II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 808 

To encourage energy conservation through bicycling. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 14, 2005 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. COLLINS) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To encourage energy conservation through bicycling. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. CONSERVE BY BICYCLING PROGRAM. 

4 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

5 (1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 

6 the Conserve by Bicycling Program established by 

7 subsection (b). 

8 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

9 the Secretary of Transportation. 
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1 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

2 the Department of Transportation a program to be known 

3 as the ‘‘Conserve by Bicycling Program’’. 

4 (c) PROJECTS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program, 

6 the Secretary shall establish not more than 10 pilot 

7 projects that are— 

8 (A) dispersed geographically throughout 

9 the United States; and 

10 (B) designed to conserve energy resources 

11 by encouraging the use of bicycles in place of 

12 motor vehicles. 

13 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—A pilot project described 

14 in paragraph (1) shall— 

15 (A) use education and marketing to con16 vert motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips; 

17 (B) document project results and energy 

18 savings (in estimated units of energy con19 served); 

20 (C) facilitate partnerships among inter21 ested parties in at least 2 of the fields of— 

22 (i) transportation; 

23 (ii) law enforcement; 

24 (iii) education; 

25 (iv) public health; 
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1 (v) environment; and 

2 (vi) energy; 

3 (D) maximize bicycle facility investments; 

4 (E) demonstrate methods that may be 

5 used in other regions of the United States; and 

6 (F) facilitate the continuation of ongoing 

7 programs that are sustained by local resources. 

8 (3) COST SHARING.—At least 20 percent of the 

9 cost of each pilot project described in paragraph (1) 

10 shall be provided from State or local sources. 

11 (d) ENERGY AND BICYCLING RESEARCH STUDY.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

13 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

14 shall enter into a contract with the National Acad15 emy of Sciences for, and the National Academy of 

16 Sciences shall conduct and submit to Congress a re17 port on, a study on the feasibility of converting 

18 motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips. 

19 (2) COMPONENTS.—The study shall— 

20 (A) document the results or progress of 

21 the pilot projects under subsection (b); 

22 (B) determine the type and duration of 

23 motor vehicle trips that people in the United 

24 States may feasibly make by bicycle, taking into 

25 consideration factors such as— 
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1 (i) weather; 

2 (ii) land use and traffic patterns; 

3 (iii) the carrying capacity of bicycles; 

4 and 

5 (iv) bicycle infrastructure; 

6 (C) determine any energy savings that 

7 would result from the conversion of motor vehi8 cle trips to bicycle trips; 

9 (D) include a cost-benefit analysis of bicy10 cle infrastructure investments; and 

11 (E) include a description of any factors 

12 that would encourage more motor vehicle trips 

13 to be replaced with bicycle trips. 

14 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

15 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

16 $6,200,000, to remain available until expended, of 

17 which— 

18 (1) $5,150,000 shall be used to carry out pilot 

19 projects described in subsection (c); 

20 (2) $300,000 shall be used by the Secretary to 

21 coordinate, publicize, and disseminate the results of 

22 the program; and 

23 (3) $750,000 shall be used to carry out sub24 section (d). 

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