FABB Blog

 

House Concurrent Resolution 305

Congressman Earl Bluemenauer announced at the National Bike Summit that he had introduced a resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 305, “Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation”. As he stated at the time, “Bicyclists are an indicator species of a livable community, a place where our families are safe, healthy and economically secure. It's time for the Federal Government to step up and do its part”.

From what I can tell from today's Floor Summary, the resolution passed the House. While it contains no funds or direct mandates, it could have major implications for funding of bike initiatives in the future. The “Whereas” text contains some good info about various aspects of bicycling such as “Whereas surveys show that a majority of people want to ride and walk more but are dissuaded by concern over traffic danger and other barriers, and case studies have shown that when those barriers to bicycling are removed, people start riding;” Here's the resolution part of the text:

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress--

1. recognizes that increased and safe bicycle use for transportation and recreation is in the national interest;
2. supports policies that--
   
   1. establish national target levels for increased bicycle use, reduce the number of motor vehicle miles traveled (VMT), improve bicycle safety to be achieved within a specific timeframe, and collect data needed to monitor progress;
   2. increase intermodal travel between public transportation and bicycles;
   3. provide incentives for State and local governments to adopt and implement complete street policies designed to accommodate all users, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages and abilities;
   4. encourage bicycle use in communities where significant segments of the population do not drive and where short trips are most common;
   5. expand funding for core Federal transportation programs that support non-motorized infrastructure, education, and encouragement programs by--
      1. safeguarding existing funding sources for nonmotorized transportation from inequitable treatment in the Federal transportation funds rescission process;
      2. supporting funding for core Federal transportation programs that support nonmotorized travel, including transportation enhancements, safe routes to school, and recreational trails; and
      3. ensuring that highway safety improvement program funds are spent in proportion to the percentage of bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities in each State;
   6. facilitate the development of a coordinated system of United States bicycle routes across the country that cross state borders and connect metropolitan regions;
   7. create bicycle-friendly Federal land protection legislation, such as national recreation areas, to encourage regulations and management practices for mountain biking as an environmentally friendly nonmotorized use of natural surface trails;
   8. provide flexibility in Federal transportation law that would speed up the delivery of nonmotorized infrastructure without sacrificing necessary environmental protections;
   9. provide Federal tax or funding incentives to--
   1. States that adopt motor vehicle laws that protect the rights of bicyclists to share the road;
   2. businesses that expand bicycle-friendly programs for their employees;
   3. the health care industry to develop more member discount programs, that target increased physical activity such as bicycling and walking; and
   4. provide bicycle commuters the transportation fringe benefits currently provided to people who commute by car or mass transit; and
   10. build upon the `Green the Capitol Initiative' as a model, create and provide an environmentally sustainable and healthy working environment for employees that includes the promotion of bicycling as a transportation alternative;
3. encourages the Department of Transportation to provide leadership and coordination by reestablishing the Federal bicycle task force to include representatives from all relevant Federal agencies.

posted by Bruce Wright at 10:15 PM permalink