Good news for bicycling in the Senate—but the future remains uncertain
A few weeks ago, we asked you to contact your Senators telling them to oppose bills that would have eliminated essential biking and walking programs. Good news: the future of federal funding for bicycling is now looking brighter thanks to strong bipartisan support in the Senate. This support is newly expressed in the successful Cardin-Cochran Amendment, which was accepted into the Senate transportation bill thanks in part to strong feedback from the bicycling community. This bipartisan amendment guarantees our local governments a voice in transportation decisions, allowing them to build bikeways and sidewalks that keep people safe. Through our call to action, more than 17,000 letters were sent to all 100 senators. Thanks to everyone for the quick response.
Despite our gains in the Senate, the future of federal funding for bicycling remains uncertain. The battle returns to the House of Representatives, where some leading members continue to push to eliminate key bike programs.
You can help save bicycling in the House by contacting your U.S. Representative and asking them to support the Petri Amendment. The Petri Amendment consolidates important bicycling programs like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School into the Transportation Improvement Program, ensuring that local governments — cities and counties — have an opportunity to weigh in on transportation decisions.
Thanks again for speaking up to save bicycling in the Senate. We're getting closer to long-term success—but it is far from guaranteed! Stay tuned for updates on the current House bill and the Petri Amendment.
Read more: details of the Cardin-Cochran Amendment and the updated Senate transportation bill, the full Petri Amendment (PDF)
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