[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8458]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               BICYCLING BURNS CALORIES, NOT FOSSIL FUEL

  The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, I just returned from a 2-day 
livability tour, thanks to the courtesy of my colleague, Congresswoman 
Allyson Y. Schwartz, a champion of sustainability. I visited her 
district in Pennsylvania, where she represents parts of Montgomery 
County and Philadelphia, where we saw rural landscapes, small 
townships, suburban communities, dense urban areas, open space, 
abandoned industrial land, and an aging but vital transit system. 
Together, they illustrated all the challenges that we face in our 
efforts to rebuild and renew America.
  I have a special interest in their initiative for a trail network, 
where their vision and hard work was rewarded by millions of dollars 
from the Obama administration and the economic Recovery Act to help 
fill in the gaps of an exciting trail expansion for the two-State 
region, including New Jersey.
  Amidst impressive progress on Mayor Michael Nutter's vision to make 
Philadelphia the greenest city in America, with innovative water 
projects, creative private sector efforts in green development, 
township progress on revitalization, and important progress in open 
space protection, the bicycle session stood out. The increase in 
ridership in Philadelphia was impressive, and they have undertaken a 
spectacular program--in all 172 elementary schools to train young 
cyclists and pedestrians. It certainly got my attention. But so did the 
challenges they face as cycling advocates. It didn't appear as though 
the regional planning agency, or PennDOT, placed a high priority on 
bicycle safety. I hope I'm wrong, especially since bike fatalities 
doubled last year in Philadelphia, but it would not be unusual if it 
didn't capture a priority. Nationally, bicycle and pedestrians 
represent 15 percent of all traffic fatalities but only 3 percent of 
our spending on safety improvements and education, about one-fifth of 
the proportionate share that would be warranted. It's especially sad, 
because the bike and pedestrian victims are more likely to be children 
and the elderly, more vulnerable populations that should, if anything, 
command more of our attention.
  The cycling community is doing its part to change this unfortunate 
pattern. As part of its effort to raise awareness, tomorrow in 49 
States and 21 nations, there will be Rides of Silence. There will be 
274 silent processions riding no more than 12 miles an hour to show 
respect for the families, friends and neighbors of 700 cyclists killed 
last year in America alone and as a reminder to law enforcement, to 
motorists and government officials of both the dangers to and the 
opportunities for cyclists.
  You know, it doesn't have to be this dangerous. Facilities, 
awareness, training and courtesy can all make cycling safer. I have 
seen it firsthand. I represent Portland, Oregon, the unofficial 
American cycling capital. We have had spectacular increases in bike 
riding. It's doubled in the last 10 years alone, the highest 
participation in any major American city, but the rate of injuries and 
death was cut in half.
  At a time when more and more Americans want to burn calories, not 
fossil fuel like the oil bubbling out in the Gulf, when they want to 
fight congestion, obesity and save money cycling, let's work not just 
to make it convenient and fun but safe, especially for our children.
  This is Bicycle Month. On Friday, we have Bike to Work Day all across 
America. Tomorrow, I hope Americans will join us in respecting the 
Rides of Silence to raise awareness for cycling safety.

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