[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H5762-H5763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL BIKE MONTH

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 145) expressing the sense of 
Congress in support of a national bike month and in appreciation of 
cyclists and others for promoting bicycle safety and the benefits of 
cycling.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 145

       Whereas there are over 57 million adult cyclists in the 
     United States;
       Whereas it is estimated that 100 million United States 
     citizens of all ages cycle each year;
       Whereas 5 million United States citizens commute by bicycle 
     to work;
       Whereas the bicycle industry generates more than $5 billion 
     dollars a year and is an important part of the economy of the 
     United States;
       Whereas recreational cycling is a safe, low-impact, aerobic 
     activity for all ages;
       Whereas when an individual cycles as a form of regular 
     exercise, the health of the individual may be increased;
       Whereas a national bike month would provide an opportunity 
     to educate United States citizens about the importance of 
     bicycle safety and the health benefits of cycling;
       Whereas most communities in the United States officially 
     recognize May 20th as Bike to Work Day; and
       Whereas the month of May has officially been celebrated as 
     National Bike Month by the League of American Bicyclists and 
     the majority of the international cycling community since 
     1956: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) United States citizens should observe a national bike 
     month to educate citizens of the United States about the 
     importance of bicycle safety and the health, transportation, 
     recreational, and environmental benefits derived from 
     cycling;
       (2) health and transportation professionals and 
     organizations should promote bicycle safety and the benefits 
     of cycling; and
       (3) United States citizens should salute the more than 57 
     million cyclists in the United States and the national and 
     community organizations, individuals, volunteers, and 
     professionals associated with cycling for promoting bicycle 
     safety and the benefits of cycling.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 145.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Since 1956, the international cycling community and the League of 
American Bicyclists have celebrated May as National Bike Month. This 
resolution expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. citizens should 
observe a National Bike Month.
  Over 100 million American citizens of all ages cycle each year. In 
addition, 5 million people commute by bike to work.
  But these people are the exception, not the rule. Over 57 million 
people in the United States are overweight. 78 percent of Americans do 
not meet the recommended basic levels of activity.
  During this time when childhood obesity and type II diabetes are 
rising at alarming rates, it is important that we encourage people to a 
more active lifestyle.
  Cycling is a safe, low impact, aerobic activity for all ages. As more 
people participate in activities such as cycling, the recent trends in 
obesity and type II diabetes can be reversed.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Bike Caucus and cosponsor of this 
bill, I support efforts to publicize the benefits of cycling and of 
bicycle safety. My home State of Wisconsin is a leader among the States 
in the number of trails our residents can enjoy and more than half a 
million people in Wisconsin ride a bike at least once a month.
  On the business side, we are the proud home of manufacturers of bikes 
and bike products. Even the President of the United States rides a 
Trek, headquartered in Wisconsin, as does seven-time Tour-de-France 
winner Lance Armstrong.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 145. 
By establishing a National Bike Month we are providing the opportunity 
to educate people about the importance of bicycle safety and the health 
benefits of cycling.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the 50th year we have observed Bike Month, and 
it has been somewhat delayed coming to the floor this year, but I think 
it is all the more significant.
  We just witnessed this last week, American Floyd Landis in his heroic 
victory in the Tour-de-France, just in time for him to proceed with 
surgery to replace his hip.
  We have watched this summer as gasoline prices have exceeded $3 a 
gallon across the country, and record high oil prices. To say nothing 
of the continued congestion, pollution and parking nightmares suffered 
by so many Americans. It is appropriate for us to reflect on the 
contributions of the bicycle today and its potential for the future.

                              {time}  1530

  The bicycle is the most efficient form of urban transportation yet 
designed by man. It is fun, healthy, inexpensive. It is often 
identified with kids; and that is appropriate. We are working hard to 
make it safe and attractive for children. The recent reauthorization of 
the Surface Transportation Act authorized almost two-thirds of $1 
billion for our historic Safe Routes to School program. We are watching 
safety education for young cyclists around the country.

[[Page H5763]]

  But it is important to note, as my colleague from Wisconsin pointed 
out, that this is not just for children. We do have over 57 million 
Americans who take part in cycling as part of their regular routine. It 
is the seventh most popular recreational activity in America.
  It is also serious transportation. Those 5 million American bicycle 
commuters that my colleague referenced in his comments a moment ago 
burn 90,000 calories a year for a 5-mile commute on average instead of 
seven barrels of oil, a savings of 35 million barrels of oil at a time 
when we are concerned about our energy dependence on oil from imported 
sources.
  It is serious in terms of our economy. That commuter who was cycling 
was saving money. I did a little back-of-the-envelope calculation. 
Since I came to Congress 10 years ago and made a decision that I was 
going to bring a bicycle to our Nation's capital instead of an 
automobile, I have been able to save, conservatively, $40,000.
  The economic impact goes beyond individuals who use bikes. It is a 
significant part of our Nation's economy, somewhere between $5.5 
billion and $6 billion a year in economic activity just in terms of the 
direct bicycle industry. Worldwide there are three times as many 
bicycles manufactured as cars, and even in the United States we sell 
more bikes than automobiles. There are some 5,000 independent 
specialized bicycle shops around the country, 2,000 companies that are 
involved with the marketing of bicycles, and manufacture of 
accessories.
  In my community, we have recently completed an economic impact 
statement for cycling in Portland, Oregon. We have been able to 
identify well over 800 jobs and over $63 million in direct economic 
impact in our little community. It has dramatic ripple effects across 
the country.
  We are also seeing an explosion in the number of bicycle events, in 
my community, every day across the country, hundreds of them. Bicycle 
tourism has assumed a very significant role, starting with the historic 
Ragbride, the ride across Iowa. State after State are now involved with 
similar activities. Oregon has the Cycle Oregon, a week-long adventure 
that often is sold out the day that the route is announced. But there 
are others in terms of mountain bike adventures, cycling events on 
behalf of charity. This is an important mixing of charitable, economic, 
and recreational activity.
  Our celebration of cycling also should include reflecting on the 
effects of integrating bicycling into the fabric of our community. 
There is nothing that is a better expression of a livable community. 
Indeed, some would suggest that a family that is able to cycle safely 
down the street is an indicator species of a livable community. Making 
bicycles available on transit vehicles, having bike parking, all of 
these make a difference in terms not just of the adventure but the 
utility of cycling in everyday life.
  Mr. Speaker, since we formed the Bicycle Caucus here in Congress, and 
my colleague referenced his membership, we have 164 bike-partisan 
members of the Congressional Bicycle Caucus that are active in terms of 
not just promoting some recreational activity on the Hill for Members, 
their families and staff but also advocating on behalf of cycling in 
our Nation's capital and around the country.
  We have been able, through a collective effort, to invest in the most 
recent reauthorization, not just the two-thirds of $1 billion I 
mentioned for Safe Routes to School but some $4.5 billion of bicycle 
path trail amenities, several thousand projects that are priority 
projects of Members. It seems that every Member that I talked to has a 
bicycle story, something that makes a difference to them individually 
or to their community.
  We are celebrating Bicycle Month and its importance to the country 
not a moment too soon. Cycling is important for the health of our 
citizens. It is playing a larger role for the health of our economy and 
our environment and literally the health of our communities and our 
planet. We are recognizing not just a Bicycle Month but the role in 
cycling in making a livable community, making all our families safer, 
healthier, and more economically secure.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Con. Res. 145 to 
recognize May as National Bike Month and to acknowledge efforts of 
bicycling advocates to promote the limitless benefits of cycling, 
including reduced congestion, healthier lifestyles, and an 
environmentally friendly and efficient mode of transportation.
  May has officially been celebrated as National Bike Month by the 
cycling community since 1956 to educate Americans about bike safety and 
the benefits of cycling.
  H. Con. Res. 145 provides an opportunity to salute the more than 100 
million people of all ages who cycle each year, and the national and 
community-based volunteers and professionals associated with cycling 
for promoting bicycle safety and the benefits of cycling.
  Bicycling is the most efficient form of urban transportation in 
history. This transportation choice helps ease congestion on our roads 
and reduce environmental pollution while allowing cyclists to 
incorporate exercise into their everyday lives.
  National Bike Month has inspired countless bike rides, safety 
inspections, commuter challenges, ribbon cuttings, share the road 
promotions, and other varied celebrations of bicycling in communities 
throughout the Nation.
  Bicycling became popular in the 1880s, when cyclists formed the 
League of American Wheelman--still in existence and now called the 
League of American Bicyclists. The league began the first organized 
lobby for better roads, literally paving the road for the automobile.
  This body has had a major hand in encouraging greater use of human-
powered travel modes, increasingly recognizing the importance of 
bicycling as an alternative to travel by motorized vehicles by 
providing unprecedented funding opportunities in the Nation's surface 
transportation bill.
  Funding provided in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users, SAFETEA-LU, will further 
help communities change transportation habits by building bike lanes 
and paths, adding sidewalks, installing crosswalks and organizing 
safer, more efficient ways for children to get to school.
  I want to thank my colleague from Oregon for introducing this 
important resolution, and I want to thank this body for continuing to 
recognize the important role that cycling plays in our Nation's 
transportation system.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 145.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 145.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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