America Bikes: America Benefits

Bicycling has tremendous potential to improve communities throughout the United States at a time of crippling highway congestion, poor air quality, costly energy dependence, and a growing obesity epidemic due to physical inactivity. America Bikes believes bicycling can improve the economic prosperity and quality of life in American communities by ensuring access to jobs, goods and services regardless of income, age or ability.

More than 60 million Americans, including a million daily commuters, are already part of the solution: they simply ride their bikes. By riding their bikes, these Americans set an example for energy independence and active, healthy living. These numbers could increase dramatically, thus strengthening the entire transportation system. When America bikes, America benefits.

America Bikes asks Congress to enact a Federal transportation law that increases the percentage of trips made by bicycling and walking and reduces crashes involving these two modes. The law should ensure that new and existing transportation investments improve conditions for bicycling and walking.

Provide Safe Routes To School
A Safe Routes to School program will ensure a safer environment for children who already walk or bicycle to school, encourage more children to become physically active, improve traffic safety around schools, and reduce the cost of the school trip on both parents and the road network. MORE DETAILS

Complete the Streets
Every transportation project and program has an impact on bicyclists and pedestrians: that impact should be positive. A seamless network of on-street bicycling and walking facilities, trails and transit should connect homes, jobs, schools, shops, families and friends. Investments in new and existing road and transit facilities must accommodate safe bicycling and walking. State and local transportation plans should ensure access for bicyclists and pedestrians. Federal and state programs to monitor, research, and disseminate best practices should all better serve bicycling and walking. MORE DETAILS

Strengthen Enhancements, CMAQ, and other TEA-21 Programs
The majority of funding for bicycle facilities comes from either the Transportation Enhancement or Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program of TEA-21. These and other important funding programs, such as Recreational Trails and Federal Lands Highways, should be refined and the funding increased. Eligibility for bicycle improvements should be more explicit. Incentives should encourage the use of funds for bicycle projects, especially those that extend or complete non-motorized networks. MORE DETAILS