When it comes to transportation, nothing is more important than safety. PeopleForBikes believes that communities are happier, healthier, and better places to live when all road users — whether they are walking, rolling, biking, taking transit, or driving — can get to their destination safely.

Right now, Congress is writing a critical piece of legislation that will determine how much the federal government invests in bike infrastructure for the next five to six years. The decisions made in this bill will directly affect where people can ride, how safe those rides are, and the strength of the U.S. bike market well into the future.

“Safe, connected biking and walking infrastructure protects families and neighborhoods and supports local economies through trails, tourism, small business support, and more,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. “As Congress writes the next surface transportation bill, the U.S. bicycle industry is calling on lawmakers to invest in infrastructure that supports access to safe biking and walking in local communities across the country.”

Congress is working toward presenting bipartisan bills in both chambers by spring 2026. This will be an ambitious timeline for this massive legislation, which must be signed into law before September 30, 2026. While lawmakers have expressed a commitment to a collaborative, bipartisan process, key policy decisions on biking and walking infrastructure remain unresolved.

What is clear is that Americans across the political spectrum recognize the importance of safe, accessible streets. A recent Ipsos survey found that 76% of respondents agreed their communities would be better if bicycling were safer and more comfortable, including 73% of Republicans, 82% of Democrats, and 74% of Independents.

This broad support underscores a huge market opportunity: Americans want safer streets, which means more riders and more business for the bike industry. PeopleForBikes is working to ensure that Congress hears this message loud and clear.

Why This Matters For The Bike Industry

For bike businesses, infrastructure investment is more than a nice-to-have policy win — it’s a proven growth strategy. Every federal dollar invested in bike infrastructure builds communities where people ride more, directly supporting bike retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers nationwide.

More safe places to ride directly translates to better bike business. PeopleForBikes data shows that communities with better bike networks have more bike shops and higher sales.

Investing in safe places to ride also expands the bicycle industry's market in the short and long term. In the short term, safe bike infrastructure attracts new customers by incentivizing some people to switch their commutes or other transportation trips from car to bike and by encouraging more families to get on bikes for weekend recreational rides. In the long term, providing safe places to ride for everyone means more children can enjoy bicycling from a young age and grow into lifelong enthusiasts who will ride more often, buy more bikes, and visit their local bike shops regularly.

The data shows this strategy is working. U.S. bike infrastructure has vastly improved in recent years. As a result, more than 112 million Americans rode a bike in 2024 — the highest number on record. PeopleForBikes is continuing this momentum and urging Congress to continue funding safe, connected places to ride.

What PeopleForBikes is Doing

To date, PeopleForBikes has held dozens of meetings with key lawmakers to shape the bill's outcome. You can read more about our engagement on this major legislation here.

PeopleForBikes also joined key partners, including the League of American Bicyclists, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and the Safe Routes to School Partnership, in organizing a campaign and letter to Congress in support of bike infrastructure funding. The goal of the campaign is to demonstrate nationwide support for biking and walking infrastructure and encourage lawmakers to incorporate that feedback into the legislation. A diverse coalition of more than 1,100 organizations signed on to the letter, demonstrating the overwhelming support for biking and walking infrastructure in every corner of the country.

Specifically, the letter calls for supporting bike infrastructure funding in several federal programs, especially the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Since its inception in 1992, TAP has been an important source of federal funding for bicycle infrastructure. TAP funds are distributed every year to state and local governments to build projects in communities of all sizes. PeopleForBikes helped write and distribute the letter, and we are working to engage national and local media to amplify the message among key lawmakers.

PeopleForBikes worked with Congress to include significant wins in the previous iteration of this bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).

How Can I Help as a Member of the Bike Industry?

We are at a critical juncture in the funding process. If you’re a bike retailer, manufacturer, or supplier, now is the moment for the industry to speak directly to Congress on this issue.

Contact your senators and representatives to let them know how important bike infrastructure is to your business and community. Reach out to PeopleForBikes Director of Federal Policy Chris Bell at chris@peopleforbikes.org if you would like additional assistance contacting your elected officials.