'Reduce congestion, improve mobility and keep cyclists safe' — lawmakers introduce bipartisan America Bikes Act

Portland, Oregon. Bicycle commuting — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last week, Democratic California Rep. Mike Thompson and Republican Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan introduced the bipartisan America Bikes Act to improve rider safety, expand access to biking infrastructure and encourage bicycle manufacturing in the United States.

"Cycling is good for people and good for our planet. It just makes sense that we’d invest in expanding bike access and road safety so more Americans can benefit from cycling," Thompson said in a statement announcing the legislation.

The bill, H.R. 9041, combines a series of bike-related proposals into a single federal package focused on safety, infrastructure, education, transit access and domestic manufacturing.

What America Bikes Act would do

The legislation would expand access to federal transportation funding for local, regional and Tribal governments to improve roadway safety for cyclists and pedestrians. It would also support safety action plans and infrastructure projects aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

The bill also seeks to support domestic bicycle manufacturing. According to Buchanan's office, the legislation includes incentives to manufacture bicycles in the United States. Earlier this Congress, Buchanan and Thompson introduced the U.S. Bicycle Production and Assembly Act (H.R. 3904), which would temporarily suspend tariffs on imported bicycle components used to assemble bicycles in the United States.

Among the major provisions included in the proposed legislation are:

Expanding access to federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects
Making bike safety education part of youth learning programs nationwide
Expanding funding for on-bicycle education for elementary and secondary school students
Improving programmes that help children safely bike and walk to school
Expanding biking and walking infrastructure on federal lands
Reauthorising federal funding for communities to plan, design and build walking and biking infrastructure
Expanding incentives for bicycle commuting
Creating a grant programme to improve connections between cycling infrastructure and public transit systems
Supporting bike parking at transit stations and expansion of bikeshare programmes
Creating incentives for bicycle manufacturing in the United States

The proposed legislation was applauded by several transportation advocacy organisations, including the League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, PeopleForBikes, Safe Routes Partnership, National Bicycle Dealers Association, Natural Resources Defense Council and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

"With the America Bikes Act, Congressional Bike Caucus Chairs Mike Thompson and Vern Buchanan are celebrating the freedom bicycling brings to people and communities," said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists.

Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes, called the legislation "a major step forward for the bike industry and the millions of Americans who want safer, better places to ride."

Heather Mason, executive director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association, said the legislation "creates the conditions for a true cycling renaissance in the United States."

What Happens Next

Now that the bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives, it is expected to be referred to committee for review and possible amendments before any floor vote.

For the America Bikes Act to become law, it must:

Pass the House of Representatives
Pass the Senate
Be signed by the President

Cycling Weekly's North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook is old school. She holds a degree in journalism and started out as a newspaper reporter — in print! She can even be seen bringing a pen and notepad to the press conference.

Originally from the Netherlands, she grew up a bike commuter and didn't find bike racing until her early twenties when living in Seattle, Washington. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, Rook's progression in the sport was a quick one. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon, she became a full-time cycling journalist. She's now been a journalist for two decades, including 14 years in cycling.