IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 305 

Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 28, 2008 

Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself and Mr. OBERSTAR) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation 

and recreation. 

Whereas a national transportation system conducive to bicycling produces enriched health, reduced traffic congestion 

and air pollution, economic vitality, and an overall improved quality of living is valuable for the Nation; 

Whereas by dramatically increasing levels of bicycling in 

United States cities tangible and intangible benefits to 

the quality of life for cities and towns across the country 

will be realized; 

Whereas we now live in a Nation with 300 million people, and 

that number is expected to grow to 365 million by 2030 

and to 420 million by 2050 with the vast majority of that 

growth occurring in urban areas with limited ability to 

accommodate increased motor vehicle travel; 


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Whereas since 1980, the number of miles Americans drive 

has grown 3 times faster than the United States population, and almost twice as fast as vehicle registrations; 

Whereas one-third of the current population does not drive 

due to age, disability, ineligibility, economic circumstances, or personal choice; 

Whereas the United States is challenged by an obesity epidemic, 65 percent of United States adults are either overweight or obese, and 13 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, due in large part to a lack of regular activity; 

Whereas the Center for Disease Control estimates that if all 

physically inactive Americans became active, we would 

save $77 billion in annual medical costs; 

Whereas over 753 of our Nation’s Mayors have signed onto 

the climate protection agreement of the United States 

Conference of Mayors urging the Federal Government to 

enact policies and programs to meet or exceed a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of a 7 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; 

Whereas the transportation sector contributes one-third of 

the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and 

passenger automobiles and light trucks alone contribute 

21 percent; 

Whereas bicycle commuters annually save on average $1,825 

in auto-related costs, reduce their carbon emissions by 

128 pounds, conserve 145 gallons of gasoline, and avoid 

50 hours of gridlock traffic; 

Whereas the greatest potential for increased bicycle usage is 

in our major urban areas where 40 percent of trips are 

2 miles or less and 28 percent are less than one mile; 


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Whereas in 1969 approximately 50 percent of children in the 

United States got to school by walking or bicycling, but 

in 2001 only 15 percent of students were walking or bicycling to school; 

Whereas as much as 20 to 30 percent of morning traffic is 

often generated by parents driving their children to 

schools, and in the United States, motor vehicle crashes 

are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14; 

Whereas many public agencies in cities are using bicycles to 

deliver critical municipal services, for example, more than 

80 percent of police departments serving populations of 

50,000 to 249,999 and 96 percent of those serving more 

than 250,000 residents now have routine patrols by bicycle; 

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; 

Whereas investment used for improvements for bicyclists and 

promoting bicycle use resulted in the quadrupling of bicycle use in Portland, Oregon, since 1994 and a recent report to Congress on the nonmotorized transportation 

pilot program reveals that 19.6 percent of trips in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are made by biking and walking, reflecting the benefit of initial investments in nonmotorized 

infrastructure; 

Whereas the American bicyclist generates enormous economic 

returns, in 2006, the national bicycling economy contributed $133 billion to the United States economy, supported nearly 1.1 million jobs across the United States, 


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generated $17.7 billion in annual Federal and State tax 

revenue, produced $53.1 billion annually in retail sales 

and services, and provided sustainable growth in rural 

communities; 

Whereas a national network of interconnected urban and 

rural bikeways can provide valuable community benefits, 

including low or no-cost recreation and alternative transportation options for people of all ages and abilities; 

Whereas mountain biking is an environmentally friendly, 

healthy nonmotorized outdoor recreation activity that encourages young people to experience our natural world, 

and engenders community support for preservation of 

open space; 

Whereas each year major charity bike rides in communities 

across the country raise in excess of $100 million for critical medical research to find cures for life-threatening 

diseases; 

Whereas 57 million adults in the United States bicycle each 

year, and bicycling and walking currently account for 

nearly 10 percent of trips and 13 percent of traffic fatalities, yet less than 2 percent of Federal transportation 

safety funding is currently spent to make bicycling and 

walking safer; and 

Whereas communities across the United States are seeking 

ways to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, increase the safety of their neighborhoods, and decrease petroleum dependence, bicycles offer a simple, healthy, energy-saving alternative to driving: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 


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1 (1) recognizes that increased and safe bicycle 

2 use for transportation and recreation is in the na3 tional interest; 

4 (2) supports policies that— 

5 (A) establish national target levels for in6 creased bicycle use, reduce the number of motor 

7 vehicle miles traveled (VMT), improve bicycle 

8 safety to be achieved within a specific time9 frame, and collect data needed to monitor 

10 progress; 

11 (B) increase intermodal travel between 

12 public transportation and bicycles; 

13 (C) provide incentives for State and local 

14 governments to adopt and implement complete 

15 street policies designed to accommodate all 

16 users, including motorists, pedestrians, 

17 bicyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages 

18 and abilities; 

19 (D) encourage bicycle use in communities 

20 where significant segments of the population do 

21 not drive and where short trips are most com22 mon; 

23 (E) expand funding for core Federal trans24 portation programs that support non-motorized 


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1 infrastructure, education, and encouragement 

2 programs by— 

3 (i) safeguarding existing funding 

4 sources for nonmotorized transportation 

5 from inequitable treatment in the Federal 

6 transportation funds rescission process; 

7 (ii) supporting funding for core Fed8 eral transportation programs that support 

9 nonmotorized travel, including transpor10 tation enhancements, safe routes to school, 

11 and recreational trails; and 

12 (iii) ensuring that highway safety im13 provement program funds are spent in pro14 portion to the percentage of bicyclist and 

15 pedestrian fatalities in each State; 

16 (F) facilitate the development of a coordi17 nated system of United States bicycle routes 

18 across the country that cross state borders and 

19 connect metropolitan regions; 

20 (G) create bicycle-friendly Federal land 

21 protection legislation, such as national recre22 ation areas, to encourage regulations and man23 agement practices for mountain biking as an 

24 environmentally friendly nonmotorized use of 

25 natural surface trails; 


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1 (H) provide flexibility in Federal transpor2 tation law that would speed up the delivery of 

3 nonmotorized infrastructure without sacrificing 

4 necessary environmental protections; 

5 (I) provide Federal tax or funding incen6 tives to— 

7 (i) States that adopt motor vehicle 

8 laws that protect the rights of bicyclists to 

9 share the road; 

10 (ii) businesses that expand bicycle11 friendly programs for their employees; 

12 (iii) the health care industry to de13 velop more member discount programs, 

14 that target increased physical activity such 

15 as bicycling and walking; and 

16 (iv) provide bicycle commuters the 

17 transportation fringe benefits currently 

18 provided to people who commute by car or 

19 mass transit; and 

20 (J) build upon the ‘‘Green the Capitol Ini21 tiative’’ as a model, create and provide an envi22 ronmentally sustainable and healthy working 

23 environment for employees that includes the 

24 promotion of bicycling as a transportation alter25 native; 


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1 (3) encourages the Department of Transpor2 tation to provide leadership and coordination by re3 establishing the Federal bicycle task force to include 

4 representatives from all relevant Federal agencies. 

Æ 


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