[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 305 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 305


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 2, 2008

   Received and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                             Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         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;
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;
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, 
        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
    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--
                    (A) 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;
                    (B) increase intermodal travel between public 
                transportation and bicycles;
                    (C) 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;
                    (D) encourage bicycle use in communities where 
                significant segments of the population do not drive and 
                where short trips are most common;
                    (E) expand funding for core Federal transportation 
                programs that support non-motorized infrastructure, 
                education, and encouragement programs by--
                            (i) safeguarding existing funding sources 
                        for nonmotorized transportation from 
                        inequitable treatment in the Federal 
                        transportation funds rescission process;
                            (ii) supporting funding for core Federal 
                        transportation programs that support 
                        nonmotorized travel, including transportation 
                        enhancements, safe routes to school, and 
                        recreational trails; and
                            (iii) ensuring that highway safety 
                        improvement program funds are spent in 
                        proportion to the percentage of bicyclist and 
                        pedestrian fatalities in each State;
                    (F) facilitate the development of a coordinated 
                system of United States bicycle routes across the 
                country that cross state borders and connect 
                metropolitan regions;
                    (G) 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;
                    (H) provide flexibility in Federal transportation 
                law that would speed up the delivery of nonmotorized 
                infrastructure without sacrificing necessary 
                environmental protections;
                    (I) provide Federal tax or funding incentives to--
                            (i) States that adopt motor vehicle laws 
                        that protect the rights of bicyclists to share 
                        the road;
                            (ii) businesses that expand bicycle-
                        friendly programs for their employees;
                            (iii) the health care industry to develop 
                        more member discount programs, that target 
                        increased physical activity such as bicycling 
                        and walking; and
                            (iv) provide bicycle commuters the 
                        transportation fringe benefits currently 
                        provided to people who commute by car or mass 
                        transit; and
                    (J) 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.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.

                               By Robert F. Reeves,

                                                          Deputy Clerk.