Federal Support for Bicycling & Walking

In March 2010, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood made a surprising announcement that recognizes the importance of accommodating for bicycles and pedestrians in national and state transportation planning.

"Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.

"We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities."

LaHood's key recommendations for state DOTs and communities include:

• Treating walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
• Ensuring convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
• Going beyond minimum design standards.
• Collecting data on walking and biking trips.
• Setting a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
• Protecting sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal) Improving non-motorized facilities during maintenance projects.

See Secretary LaHood's notable "tabletop speech" to the National Bike Summit