The American family spends roughly 20 percent of its annual income on transportation. While Americans take only 5 percent of their trips on foot, Europeans and Japanese take 20 to 50 percent of their trips on foot. Each year 43,000 Americans die in motor vehicle-related accidents and another 2 million people suffer disabling injuries. One-fifth of the 43,000 killed each year are pedestrian and bicyclists. The gas tax covers only 60 percent of our road costs.
Bicycles are a highly efficient alternative to cars.
Bicycles require only 22 calories per passenger kilometer, compared to rail at 549 calories per passenger kilometer and cars at a staggering 1,153 calories per passenger kilometer. The law gives greater weight to bicycling as a means of transportation. Pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities to be constructed under this section shall be located and designed pursuant to an overall plan to be developed by each metropolitan planning organization and State and incorporated into their comprehensive annual long-range plans. Bicycles exceed ownership of autos worldwide. In Cuba, where there is a U.S.-imposed economic blockade, no cars are newer than 34 years old.