[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9649-9651]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF BICYCLING IN TRANSPORTATION AND 
                               RECREATION

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 305) recognizing the importance of 
bicycling in transportation and recreation.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 305

       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;

[[Page 9650]]

       (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.

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


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks, and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 305.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 305, a resolution that 
recognizes the important role bicycling plays in both recreation and 
transportation. I thank Representative Earl Blumenauer, an avid 
cyclist, for bringing this measure to the floor. May has been 
designated as National Bike Month, making it an appropriate time to 
consider this measure.
  Cycling is a healthy, environmentally friendly activity and mode of 
transportation. At a time when our Nation is facing a growing obesity 
epidemic and the challenges of global climate change, we in Congress 
should be making every effort to encourage and accommodate cyclists.

                              {time}  1515

  H. Con. Res. 305 expresses the support of the Congress for a number 
of commonsense approaches to increase bicycling and to protect 
cyclists, including setting goals to reduce vehicle miles traveled, or 
VMT, and to increase the safety of cyclists, spending highway safety 
funds proportionately to the percentage of cyclist and pedestrian 
deaths, implementing ``complete streets'' policies that take into 
account the needs of all users when designing a road, streamlining 
nonmotorized transportation project delivery while upholding 
environmental standards, creating bicycle-friendly Federal lands and 
developing a national bike route system, continuing and strengthening 
Federal programs that support nonmotorized transportation and 
increasing intermodalism, building on the Green the Capitol initiative, 
which includes a bike sharing program and sets an example for employers 
to be bicycle friendly.
  In 1994, the U.S. Department of Transportation, DOT, delivered the 
National Bicycling and Walking Study to Congress, which created a now-
defunct interagency task force to coordinate bicycling and walking 
safety and mobility efforts across Federal agencies. This resolution 
encourages DOT to reestablish this task force with representatives from 
all appropriate Federal agencies.
  H. Con. Res. 305 gives us a foundation to use as we consider the role 
cycling will play in the upcoming surface transportation authorization, 
and lays out a number of thoughtful approaches to increase bicycling 
and keep cyclists safe.
  I thank, again, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 
introducing this resolution, and urge my colleagues to support its 
passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 305, 
introduced by our colleague, Earl Blumenauer from Oregon. The 
resolution expresses the importance of bicycles in our transportation 
system. Bicycles provide a way to reduce congestion on our highways, 
decrease air pollution and enrich the health of Americans who use them.
  The resolution supports the implementation of State and local street 
policies that accommodate all users of transportation, and supports 
funding for core Federal transportation programs that support 
nonmotorized infrastructure.
  With rising fuel prices, bicycling offers a way for Americans to save 
money and time on our busy highways, while maintaining and improving 
their fitness. I hope this concurrent resolution will bring attention 
to the many benefits of bicycling.
  Mr. Speaker, I support passage of the resolution, and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 
305. H. Con. Res. 305 recognizes the important role bicycling plays in 
both transportation and recreation, and is an appropriate resolution to 
consider in May, which has been designated as National Bike Month. This 
resolution expresses the support of the Congress for a number of 
policies that would encourage cycling and advance our intermodal 
transportation network. I thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer) for introducing this resolution.
  Our transportation choices can play a key role in solving the serious 
problems of worsening congestion and air quality, the obesity epidemic 
that afflicts millions of children and adults, and the threat of global 
climate change. To achieve these solutions, our transportation planning 
must be refocused to accommodate users of environmentally-friendly and 
healthy modes of transportation such as cycling. My experience has 
taught me that people want to get out of their cars; they want to lead 
active and healthy lifestyles; and they want to do their part to 
protect our environment. By providing the appropriate infrastructure, 
we can give people the option to make smart travel choices.
  H. Con. Res. 305 expresses the support of the Congress for a number 
of common sense approaches to increase bicycling and to protect 
cyclists, including:
  Setting goals to reduce vehicle miles traveled, VMT, to increase the 
safety of cyclists, and encouraging and allowing people to bicycle for 
short trips;
  Spending highway safety funds proportionally to the percentage of 
cyclist and pedestrian deaths;
  Implementing ``complete streets'' policies that take into account the 
needs of all users when designing a road;
  Providing flexibility for nonmotorized transportation project 
delivery while upholding environmental standards;
  Creating bicycle-friendly Federal lands and developing a national 
bike route system;
  Continuing and strengthening Federal programs that support 
nonmotorized transportation and increasing intermodalism; and
  Building upon the ``Greening the Capitol'' initiative, which includes 
a bike sharing program and sets an example for employers to be bicycle-
friendly.

[[Page 9651]]

  In 1994, the U.S. Department of Transportation, DOT, issued the 
National Bicycling and Walking Study, establishing a national goal of 
doubling the percentage of trips made by foot and bicycle while 
simultaneously reducing crashes involving the two modes by ten percent. 
It also created a now-defunct interagency task force to coordinate 
these efforts across Federal agencies. This resolution encourages DOT 
to re-establish this task force with representatives from all 
appropriate Federal agencies.
  H. Con. Res. 305 provides a framework for some of the choices that 
the Congress will need to make in the upcoming surface transportation 
authorization legislation. The Federal Government has a long history of 
visionary leadership in the transportation field, and we need to again 
show the leadership necessary to encourage mode shift, reduce 
congestion, and create a cleaner and healthier society. We must work to 
build a transportation system that enhances our quality of life and 
gives users modal choice, and bicycle infrastructure needs to be a part 
of this.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in agreeing to the resolution.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise in strong 
support of H. Con. Res. 305, the National Bike Bill. This resolution 
recognizes the bicycle as an important part of our transportation 
system. Investing in infrastructure that allows for bicycling produces 
enriched health, reduced traffic congestion and air pollution, 
greenhouse gas emission reductions, economic vitality, and an overall 
improved quality of life.
  As the earth continues to warm and gas prices hover around $4 per 
gallon, more and more Americans are discovering that bicycling is a 
smart, healthy, and environmentally sound transportation option. Across 
the globe--from D.C. to Portland to Paris and beyond--bicycles are 
being used as a means for people to reduce congestion and pollution and 
improve both health and quality of life. Locally, communities are 
seeing that investment in bike lanes and bike boulevards, as well as 
education on how to ride, are resulting in dramatic increases in 
ridership. It's time that the Federal Government steps up and becomes a 
better partner to the States and local governments, giving them the 
tools and incentives they need to create of complete and healthy 
communities.
  The Federal Government can assist in those efforts by promoting 
increased bicycle safety, supporting policies that establish national 
target levels for bicycle use, supporting increased intermodal travel, 
providing incentives to State and local government, providing 
flexibility in Federal transportation laws, and encouraging 
partnerships with employers and executive agencies.
  I am pleased that this legislation has over 30 cosponsors from both 
sides of the aisle. Increased transportation options and a higher 
quality of life are ideas that everyone can agree on. I strongly urge 
my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 305.
  Mr. PETRI. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 305.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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