Bike Advocacy

Advocating for bicyclists is one of the most important goals of the League, and working in conjunction with America Bikes, we have made some impressive achievements. The best way to get involved is to work with your local officials so they understand the importance of bicycling, and join the League.

Advocacy Center

Visit our Advocacy Center to tell your U.S. representatives how you feel about the latest bicycling issues in your backyard and across the United States.

Current Bicycling Legislation

American Clean Energy and Security Act and Chairman's Mark

Last week the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the Chairman’s Mark to the Senate climate bill, which will act as a substitute amendment to the previously released Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The bill will be the subject of three Senate EPW Committee hearings this week. The good news for transportation is that the revised bill increases the investment in clean and efficient transportation solutions, which includes bicycling and walking projects, from the 1 percent in the House-passed bill to an initial investment of 3.2 percent in 2012 and 2013, with a decrease in subsequent years. Approximately half of the funding for transportation solutions will be allocated to public transportation projects. Of the remaining allowances, up to 10 percent will be provided to MPOs to develop and update their emissions reduction plans, and up to 5 percent to U.S. DOT for administrative expenses.

The proposed legislation would also set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by the year 2020. This is an increase from the 17 percent GHG emissions reduction goal in the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act. Under the bill, the EPA – in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, will establish national transportation-related GHG emissions reduction goals. Following promulgation of the federal regulations, states and metropolitan areas will be required to set GHG emission reduction targets, as well as strategies to meet those targets, which must be certified by U.S. DOT. Among other requirements, the targets and strategies must include:
· efforts to increase public transportation ridership, walking, bicycling, and other forms of nonmotorized transportation

· implementation of zoning and other land use regulations and plans to support infill, transit-oriented development, or mixed use development

· travel demand management programs (including carpool, vanpool, or car-share projects), transportation pricing measures, parking policies, and programs to promote telecommuting, flexible work schedules, and satellite work centers

· surface transportation system operation improvements, including intelligent transportation systems or other operational improvements to reduce congestion and improve system management

· intercity passenger rail, bus, and freight rail improvements; · use of materials or equipment associated with the construction or maintenance of transportation projects that reduce GHG emissions

· public facilities for supplying electricity to electric or plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles

or · other efforts that demonstrates progress in reducing transportation-related GHG emissions.

· Additional details are available on the Senate EPW Committee web site.

Senate to Consider 6-Month Authorization Extension

The Senate is working to pass a six-month authorization extension as a substitute to the three-month extension passed by the House at the end of September. In addition to providing contract authority for surface transportation programs, which have been operating since September 30 under a one-month stopgap spending measure, the Senate bill would reportedly restore $8.7 billion in contract authority that was rescinded when the SAFETEA-LU authorization expired last month. The Senate and U.S. DOT have been advocating for an 18-month extension, but have been at odds with House transportation leaders who have been working to pass a comprehensive bill before the end of the year. While the six-month extension is seen as an effort to compromise with House leaders, any bill passed by the Senate would still need to be reconciled with the House version before being sent to the President for his signature.

Distracted Driving Hearings

The Senate Commerce Committee and House T&I Committee have both scheduled hearings for this week to address the issue of distracted driving. The hearings will include discussion of a proposal by Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) that would provide incentives to states to pass laws against driving while texting or talking on a handheld device, and legislation introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would require states to ban texting while driving or risk losing federal funds. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will testify before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, October 28 at 2:30 in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. Additional information is available here. On Thursday, October 29 at 9:30 a.m., the House T&I Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will hold their distracted driving hearing in Room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building. A witness list has not yet been posted. Check the House T&I Committee web site for updates.

Congress Misses Deadline; States Lose $8.7B

Last Wedneday, September 30, the current federal surface transportation law SAFETEA-LU was set to expire. In order to prevent a halt in transportation spending and allow time for the Senate to debate a 3-month extension for SAFETEA-LU, Congress added a one-month continuing resolution (CR) to a last minute legislative branch appropriations bill. Unfortunately, the CR did not address the requirment under SAFETEA-LU for states to send back $8.7B under the latest rescission notice. The League of American Bicyclists along with its America Bikes Coalition partners will use the next month to continue meeting with Congressional Members to urge them to move quickly in passing the next transportation bill. See FAQ section for additional update.

Distracted Driving Summit

(9.28.09) Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists, will join other safety advocates, senior transportation officials, law enforcement representatives, elected officials and academics at the Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 30 and October 1, 2009. The Summit, convened by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, will focus on determining the best ways to reduce the number of crashes and deaths due to distracted driving. Clarke will take this opportunity to highlight some personal stories from League Members who have been directly affected by crashes caused by distracted drivers. If you have a personal story you would like to share, respond to communications@bikeleague.org by Monday, September 21. For updates on Summit and to view the proceedings please click here.

Federal Government Issues Another Call for Rescissions

(9.8.09) The Federal government has issued another call for rescissions – the mechanism by which unspent or unobligated transportation funds are sent back to Washington to help fund future rounds of transportation expenditures. This time, they are asking for $8.7 billion. It looks as if State Departments of Transportation have relatively little flexibility as to which funds they have to send back to Washington. There is a table in the memo from the Federal Highway Administration to the states that says how much money they should be sending back from each particular program.

Interestingly, the amounts shown in the table are shown irrespective of whether or not those funds have already been spent on a particular program. If a state has indeed obligated or spent all its funds in one program area, it has to make up the amount that needs to be rescinded from other programs where they still have a balance of unspent funds. After years of exhorting states to spend their transportation enhancement and congestion mitigation funds up to the maximum allowed, many have waited to spend those funds – the funds most likely to ever be used for bike projects – that are now potentially going to make up the shortfall in funds that have to be sent back to the US Treasury! Stay tuned on

Check the League’s advocacy page, and stay in touch through the America Bikes and Alliance for Biking and Walking websites. This is an issue that won’t go away, and isn’t going to get any simpler.

House Passes Landmark Clean Energy Bill

(6.23.09) On June 28, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the landmark American Clean Energy and Security Act, (H.R. 2454) sponsored by Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

The League is encouraged to see that the Climate Legislation provides provisions to address and reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by including efforts to increase walking, bicycling and other forms of nonmotorized transportation (see section 222 of Bill). We will continue to work with Congress to ensure that both, the transportation and climate bills, are aligned in regards to federal policies and funding that will provide more for safe, reliable and economical transportation choices, such as bicycling, to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health.

Visit the House Energy and Commerce Committee for details.

League Congratulates Obama Administration’s Livable Communities Initiative

(6.16.09) U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced an interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide.  

The Partnership established six livability principles that will act as a foundation for interagency coordination: provide more transportation choices; promote equitable, affordable housing; enhance economic competitiveness; support existing communities; coordinate policies and encourage investment; and value communities and neighborhoods. Additional information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities is available here.

Proposal to End Federal Funding for Bike Projects

(6.05.09) A proposal by House Republican leaders to slash critical federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects was branded as “short-sighted and out of touch with reality” in a short statement issued by the President of the League of American Bicyclists, Andy Clarke. “House Republican leaders have chosen once again to scapegoat bicycling and walking programs, proposing to end the popular and successful Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools programs and to terminate four non-motorized pilot projects mid-stream. These programs are hugely popular with communities across the country and address numerous challenges facing our nation – such as climate change, obesity and oil dependence. We know that State Departments of Transportation have reluctantly implemented these programs over the years despite overwhelming public support, and will not support them independently. To suggest ending these programs is short-sighted and out of touch with reality.”

In addition, the League notes that:

• the Transportation Enhancement and Safe Routes to Schools programs are routinely oversubscribed by a factor of three or more whenever States request applications for funding under these programs.
• More than 40 percent of all trips in the United States are two miles or less and that almost three-quarters of all car trips are two miles or less, suggesting that most travel is local, regardless of mode.
• A 3 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled in 2008 resulted in a 30 percent reduction in congestion in metropolitan areas around the country, suggesting that demand management strategies such as increasing bicycling and walking are extremely effective in addressing congestion and other traffic-related issues
• and subsidies given through tax breaks to drivers to pay for parking at work cost the taxpayer almost as much per year ($4 billion) as Boehner’s and Cantor’s proposal to slash support for bicycling and walking would save in five years.

“We will be asking the White House to reject these proposed cuts out of hand,” continued Clarke. “At a time when we are struggling across several fronts to tackle pressing national concerns related to oil dependence, obesity and the costs of physical inactivity, climate change, air quality and economic competitiveness, it seems inconceivable that we would gut some of the few modest programs that encourage and enable people to walk and bicycle for everyday trips.”

Financing Commission Report Released

(2.27.09) The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission released its much-anticipated final report to Congress. The report offers a roadmap to reform the nation’s transportation infrastructure funding and finance framework. The Commission offers recommendations for increasing investment in transportation infrastructure while at the same time moving the federal government away from reliance on motor fuel taxes toward more direct fees charged to transportation users.

Learn More and Take Action on the Economic Stimulus

(2.19.09) The economic stimulus bill provides $789 billion in spending and tax cuts to stimulate the economy. The final language includes potential sources for bicycle, pedestrian and Safe Routes to School projects – including Transportation Enhancements and school modernization. Our FAQs offer additional info about potential funding sources. Take action for your community. Click here for ready to go projects.

Congress To Move On Stimulus Bill Vote

(2.13.09) The U.S. House and Senate are expected to vote today on a $789 billion economic stimulus package that provides $27.5 billion to modernize roads and bridges, and includes a three percent set-aside of each state’s share of the $27.5 billion for the Transportation Enhancements program. At least half of funds must be obligated by states within 120 days, or the U.S. Secretary of Transportation can recall up to 50 percent of the un-obligated funds. Specific language for Federal Highway Administration infrastructure investment can be seen here.

Also included is $8.4 billion to increase public transportation and improve transit facilities; $8 billion for investment in high-speed rail; and $1.5 billion for a discretionary surface transportation grant program to be awarded competitively by the Secretary of Transportation. The bill text and joint explanatory statement are now available here.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration have issued guidance to assist state and local agencies in preparing for implementation of the stimulus bill. The guidance includes Q&As and actions that can be taken to expedite economic recovery projects.

Other Bicycle Pedestrian Infrastructure Funding Options: Additionally, States will be receiving:

· $53.6 billion in state fiscal stabilization funding: States must use 18.2 percent of their funding – or $9.7 billion – for public safety and government services. An eligible activity under this section is to provide funding to K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to make repairs, modernize and make renovations to meet green building standards. LEED’s green standards for schools include bicycle and pedestrian facilities and access to the school.

· $3.1 billion is provided for the Energy Efficiency and Block Grant Program. This 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.

Senate Begins Debate of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

(2.04.09) The U.S. Senate began debating its version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The legislation currently includes $27 billion for highways, explicitly stating that 40% is subject to sub-allocations for metro areas with an additional $5.5 billion provided for a multi-modal discretionary grant program for states and local governments for highway, transit and other surface transportation projects of national or regional significance.

Over the course of the next few days, several amendments are expected on the Senate floor to boost spending for transportation infrastructure, or change the way funds are distributed. An amendment offered by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) to increase funding for the infrastructure provisions of the bill was defeated in a procedural vote yesterday. Specifically, the amendment sought to add $5 billion for public transportation, $13 billion for highway programs, as well as additional funding for water and sewer grants. A number of additional amendments may reach the Senate floor as early as the Senate continues its debate. The League of American Bicyclists is tracking all amendments very closely to ensure that any suggested changes in funding or distribution of funds prioritize some of the funds for green infrastructure.

Please take action by contacting your Senators to tell them that our economic recovery depends on infrastructure investment that promotes a cleaner, greener transportation system for the 21st Century. Any amounts dedicated for transportation infrastructure must be distributed under the current surface transportation program formulas including sub allocations for programs such as Transportation Enhancements. Click here to contact your senator.

We will provide further updates as they happen.

Congress Writing Economic Stimulus Legislation:

(12.23.08) LAB understands that President-Elect Obama’s transition team, along with the House Leadership will begin to hammer out details on an economic stimulus package that they plan to have ready when the new Congress returns in early January. The stimulus package could direct hundreds of billions of dollars towards infrastructure to help put Americans to work, get our economy moving, and rebuild our roads, bridges, and mass transit systems. While public details of the forthcoming stimulus bill are not readily available, we are hearing that there is a chance that funds for transportation infrastructure projects may go overwhelmingly to road projects—the same unbalanced strategy that has created our existing transportation problems.

In response, the League of American Bicyclists, joined by other members of leading national organizations in the bicycling and pedestrian community, have met with House Leadership, as well as staff from the House Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees over the past several weeks. The message is to urge Congress to ensure that any infrastructure investments going to the states under the recovery bill, are balanced across the states geographically and across various types of transportation modes. We must use this opportunity to begin to transition to a clean, efficient, energy-independent future-- creating millions of green jobs, and job opportunities for the under-employed in the process.

National Bike Bill Passes House

(06.04.08) H.CON.RES. 305, dubbed the National Bike Bill sponsored by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), passed the House of Representatives on May 21. The resolution documents the many ways in which bicycling benefits individuals, communities, and the nation, and was a key element of the National Bike Summit agenda in March. We are looking for Senate supporters for the initiative, and have also been working with several Mayors to introduce a similar resolution at the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors later this month.

Read Congressman Blumenauer’s floor speech introducing the Congressional Resolution.

Complete Streets Bill in House and Senate

Click here to read the Complete Streets Acto of 2009. This bill is to ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across federally funded streets and highways.

The League of American Bicyclists National has championed complete streets legislation since 1994 and is a key member of the Complete Streets Coalition which includes AARP, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the American Planning Association, Smart Growth America, America Bikes, and many other organizations. For more information on complete streets, please visit www.completestreets.org.

Click here to read Congresswoman Matsui’s press release. Click here to read to read details on HR 1493.

Complete Streets Legislation

The Complete Streets Act of 2009 (S.584), introduced by Senator Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Carper (D-DE), requires states and metropolitan planning organizations to consider the needs of all users when building new roads or improving existing roads while using federal funds. Read Senator Harkin’s press release. For more details, fact sheets, and other information on Complete Streets please visit http://www.completestreets.org/federal.html.

Bicycle Commuter Act

The Bicycle Commuter Act extends transportation fringe benefits to bicycle commuters. The legislation provides a tax benefit to employers who offer cash reimbursements to an employee who commutes by bicycle, while helping defray the costs of commuting for the bicyclist. Click here for common FAQs to learn more.

Representative Earl Blumenauer's (D-OR) position.