Bikes Belong Update
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FALL 2012 Bikes Belong Update FEDERAL POLICY & FUNDING • NATIONAL LEADERSHIP • COMMUNITY GRANTS • BICYCLING PROMOTION Bikes Belong is the coalition of U.S. bicycle manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers working together to put more people on bicycles more often. Bikes Belong is a coalition of U.S. bicycle manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers working together to put more people on bicycles more often. federal policy & funding generally see great value and multiple benefits in bike projects and are likely to take full advantage of TA. We have momentum on our side. The bad news is that MAP-21 gives states unprecedented flexibility to reallocate (or completely opt-out of spending) money that was previously dedicated to make bicycling and walking safer, more appealing, and more convenient. In the states where highway construction is seen as the only priority, funding for bike projects will likely be cut. The damage will be compounded by the fact that the overall pool of money available for bike-ped increased bicycle infrastructure to give Americans more safe projects in MAP-21 is less than the previous bill. BikesPAC More Important Than Ever places to ride,” said Bruno Maier, vice president of Bikes Belong. Photo credit: Adam Coppola Moving Forward BikesPAC, Bikes Belong Coalition’s political action committee, “We must participate in the political process to be effective.” The New Federal Transportation Bill: The annual federal bike/ped investment has hovered around is the bike industry’s way to support the members of Congress Since its inception, BikesPAC has contributed more than $800 million in each of the last four years. We expect the sum to who back bicycling. The federal government is the number one $200,000 to the campaigns of individual members of Congress. be roughly the same for the fiscal year that ends September 30, What It Means for Bicycling investor in U.S. bike facilities and programs. These investments – BikesPAC is absolutely bipartisan – contributing equally to 2012. What happens in the next two fiscal years will depend, which total more than $6 billion in the last 10 years – pay for bike Republicans and Democrats. MAP-21, the new two-year federal transportation bill that takes in part, on how effective bike advocates and the bike industry paths, trails, lanes, bridges, underpasses, and safe routes to school effect on October 1, is likely to reduce the federal investment in are in influencing state and local decisions. Bikes Belong and that make bicycling safer and more convenient. This is important Learn more at bikesbelong.org/bikespac. bicycling and walking. Bikes Belong and the bike industry will our key advocacy group partners will provide steady advice in the for the bike industry: if these investments continue and grow, work closely with our state and local partners to maximize federal coming months on achieving this important strategic goal. they will help get more people riding bikes, which will enable funds to build and improve bicycling and walking infrastructure. Why was bike/ped the one category to take a big hit? Cutting the bicycling business to sell more bikes, more equipment, and Four questions loom: or eliminating dedicated transportation funding for bicycling become stronger nationwide. 1 How much funding will be cut? was a top 2012 goal for some Members of Congress. They see It would be nice to think that the best ideas – like bicycling as a 2 How will these cuts affect bicycling and all types of it as a low-priority—even wasteful—investment for the federal transportation? government. Our response? Bicycling infrastructure investments solution to obesity, road congestion, and air pollution – would 3 Why did this happen...and what are the lessons? rank among the best of all: they’re low-cost, quick-to-implement, automatically rise to the top. But, this is a country of more 4 What can supporters of a cost-effective federal investment increasingly popular, and beneficial not only in moving people than 300 million people with countless different perspectives in bicycling do to minimize the cuts and rebuild a beneficial efficiently, but also in reducing road congestion, obesity, and air on just about every issue. The bike industry is just one of about long-term federal program? pollution. Bike riding saves individuals and government money. 1,000 different types of businesses working to influence federal We have learned that we must build a stronger grassroots transportation policy and funding decisions. This group includes During the next two fiscal years, states will no longer be required network to help convey this message to lawmakers. road builders, auto manufacturers, transit interests, and a variety to dedicate a percentage of federal transportation dollars to bike of other well-organized, well-funded organizations. In this swirl infrastructure and related programs. Programs that previously The battle to preserve critical federal funding for biking of ideas, it’s not surprising that members of Congress listen received guaranteed funding—Transportation Enhancements now moves to the states and local communities. While first to the people they know and the people who support them. (TE), Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails—have been the Transportation Alternatives program is smaller than its BikesPAC moves bicycling into this select group and gives us the revised, consolidated, or weakened. While bicycling projects predecessors, TA and the larger, core transportation and safety opportunity to make our case, face to face. traditionally funded by these programs remain eligible for programs still present significant opportunities for federal funding support, they must compete with a variety of other projects— for biking. Bikes Belong is working with our advocacy partners to PAC funding will never buy the outcome – and that’s a good some of them new, and many of them costly. ensure that states and local governments use every opportunity thing – but it will give us a chance to be heard. in the new law to make bicycling safer and more convenient. The overall effect of these changes is difficult to estimate and “With the elections right around the corner, it is vitally important may not be noticeable at first. Several hundred million dollars The continuation of a modest, results-oriented federal investment that we support lawmakers who strongly promote bicycling and remain in the pipeline from the previous federal legislation, in bike infrastructure is essential to making bicycling better for all SAFETEA-LU—much of it for projects that have been approved Americans. It is important to the bike business and our economy. but not yet built. We need to make sure states spend As better bikeway networks become available, Americans will all remaining funds for these worthy projects from the bike more and our nation will benefit. Stay tuned to learn how you Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and can help. Join Us at the Interbike Recreational Trails programs. BikesPAC Reception The new transportation bill also creates a promising new way Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 for cities and metropolitan areas to draw on federal funds for To learn more about the federal investment in bike/ped projects through a new program called Transportation bicycling, visit bikesbelong.org. 5:30–7 p.m. at the V Bar (Venetian Hotel) Alternatives (TA). The good news here is that cities and counties (left) Top transportation officials from across the country, including Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, headlined the national launch of the Green Lane Project in Chicago. The Green Lane Project is national leadership a Bikes Belong initiative to bring protected bikeways to six U.S. cities. (middle) Bluebonnet green lane, Austin, TX (below) A green lane is installed in Chicago, IL. Three National Bike Advocacy Groups Affirm Shared Goals and Continue Collaboration; Decide to Remain Separate After months of steady dialogue and face-to-face meetings, the leaders of the Bikes Belong, the League of American Bicyclists, and the Alliance for Biking & Walking have decided not to pursue full unification at this time. The three groups continue to operate independently, in close collaboration, to make bicycling safer and more enjoyable for all Americans. These unprecedented unification discussions were marked by goodwill and an open exchange of ideas. They helped U.S. bike advocacy leaders agree on a shared vision, goals, and strategies that Green Lane Project Moves will advance the movement and improve bicycling coast to coast. Bicycling Forward The three groups continue to work together and have committed to achieving the following benchmark goals by 2020: Bikes Belong is leading the way toward the next generation of “The thinking about urban bicycling is evolving very rapidly, 1. The nationwide percentage of trips made by bike will bike lanes with the Green Lane Project. The Green Lane Project, so city leaders are eager to share ideas and learn from one launched in late May this year, is working with Austin, Chicago, another,” said Roskowski. “The Green Lane Project creates a What’s New in the Green Lane increase to five percent (from one percent in 2012), and Memphis, Portland, OR, San Francisco, and Washington, DC direct peer-to-peer conversation. This will help cities transform the diversity of people on bikes will mirror the diversity of to support each city’s development of world-class protected their streets faster, better, and smarter than if they were working Project Focus Cities? America; bicycling networks, called green lanes, during the next two years. on their own.” • Austin, TX opened a new two-way green lane on Rio Grande 2. Traffic injuries and fatalities (in all modes) will decrease by Avenue in April and will complete green lane projects this fall 50 percent; Green lanes are safe, comfortable spaces for people on bikes on The Project’s newly launched, dedicated website on Barton Springs Road, serving the city’s beloved pool, and 3.