Nation, DOT take to the streets--with helmets onfor National Bike to Work Day

Today is National Bike To Work Day, and this morning many DOT employees saddled up, strapped on their helmets, and hit the streets on two wheels.

DOT crew gathers with Asst. Sec. for Administration Linda Washington and Asst. Sec. for Policy Polly Trottenberg

Several of DOT's top officials joined the celebration, riding to work and talking about the many positive changes we've seen since last year's National Bike To Work Day.

Under Secretary for Policy Roy Kienitz with FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff

At DC's Freedom Plaza, Under Secretary for Policy Roy Kienitz spoke about why we are so keen on putting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on an even footing with roads and transit--and laid out a number of practical points to bike skeptics:

"We have some cold, logical reasons for this policy. We believe all transportation investments should justify themselves based on how effective they are in meeting overall goals like safety, environmental sustainability, convenience, etc. And it turns out that travel by bike helps us achieve all of these things. Plus, bike infrastructure is flat-out less expensive."

Also at Freedom Plaza, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff spoke about the role that bikes and transit can play in fostering livable communities. "When I'm not riding public transportation," he added, "I'm on my bike!"

Many of my old colleagues in Congress agree, especially Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon who has been a passionate biking advocate for as long as I can remember. Rep. Blumenauer and 23 members of Congress--from both sides of the aisle--sent me a very kind letter yesterday thanking me for and DOT for "recognizing biking and walking as important components of our transportation system that deserve dedicated funding." Rep. Blumenauer has a great op-ed in the Huffington Post today on this subject as well.

The Washington Post follows a bike commuter group to Freedom Plaza

Exciting things were also happening closer to DOT headquarters this morning. Next door, at Nationals Park, the Federal Highway Administration's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager Gabe Rousseau spoke about the $1.2 billion federal investment in bicycle-pedestrian projects this fiscal year. He also reminded attendees that over 4 billion trips last year were taken by bicycle. Both of these are new records.

Nationals Executive VP Bob Wolfe, DC Councilman Tommy Wells, FHWA's Gabe Rousseau, and
Michael Stephens of the Capital Riverfront Business Improvement District greet arriving cyclists at Nationals Park

I want to thank the Washington Nationals for being such great supporters of the DC area's bicyclists. They continue to host the Bike To Work Day pit stop that many DOT bicyclists check in at this morning. They have plenty of bike racks available for stadium-goers--accommodating up to 286 riders. They even offer free valet bike parking! I think that's something. And this weekend, they're honoring Bike Month and the signature Bike DC event with discounted tickets for fans who bike to Sunday's game.

Nats intern Alec Goldart greets a new arrival checking in at the Nats Park pit stop

We are really excited about these changes. One of the changes I didn't see coming was that Bike To Work Day would become a gift-giving holiday! But it has.

In addition to the great letter of support from Congressman Blumenauer and his colleagues, there were other gifts marking the day.

For example, today DOT gave its employees a new bicycle commuting benefit. We signed it into effect right on our front steps surrounded by the DOTers who participated in today's Bike To Work Day festivities. This program allows bicyclists to receive reimbursement for qualified commuting costs similar to that provided to employees who take public transportation to and from work. And I'm particularly proud that DOT is the first Cabinet-level agency to make this benefit available.

We appreciate the environmental and health benefits bicycle commuters bring to DOT’s workforce, and we’re committed to continuing to look for ways to make DOT a more bicycle-friendly workplace.

Another example is the terrific new Pennsylvania Ave. bicycle lanes that DC's DDOT Bicycle Program is giving to DC bicyclists. These new lanes run right down the center of America's Main Street.

And let's close by adding Bike Commuting 101, a nice guide put together by Bike Pittsburgh. It's a welcome confidence-building gift to those who are still uncertain about commuting by bike, and really a useful place to start for everyone considering a bike commute.

Bike To Work Day is a special event. And this year's celebration was another home run. So, congratulations to the Washington Area Bicyclists Association for registering over 8,500 Bike To Work participants. Congratulations to the League of American Bicyclists for another wildly successful Bike Month. And a special congratulations to all of the DOTers who hit the streets today!

Comments

[Allan]

Why the insistence on helmets? They decrease ridership and give drivers a false sense of 'oh I can't hurt this rider'. I use helmets sometimes, especially on longer trips, but around town they aren't fully necessary.

[Stan Barlington]

Thanks for your support Ray!!! We need to completely change the way we think about transportation. Bicycles need to move from aliens on planet-car, and becoming full citizens of planet-transportation. Bikers need support. And then need to stop being punished when they struggle to go down roads not designed for them - fined by laws that were not implemented for them. When a biker gets hit by a car, we need to stop asking why the biker intentionally hurt himself by hitting the car - and start asking how poorly designed roads and laws cause these accidents. We need bike infrastructure and bike laws (just like we have boat infrastructure and boat laws, airplane infrastructure and airplane laws). Bikes save transportation dollars. They protect the environment. They may their human riders healthier, fight obesity, and bring down health costs. Bikes are (a part of ) the solution.

[Ride2Wk]

G'day America,

as an Australian commuter cyclist of 27yrs, road construction engineer and currently a cycling facility engineer, I'm really glad to see the US Administration's change in attitude since the disastrous Bush era (or was that "error":-) Please keep the change momentum going for all the many benefits that cycling / walking / PT provide.

Being a cheeky Aussie, I've got to ask though, the name of your blog, "Fast Lane". Shouldn't that be "Fat Lane". After all, excessive car use has lead to many Americans and Aussies become far fatter than they would have if car use wasn't so dominant. Also of course car lanes are far fatter (wider) than skinny bike lanes.

Also is "Fast Lane" what you really want to promote these days? The expectation of "fast" car travel has lead to excessive car use and road rage (I'm terrible for road rage when I drive I must admit. I can't stand all that driver stupidity - not concentrating, not obeying road rules, driving slow in the fast lane etc.) It also implies that car travel is the fastest travel which of course is not always the case especially when you take into account the time consumed in car ownership like earning the money to pay for the car, fuel, maintenance, the garage & taxes for larger roads. Even in the 80's I could ride through Sydney faster by bike up to 18km than I could drive it because of the congestion. Perhaps a name change to a more suitable message is appropriate?

Anyway, keep up the travel behaviour change - it'll help lead many ignorant people everywhere out of the car dominated, LA freeway city model that has been such a failure in public policy.

[Michael E. Bailey]

We need to make much greater use of walking, bicycling, and transit. Bike to Work Day is a step in the right direction, but as the situation now going on in the Gulf of Mexico shows andas rush hour in too many of our large cities show much more needs to be done. Walking, bycicling and transit need to be integrated more closely together and different modes of transit--buses, light rail, commuter rail--more integrated. This will be the key to making the Clean Air Act work. Southern California, especially Orange County,uses buses, light rail, and commuter rail that can all carry bicycles. And we have a large number of bike lanes, paths and trails that link both ends of the county. Amtrak California also can carry bicycles. And so we are moving along with an integrated transportation system for the 21st Century. The old 20th Century idea of one driver per car and covering every open space with asphalt is something that needs to be left back in the 20th Century together with the dirty fuels used o power gasoline and diesel engines. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Fede]

Hey, congratulations on this project! I'm based in Madrid and while there are cities in Spain which even have public car-rental systems (like Barcelona), in Madrid there are hardly any designated roads for bicycle riders and even though my job is quite close it's impossible to reach by bike. Anyway, keep up the work and good luck :)

[David Whitaker, AICP]

Roy Kienitz is a transportation innovator and icon. We in Maryland are quite impressed that Roy is now at USDOT.

[Joe Flood]

Great post - can DOT sponsor a nationwide bike sharing system like we have in DC? That would be amazing.

[Dan Puroclean]

The FTA's new policy for boosting federal bike-ped spending sets radius surrounding a transit station in which bike infrastructure projects would be eligible for aid at three miles.

A three miles radius from transit stations would cover a good chunk of New Jersey too, at least where a vast majority of the people live. Still I think it's important to concentrate on that last 1/4 mile around stations since that is naturally where the most bicycle and pedestrian use will happen as people access stations.

[Stan]

Following up. My ride to BTWD was great. My ride home involved
* Two pedestrian crazy-ivans - where pedestrians on an active bike path made dramatic and erratic turns
* Two cars running red lights, one at the pedestrian crossing on the Natl Mall near the WWII memorial
* And one girl pedestrian obliviously listening to her ipod who ignored a red do not walk light and walked right in front of a car missing her by inches

We have a residential transportation system based on cars. This has to change. The solution is not to shoe horn bikes into planet-car. The solution is real bike lanes. For example, create a bike "parkway" down the national mall using the existing paths. Nothing new would have to be built. But mark it well and provide notice that during rush how, bikes have the priority and will be flying. Tourists and others, while welcome, should probably take there pictures not on the bike parkway. This would make it safer for bikes. It would make it safer for pedestrians. And heck, it would make it safer for cars bc the bikes would migrate to the safe routes and out of traffic.

[Jerseys]

light rail, and commuter rail that can all carry bicycles. And we have a large number of bike lanes, paths and trails that link both ends of the county. Amtrak California also can carry bicycles. And so we are moving along with an integrated transportation system for the 21st Century. The old 20th Century idea of one driver per car and covering every open space with asphalt is something that needs to be left back in the 20th Century together with the dirty fuels used o power gasoline and diesel engines. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[sports hats]

We have a residential transportation system based on cars. This has to change. The solution is not to shoe horn bikes into planet-car. The solution is real bike lanes. For example, create a bike "parkway" down the national mall using the existing paths.

[Bob Martin]

I would love to see my city invest more in bicycle-pedestrian projects. I see bicyclists trying to ride on busy streets in the morning and not only is it dangerous for them, but it jams up traffic, because cars have to go around them.

Biking is a blast and I would really like to see bike paths installed on the roads around West Allis, Wisconsin. Its a great way to stay in shape, save money on gas and just be more green. Unfortunately I find myself stuck to scenic bike paths or sidewalks, because of the lack of proper bike paths.