laws... and leave us alone.

[Paul Noel]

I would like to compliment the policy change. We need to develop not only locally but a "US Interstate" bike path system that has one way travel and generally does not have grade or surface crossings where cars pass so that distance travel is supported as well. The value of this would exceed all tourist landmarks in the country and support at minimal cost a most livable and wonderful country.

[Mark]

You put this post up too soon... it's not April 1 yet.

[Vinny Lamoureux]

Gee, that's great, sir. I drive through 7 southern states four days a week to make my living. I drive this over crumbling interstate highways and bridges. Rocks are constantly thrown up from concrete and washboard surfaces are enough to rattle teeth at speeds 30 miles below the speed limit. It's good to know that I'll be able to travel hundreds of miles of bike paths to cover my territory.