By providing meaningful and visionary efforts for leaders to study, and investing in city staff and local partners to increase local knowledge and leadership, we can accelerate the installation of complete mobility networks. We encourage cities and states to move faster in creating these complete networks by funding additional planning, outreach and communications.

An integral part of any network buildout is measuring key outcomes with network connectivity, ridership and safety metrics. We provide measurement activities that offer a baseline evaluation of current and future conditions through our Bicycle Network Analysis and City Ratings tools.

Through proactive ballot initiatives, securing dedicated funds for planning and implementation, supporting coalitions that make bicycling a part of a broader narrative and encouraging communities across city lines to collaboratively pursue federal or state grants for regional infrastructure development, we help fund paths, bike lanes, mountain bike trails, pump tracks, bike parks, bike parking and more.

Building a safe, interconnected network of protected bikeways relies on gaining the support of people who only occasionally bike or never bike at all. We perform research to understand people’s aspirations for mobility and the ways in which bike infrastructure can help achieve those. We use that research to craft messaging and marketing that grows public support for bicycling.

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) launched America’s Outdoor Era Commitment to challenge the outdoor recreation industry to do more than just talk about the health benefits of time outside. The commitment asks organizations to lead by example, implementing at least three practical actions over the next year that directly connect outdoor recreation to physical health, mental well-being, youth development, and community resilience.

PeopleForBikes is proud to sign on to the commitment and connect the proven health narrative to our work getting more people on bikes more often and making biking better for everyone.

Our annual City Ratings program, powered by the Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA), scores cities on the quality and connectivity of their low-stress bike networks. Access to safe, connected places to ride is a direct public health intervention. Communities with better bike networks see higher rates of active transportation, reduced sedentary behavior, and stronger community connection. City Ratings and BNA data on low-stress network access is a powerful tool for building the evidence base that links infrastructure investment to positive public health outcomes.

PeopleForBikes' Backyard Advocacy Toolkit empowers bike industry brands and retailers to drive change in their own communities. It's a roadmap for local action, from hosting demo rides for policymakers to partnering with schools and workforce programs. Under the America's Outdoor Era Commitment, this toolkit becomes a health advocacy resource as much as a business one. Industry partners who engage locally aren't just building better places to ride,  they're building healthier communities.

PeopleForBikes' federal public lands strategy, from harmonizing access for Class 1 e-bikes to support and implementation of the BOLT Act, is fundamentally about expanding access to the outdoor experiences that improve health and well-being. More trails, more access, and more connected bike networks mean more Americans getting outside, moving their bodies, and reaping the documented benefits of time in nature.

As a signatory to America's Outdoor Era Commitment, PeopleForBikes commits to:

Integrate health and wellness messaging into our City Ratings and recreational access communications, making the connection between biking and physical and mental health explicit and consistent.

Support community access to riding opportunities through our Backyard Advocacy Toolkit with an emphasis on underserved communities where closing network gaps can make the greatest impact.

Build partnerships that connect bike infrastructure investment with public health outcomes using BNA data to support evidence-building and advance the case for outdoor recreation as a preventive health tool.

Lead by example, encouraging PeopleForBikes staff, partners, and industry Coalition members to prioritize time outside and model the values we advocate for.

The outdoor recreation economy generates $1.3 trillion in economic output and supports 5.2 million American jobs, and the health case for getting outside has never been stronger or more politically relevant. As federal and state leaders look for cost-effective, community-driven approaches to public health, the outdoor recreation industry has a powerful story to tell.

Bikes and safe, connected places to ride are public health assets. PeopleForBikes is excited to continue our work in promoting riding as a health tool for all.

Bikes Are Good for You — PeopleForBikes Is Committed to Proving It

Five cities. Two years. Three hundred miles of new bikeways. When PeopleForBikes launched the Final Mile in 2018, the goal was simple to state yet hard to prove: Could a city move faster on building a safe and connected bike network than the usual eight-to-ten-year timeline — and would the investment stick?

Six years later, the 2026 City Ratings have the answer.  The five Final Mile cities — Austin, Texas; Denver, Colorado; New Orleans, Louisiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Providence, Rhode Island — are still riding the momentum the program built, and their networks and planned bike infrastructure projects tell a story about what happens when a city gets the resources and political will to make a difference.

The Future of Mobility — Five Cities Paving The Way

The Final Mile was a two-year partnership between PeopleForBikes and Wend Collective, designed as a playbook for accelerating the construction of safe and connected bike networks. It didn't fund infrastructure directly. Instead, it gave cities the financial resources and expertise to run broad public marketing campaigns, build diverse community coalitions, and give local elected leaders the political cover to move fast.

The five participating cities used that support to collectively build more than 300 miles of new low-stress bikeways in a fraction of the usual time.

Backed by the $460 million Proposition B transportation bond, Austin used Final Mile support to build 100 miles of new bikeways in just two years, part of a broader push toward a 400-mile all-ages-and-abilities network.

Denver tripled the pace of its planned low-stress bikeway network, constructing 100 miles of new bikeways during the Final Mile period.

New Orleans managed to construct 27 miles of new “high comfort” bikeways, predominantly in its historically underserved Algiers neighborhood. Unfortunately, the New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to remove two segments of protected bike lanes in Algiers in 2022.

Pittsburgh leaders completed 50 new network miles aligned with the city's Bike(+) Plan, part of a run that took Pittsburgh from the 170th-best U.S. city for biking into the top 20 in a single year.

Under its Great Streets Initiative, Providence built 43 miles of new bikeways, including a network of two-way "urban trails" fully protected from traffic on one side of the street.

The 2026 City Ratings rated more than 3,000 cities across the U.S. and landed at a milestone moment: 555 U.S. communities scored 50 or higher this year, up from 234 in 2025 and just 33 back in 2019. That big improvement comes even as we tightened our Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA) methodology to reflect updated design standards and census data.

Against that backdrop, the Final Mile cities are still showing up, each with key projects tracked through our Great Bike Infrastructure Project that are adding to their growing bike networks.

“Looking back, it was really meaningful for the mayor to adopt a signature initiative with a clear, measurable target — building 125 miles of high-comfort bikeways within just a few short years — backed up with substantial funding, including both general bond funding and appropriations in the annual budget,” said Jill Locantore, executive director of Denver Streets Partnership. “Denver has made significantly more progress toward building out a complete, connected bike network than we would have otherwise, and it's noticeable to anyone who bikes around Denver.”

Broadway Bikeway: Denver's first protected bikeway installed on a major arterial street (outside of downtown) provides people on bikes with a direct connection along a popular commercial corridor and demonstrates that reducing space for cars on these types of streets improves safety and access for everyone, not just bikers.

13th Avenue Protected Bikeway: One of PeopleForBikes’ Best New Bikeways of 2021 provides a critical connection into downtown from a lower-income neighborhood on Denver's west side that has suffered from decades of disinvestment. The route is still very heavily used.

7th Avenue: This project is a great example of a neighborhood bikeway (not a separated bike lane but traffic calming treatments intended to prioritize people biking and walking by reducing the volume and speed of traffic), and an instance where the city held firm in the face of opposition from homeowners who opposed the project. 

“The Final Mile was catalytic in helping Austin accelerate implementation of its All Ages and Abilities (AAA) Bicycle Network from about 15 miles per year at the beginning of 2018 to over 30 miles per year by June 2021. The successful projects and network buildout completed during the Final Mile also helped set the stage for a 2020 voter-approved bond that increased funding for bikeways, trails, and other active transportation and safety infrastructure by 2.5 times,” said Caitlin D’Alton with the City of Austin. “In the five years since the Final Mile concluded, Austin has continued building the network at an average rate of approximately 35 miles per year, allowing the city to meet ambitious council-adopted goals. The total AAA Bicycle Network grew from 132 to 223 miles during the Final Mile and has since expanded to 377 miles today.”

Barton Springs Road Safety Project: Completed in 2023, the project made critical safety and multimodal connectivity improvements, including connections to Zilker Park. Data showed that high-risk speeding dropped 64–70% and public support for the project increased. Since completion of the $800,000 project, annual comprehensive crash costs have fallen by more than $10 million.

Cameron Road/Dessau Road Safety Project: Completed in 2025, this 6-mile project includes a 5-mile stretch that reduced seven traffic lanes down to five. Early data is showing very strong safety results.

Protected intersections: Austin has completed 38 protected intersections, with more than 30 additional intersections currently in development.

Pittsburgh | 2026 City Ratings Score: 34 

"The Final Mile, which we called MoveForwardPGH, basically compressed what typically takes a city many years into a two-year sprint. We went from a newly adopted Bike(+) Plan to more than 20 miles of new bikeways and neighborways (aka bicycle boulevards) on the ground by the end of 2021," says Scott Bricker, co-founder of BikePGH. "Since 2021, we've added bike lanes and traffic calming on corridors like Stanton Avenue, a climbing lane on lower Greenfield Avenue, an asphalt art traffic calming project in Woods Run, and a two-year partnership with DOMI that installed 500 new bike racks across the city. The rebuilt Fern Hollow Bridge also gave us a concrete protected bike lane from South Braddock Avenue to Beechwood Boulevard, closing a gap people had waited years for. The biggest and most difficult project was the Penn Avenue right-sizing project that converted a lane of car traffic to a double-buffered bike lane that connected Lawrenceville through the Strip District to the protected bike lanes on Penn that had been in place since 2014."

Fern Hollow Bridge Rebuild: After the 2022 collapse, the rebuild came with a real protected bike lane from South Braddock Avenue to Beechwood Boulevard. A genuine crisis left the city with better infrastructure than before.

PRTX University Line Bike Lanes: Construction is underway on the Downtown-to-Oakland protected segment, which will be the backbone connection Pittsburgh's network has been missing.

Penn Avenue Rightsizing in the Strip District: Extending a protected bike lane that's existed since 2014 further into the neighborhood, from 31st down to 22nd Street, and closing a gap the 2020 Bike(+) Plan flagged as critical. 

"The Final Mile gave us two years of accelerated funding, but what made it really work was the partnership we built between the city's mobility department, the bike advocacy nonprofit, and the bikeshare operator. That structure outlasted the grant," says Bricker. "My advice is to treat it as a coalition that you'll use for the next decade. Advocates: don’t be afraid to be advocates. City leaders: Let advocates be advocates. Keep lines of communication open even during what can be fairly tense times."

New Orleans | 2026 City Ratings Score: 33 

Lafitte Greenway: This 2.6-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail and green corridor connects neighborhoods from Armstrong Park to City Park along a historic rail and canal corridor. The path includes a 12-foot asphalt lane for cyclists and pedestrians, roughly 500 shade trees, native plant meadows, and stormwater retention features.

Providence | 2026 City Ratings Score: 28 

Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project: In June 2026, state and city leaders opened a new one-mile section of the Greenway running from Kinsley Avenue to Promenade Street, creating a dedicated trail for walkers, runners and cyclists. The completed stretch adds three pocket parks near Eagle, Hemlock and Bath streets and two kayak launches near Eagle and Leland streets, extending a greenway that has been in the works for more than three decades.

Connector Bike Path: This new urban trail section links the Washington Secondary bike path from its Cranston trailhead into Providence's bike network, ultimately connecting through the new 6/10 bike path into the Woonasquatucket River Greenway. The connector ties Providence's 25 neighborhoods into a single low-stress network, giving riders a direct link between the West End and jobs, schools, and recreation across the city.

Safe Streets for All: Backed by a $27.2 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) federal grant, Providence is designing, enhancing, and constructing more than three miles of urban trails, including a protected urban trail conversion on Broadway. The project targets last-mile connections to residential, employment, and cultural activity centers between the city's 25 neighborhoods while eliminating fatal and serious crashes for vulnerable road users.

As all of these cities continue to work towards the 50-point tipping point, it proves that the Final Mile wasn't meant to be a finish line. It was proof that the right combination of funding, community coalition-building, and political will can compress a decade of progress into two years, and that cities can keep building on that foundation long after the campaign ends.

The real legacy of the Final Mile isn't just the bike networks it helped build — it's the model it created. PeopleForBikes continues to use the lessons learned from Austin, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Providence to shape how we support cities of all sizes nationwide in improving bicycling in their communities. 

No matter where a community is on its journey to becoming a great place to ride, PeopleForBikes' SPRINT framework outlines six things that make the biggest difference in making biking safe and accessible.

Slower traffic means safer streets. When cars are going 25 mph or less, bikes and cars can share the road comfortably.

A physical barrier, not just a painted line, between bikes and traffic increases road safety for everyone.

An extra car lane or unused parking can easily turn into more room for people biking and walking.

Safe crossings at busy intersections make an entire route feel safer.

Bike routes that actually connect to each other ensure riders aren't stranded after a good stretch of bike lane leads nowhere.

Reliable, up-to-date information shows cities exactly where the gaps exist and investments will make the biggest difference.

Want to see how your city's network stacks up? Explore the full 2026 City Ratings at cityratings.peopleforbikes.org, and consider donating to the PeopleForBikes Foundation to help build the next success story in your community.

Six Years Later, the Final Mile Is Still Paying Off

PeopleForBikes is proud to announce a new partnership with The Coffee Ride, a Boulder-based coffee roaster who delivers coffee by bike, with 25% of sales from the new Better Biking Blend and Quick Brew Coffee supporting our work building more safe and connected places to ride in communities across the U.S. 

The Coffee Ride's founder, Josh Crane, didn't initially set out to build a coffee company. While working at the Pro's Closet, a pre-shift coffee ritual he and a coworker started turned an entire office around: People who used to wander in late were showing up 15 minutes early just to see what was brewing.

That small daily habit, plus a nod to his grandfather's 1950s milk delivery route, became the blueprint for The Coffee Ride. For 12 years, the company has roasted coffee and delivered it around Boulder by bike every Thursday, logging more than 30,000 miles on two wheels in that time, roughly double what the average U.S. household drives in a year.

Crane sees the partnership as a natural fit. His riders need safe, connected streets to make every delivery, and PeopleForBikes is working to build those conditions — not just in Boulder, but in communities nationwide.

"We have a business where we're working really hard to roast coffee and deliver it by bike, but we can't necessarily be out there advocating all the time,” says Crane. “What we do is roast really awesome coffee that people can get behind, and when we can support PeopleForBikes and allow you to do what you're good at, we’re helping speak up for the needs of our entire community."

He compares the model to Girl Scout cookie sales: a simple purchase that funds a cause people believe in, with a reminder built into every sip.

Crane also carries the responsibility of the riders who deliver for him every week. Boulder has strong bike infrastructure overall, he says, but a single unprotected block — a bike lane that ends at a busy road or a shoulder that simply disappears — is enough to put a rider at risk. Connected networks, not isolated bike lanes, are what actually keep people safe.

It's those critical network gaps that PeopleForBikes works to close. A route can be almost entirely protected, but a single unsafe stretch is enough to keep someone off their bike altogether. That's why PeopleForBikes’ work through programs like City Ratings and the Great Bike Infrastructure Project focuses on connected, low-stress networks — ensuring every ride feels safe from start to finish.

Great coffee and safe streets, for every kind of rider

The Coffee Ride's shop draws in mountain bikers, road riders, commuters, and more — all sitting down at the same table. Crane calls coffee the common thread that breaks down the usual divides between cycling subcultures and beyond, and he sees the same spirit in PeopleForBikes' mission of better biking for people of all ages and abilities.

"I just want more people to feel comfortable and safe, whatever their idea of riding a bicycle looks like," Crane says. "Until people feel comfortable riding wherever they are, they're never going to be able to experience what it's like to enjoy that childhood feeling of riding a bike."

Order the coffee. The Coffee Ride's Better Biking Blend and PFB Quick Brew Coffee are available now, with 25% of proceeds going directly to the PeopleForBikes Foundation. While they make local deliveries by bike, the coffee ships nationwide.

Donate. Supporting the PeopleForBikes Foundation directly funds the advocacy and infrastructure work that makes bike delivery, commuting, and daily neighborhood rides safer for everyone nationwide.

Follow along. Follow PeopleForBikes on social media to learn more about how you can take action for better biking in your community. The biggest change starts with small, local wins.

PeopleForBikes Partners With The Coffee Ride to Fund Safer Streets, One Cup at a Time

Picture a community where kids can ride safely to school, employees have a stress-free commute, and families can explore their neighborhood by bike on sunny weekends. Across the U.S., communities are making this vision a reality by investing in great places to ride, and PeopleForBikes’ City Ratings program shows where it’s working. Each year, our City Ratings scores more than 3,000 U.S. cities and towns based on the quality and connectivity of their bike networks, helping community members and decision-makers understand how easy it is to get around by bike and where improvements can make the biggest difference.

But why does this matter? Why should communities prioritize bike infrastructure in the first place? Here are six reasons why investing in great places to ride transforms lives, neighborhoods, and local economies. 

When bike infrastructure is safe and connected, it works for everyone: daily commuters, kids riding to school, older adults staying active, and families enjoying weekend outings. Whether you're biking to work or to a nearby park, safer streets make every ride more enjoyable and accessible. Investing in quality bike infrastructure like protected bike lanes, side paths, and safe intersections, reduces conflicts between road users and helps prevent crashes.

Streets with protected bike lanes experience up to 90% fewer injuries per mile compared to those without bike infrastructure.

Cities with protected bike lanes see 44% fewer fatalities for all road users and 50% fewer serious injuries.

Adding bike lanes can reduce crashes by as much as 49%.


Cycling offers a fun, low-impact way to stay active, supporting both physical and mental health. When biking is safe and enjoyable, more people choose to do it, leading to healthier lifestyles. For example, West Jefferson, North Carolina, invested $300,000 in a Complete Streets project and saved more than $2.7 million in health care costs in the first year alone.

Every $1 invested in active transportation saves $24 in averted medical costs.

People living in bike-friendly neighborhoods engage in 35–45 more minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

Proximity to trails increases the likelihood of meeting physical activity guidelines by 50% and riding a bicycle by 80%.

Youth who ride regularly report higher levels of mental well-being and spend fewer hours in front of screens.

Bike-friendly areas — both rural to urban — often see growth in small businesses, real estate value, and tourism. People riding bikes are more likely to visit local shops and restaurants, and a well-maintained bike network can boost foot traffic in commercial districts.

Great places to ride benefit not only commuters and city dwellers, but also outdoor recreationists and weekend visitors. Whether it's a local trail system, a downtown greenway, or a bike park, communities that build for biking see increased tourism, recreation spending, and demand for nearby housing and businesses.

The U.S. outdoor recreation economy generates $124.5 billion in tax revenue and supports nearly 5 million jobs, according to a 2024 Trust for Public Land report — highlighting the sector’s major role in national economic health.

Mountain biking tourists spend an average of $416 per visit, showing that trail-based recreation directly benefits local businesses and economies.

In Lancaster, California, a Complete Streets project led to a 96% increase in retail sales, demonstrating the transformative local economic impact of safer, more walkable and bikeable streets.

Protected bike lanes on 9th Avenue in NYC resulted in a 49% increase in retail sales, compared to just a 3% increase on nearby streets without the upgrades—showing the clear benefit of safe bike infrastructure for businesses.

Tourism revenue in areas with active transportation options is eight to nine times greater than the cost of infrastructure investment, according to Smart Growth America, offering a compelling case for public spending on walking and biking improvements.

Additionally, communities with higher City Ratings scores — those with robust, low-stress bike networks — often see increased sales at local bike shops, reflecting the positive economic impact of bike infrastructure.

Having the freedom to ride a bike makes it easier for people to get where they need to go, especially for short trips. In many communities, biking offers a reliable alternative to sitting in traffic or waiting for a ride, and it often costs significantly less than driving.

Safe, connected bike infrastructure gives people real choices in how they travel. And it serves all types of riders — not just those commuting to work, but also families biking to the playground or teens heading to a local park, pump track, or restaurant. When biking becomes a viable transportation and recreation option, the entire community benefits.

Fifty two percent of daily trips in the U.S. are three miles or less, a distance easily covered by bike.

In New York City, adding bike lanes reduced travel time along a key corridor by 35%.

U.S. households spend an average of $10,961 on transportation annually, making it the second-largest household expense.

One in four U.S. adults experiences transportation insecurity, often impacting low-income families.

By increasing access to low-cost modes of transportation like biking, communities can reduce household expenses and improve affordability.

Great bike infrastructure connects people to jobs, schools, parks, and transit, making opportunities more accessible for everyone. When bike networks are designed with all neighborhoods and riders in mind, they open up new possibilities, whether you’re traveling for work, heading to class, or enjoying an afternoon ride with your family.

Bike infrastructure like trails, BMX parks, and pump tracks are just as essential. These spaces offer safe and welcoming places for youth, families, and new riders to ride, learn, and build confidence, helping foster a lifelong love of biking while supporting physical and social wellbeing. 

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) found that building greenways, sidewalks, and bicycle infrastructure contributes 17 jobs per $1 million spent compared to other road and highway projects that range from 9 to 12.5 jobs created per $1 million spent.

An analysis of Complete Streets projects conducted by the National Complete Streets Coalition found:

A project in Lancaster, California, saw employment grow along the targeted corridor by 64% over three years. Comparatively, employment only increased by 3% citywide and a similar corridor that did not receive upgrades saw a decrease in employment during the same time.

In Orlando, Florida, streets with infrastructure updates saw 77 new businesses open, creating 560 jobs over seven years. 

Bicycling is one of the most efficient and low-impact ways to get around. When more people choose to bike, especially for short trips (which make up a significant percentage of all trips in the U.S.) it helps reduce air pollution, leading to cleaner, healthier air for everyone.

From work commutes to recreational trail rides, every bike trip taken instead of a car trip reduces greenhouse gas emissions. And by making biking safe and convenient for all types of riders, communities encourage more people to choose it, creating healthier environments and a better quality of life for all.

The transportation sector emits 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., making it the most significant contributor to national emissions.

Fifty two percent of all car trips made in the U.S. are three miles or less, and 28% are one mile or less. Three miles is equivalent to a 20-minute bike ride for an average person, indicating that shifting close-to-home trips from cars to bicycles is possible and can significantly reduce the number of miles driven in cars.

Shifting short car trips to walking or biking trips and using walking and biking to access public transit saves 13 million tons of CO2  emissions annually. Building additional active transportation infrastructure holds the potential to save more than 54 million tons.

Want to know how your community stacks up? PeopleForBikes’ City Ratings gives you the data. Use City Ratings to:

Explore your community’s score and see how it compares to other cities nationally and globally.

Identify where bike networks are strong and where there’s room to grow.

Support informed decisions about transportation and community planning.

Investing in great places to ride isn’t just about bikes — it’s about building communities that work for everyone. Whether you’re a weekday commuter, weekend mountain biker, small business owner, or parent teaching your child to ride, safe and connected bike infrastructure opens up countless opportunities.

From protected lanes and urban trails to pump tracks and natural surface paths, bike infrastructure creates healthier, more active, and more connected communities. No matter why you ride, great places to bike benefit us all.


Explore PeopleForBikes' City Ratings and discover how better biking can benefit your community.

As a father of three young kids, I’ve witnessed the joy that comes from bike rides to school. The kids pop out of bed early in anticipation of the morning ride, they're chatty as we slowly pedal through our neighborhood, and they call out to their friends with pride as they roll up to school under their own power. It’s a stark contrast to when drop off is done by car.

On May 6, kids across the country will have a similar experience as they participate in National Bike and Roll to School Day, an event led by the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Schools across the country are organizing group rides, bike buses, and skill-building events to make it easier and safer for students to ride. If your school is interested in joining, you can register your event to be added to the national map of Bike and Roll festivities.

But getting kids to ride to school on one day a year isn’t the end goal. The real opportunity is what happens next. When riding feels safe, fun, and accessible, families start to choose it more often because it adds real value to their daily lives.

So what does it take to make that possible?

As a parent, I know there are a lot of factors that go into deciding how my kids get to school, but one stands out above the rest: safety. PeopleForBikes participation research shows that 62% of Americans would ride more often if safe, connected infrastructure separated them from cars.

Everyone who has commuted by bike knows that your trip usually isn’t defined by the best part of your commute, but the worst part. If there is even one segment that feels unsafe or unrideable, it ruins the experience and will make you rethink taking that route again.

That’s why at PeopleForBikes we firmly believe that to grow youth ridership, we need to continue focusing on infrastructure that connects kids to the places they want to go — school, parks, ice cream, and more!

Our team is working diligently to improve the future of bicycling by creating the systems to accelerate the construction of safe places to ride. Key programs like City Ratings and the Great Bike Infrastructure Project help identify network gaps as well as projects coming down the pipeline that can improve those networks.

This critical infrastructure won’t fund itself, which is why PeopleForBikes continues to advocate for federal, state, and local funding. Congress is expected to release a major federal infrastructure bill in the coming weeks, and PeopleForBikes has lobbied lawmakers for months to ensure this bill includes funding for safe places for kids to ride.  At the state and local level, PeopleForBikes is supporting more than 100 bills and ballot initiatives across the country to help communities build the types of networks that families trust.

That work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Partners like the Safe Routes Partnership are helping communities create safer pathways for kids to get to school, while organizations like IMBA are expanding access to trails and off-road riding opportunities. Together, these efforts are building the safe and connected networks that make riding possible in the first place.

Another important piece of this ride-to-school puzzle is the programming that’s taking place in communities across the country to give kids the confidence, skills, and exposure they need to ride more often. The goal isn’t just for kids to ride to school, but to use the bike as a freedom machine to get wherever they want to go.

Over the last several years, a group of youth-focused organizations has collaborated to help accelerate that work. The Youth Cycling Coalition (YCC) includes 18 national organizations working to support riders from their first ride through high school graduation. As the convener of the YCC, PeopleForBikes is dedicated to connecting these organizations, aligning their efforts, and helping more kids access the programs that build confidence on a bike.

Supporting this programming will develop the next generation of riders by connecting them to opportunities to learn how to ride, practice their skills, and gain the confidence to navigate their communities by bike. Whether it’s learning to balance for the first time, riding in a group with friends, or participating in a bike bus to school, these experiences help turn a one-time ride into a regular habit.

To better understand how these programs compliment one another, we recently developed a Youth Cycling Coalition Program Diagram that illustrates how organizations across the coalition support youth at different stages of their rider journey. From first ride to riding independently to school and beyond, the pathway is clearer and more inclusive than ever.

For families looking to get started, the Youth Cycling Coalition map serves as a national entry point to find local riding opportunities. Regardless of what type of riding your kids like to do, the map helps connect kids to the people and places that make riding possible.

I’ve personally experienced the transformative impact the bicycle can have on one person’s life. Now, I’m excited my kids' generation will have the opportunity to experience that same shift in how they see and interact with the world.

When New York City installed protected bike lanes on 9th Avenue, something remarkable happened: injuries for all street users fell by 58%. Across NYC corridors with protected bike lanes, pedestrian injury rates have dropped by 12 to 52% depending on the corridor. These infrastructure improvements aren't just making streets safer for cyclists — they're protecting everyone who uses our roads.

Protected bike lanes do more than separate cyclists from cars. They fundamentally reshape how streets function, creating multiple safety benefits for pedestrians as well as people riding bikes. By placing a physical barrier between the bike lane and vehicle traffic, these designs shorten crossing distances at intersections. That means instead of navigating across multiple lanes of mixed traffic, pedestrians cross distinct, predictable zones.

The safety improvements are dramatic. Streets with protected bike lanes in New York City typically see injury crashes drop by 40% for all road users — drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Some locations have recorded reductions exceeding 50%. A comprehensive study across 12 large U.S. cities found that streets with protected bike lanes had 44% fewer deaths and 50% fewer serious injuries compared to average American streets.

These lanes also reduce turning conflicts at intersections. When cyclists have their own protected space, drivers making turns have clearer sightlines and fewer potential collision points. The result is less traffic weaving, fewer sudden movements, and more predictable street behavior — all factors that directly benefit pedestrian safety.

Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco demonstrate what's possible when cities commit to protected infrastructure. Portland's fatality rate dropped 75% between 1990 and 2010 as the city built out its protected bike network. Seattle saw a 60.6% decline, while San Francisco recorded a 49.3% reduction in fatal crashes during similar periods of infrastructure investment.

The key to these successes lies in thinking about the broader network. Cities that connect protected bike lanes into comprehensive networks see exponentially better results than those installing isolated segments. Evidence from Austin, Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. shows ridership gains of 21 to 171% when protected lanes connect into networks — with proportional safety improvements following.

Philadelphia offers another compelling example. After expanding its protected bike lane network, the city saw a 95% increase in ridership. More cyclists using protected infrastructure means fewer riding on sidewalks — New York City documented sidewalk riding dropping by up to 84% after installing protected lanes, directly enhancing pedestrian safety.

Not all bike lanes deliver equal safety benefits. A 13-year analysis of more than 17,000 fatalities and 77,000 severe injuries across major U.S. cities revealed that only physically separated protected bike lanes improve safety. Painted lanes showed no benefit — and in some cases increased risk compared to unmarked roads. The distinction is crucial: physical separation changes driver behavior and creates genuine protection.

Research from the University of Colorado Denver and University of New Mexico, with findings highlighted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, confirms that cities with more protected bike lane footage per square mile experience fewer fatalities and serious injuries across all road users. However, the study also highlighted that design quality matters. Lanes with frequent driveway crossings, like Washington D.C.'s 15th Street NW, pose higher risks than fully separated or raised designs.

The most effective protected bike lanes use concrete barriers, planters, or parked cars as buffers — not just flexible posts. These robust separations cut cyclist-motorist crashes by 53% while reducing injuries for all street users. Streets with these high-quality protected lanes experience 28% fewer injuries per mile than those without any bike infrastructure.

Despite overwhelming evidence, some community members worry that bike lanes make streets more dangerous. The data tells a different story. New York City's comprehensive analysis shows protected lanes reduce total deaths and serious injuries by 18.1%. For pedestrians specifically, these lanes cut deaths and serious injuries by 29.1%, with an even more impressive 39% reduction for seniors.

This safety improvement extends beyond direct infrastructure benefits. Protected bike lanes calm traffic speeds, encourage more predictable driver behavior, and create visual cues that remind all road users to stay alert. They transform chaotic, multi-use spaces into organized corridors where each mode of transportation has its designated place.

An April 2025 analysis of protected bike lane impacts reinforced these findings, directly countering narratives that bike infrastructure endangers streets. As cities expand these networks using federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're seeing consistent safety improvements across diverse urban environments.

For advocates and community members pushing for safer streets, the evidence provides a clear roadmap. Focus on building connected networks rather than isolated lanes. Push for physically separated designs with robust barriers. Use city-specific data in local campaigns — statistics from peer cities can be powerful tools for change.

When engaging with local officials, emphasize that protected bike lanes aren't just cycling infrastructure, they're comprehensive safety improvements that benefit all road users, especially pedestrians. The 44% reduction in deaths and 50% drop in serious injuries across 12 major cities represents thousands of lives saved and injuries prevented.

Protected bike lanes represent one of the most effective tools we have for creating safer streets. The data from cities across the country proves that when we give each mode of transportation its own protected space, everyone benefits — especially our most vulnerable road users.

A.J. Bruning is a personal injury attorney at Bruning Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri.

Why Protected Bike Lanes Are Good for All Road Users

Amazon’s recent decision to stop selling high-speed electric motorcycles (e-motos) in California marks a significant shift in how major retailers, and the broader market, are responding to the growing safety and regulatory challenges surrounding e-motos. The move comes after a series of high-profile incidents, including the tragic death of an 81-year-old man in Orange County after being struck by a teenager riding an illegal e-moto. Amazon’s decision also follows a recent consumer alert issued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several district attorneys clarifying that many vehicles being marketed as e-bikes do not meet legal definitions and are, in fact, mopeds or motorcycles subject to stricter requirements. PeopleForBikes commends the leadership of California Attorney General Rob Bonta in addressing the sale of electric vehicles marketed as e-bikes that exceed the legal speed or power limits set by both federal and California law. We also recognize Amazon for moving quickly to align its marketplace with these laws.

This development underscores PeopleForBikes’ leadership to better define and regulate e-motos and their sellers. In recent years, PeopleForBikes has worked closely with policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to help clarify the distinction between electric bicycles and higher-powered e-motos, supporting consistent definitions that protect the integrity of the three-class system. Through this ongoing engagement, PeopleForBikes helped elevate the issue across jurisdictions and ensure that emerging policies are grounded in safety, clarity, and real-world use. 

The deceptive blurring of lines between compliant electric bicycles and high-powered e-motos is creating real safety risks and reputational challenges for electric bicycles. The consumer alert explicitly called out the mislabeling of products, noting that vehicles exceeding 20 mph via throttle or 28 mph via pedal assist fall outside the definition of an e-bike. These e-moto products are often marketed as legal for younger riders to use on the street, when they are actually subject to motor vehicle requirements including registration, operator licensing, and insurance. With injuries and fatalities from e-moto crashes rising sharply, the urgency to address this issue has reached a critical tipping point.

Amazon’s action is an important signal that the market is beginning to correct and it raises the stakes for manufacturers who are marketing and selling e-motos. Retailers, manufacturers, and marketplaces now face increased scrutiny around product compliance, labeling, and consumer education. This is a clear opportunity for the bicycle industry to reinforce the integrity of the three-class system, differentiate compliant products from illegal ones, and advocate for stronger enforcement of existing laws. It also highlights the importance of working collectively — across industry, policymakers, and enforcement agencies — to ensure the market for safe, legal e-bikes can continue to grow without being undermined by non-compliant vehicles.

Electric bicycles deliver enormous benefits for mobility, sustainability, and access in communities across the country, but those gains are at risk if the market continues to be flooded with e-moto products that do not meet basic safety and regulatory standards. Amazon’s decision is a step in the right direction. As the bicycle industry, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to build on this momentum and ensure a safer, clearer path forward. PeopleForBikes looks forward to continuing to work with states, attorneys general, and retailers to build on this momentum and advance clear, consistent standards so consumers can trust that any product sold as an e-bike truly meets that definition.

Amazon Decision Signals a Turning Point for the E-Moto Problem and a Critical Moment for the Bicycle Industry

Every five to six years, Congress passes legislation to reauthorize federal surface transportation funding programs. For more than a year, congressional lawmakers in both the House and the Senate have been working on bipartisan proposals to reauthorize federal funding for roads, bridges, and transit systems, as well as bike infrastructure like trails, protected bike lanes, and multi-use paths that directly drive ridership, retail demand, and long-term growth for the U.S. bicycle market. The last major infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), contained major wins for bikes thanks to the work of PeopleForBikes and our partners.

PeopleForBikes is once again leading the bike industry’s federal advocacy strategy, working to continue the momentum gained through the IIJA. Since early 2025, our team has lobbied lawmakers to include critical infrastructure funding and policies that support: 

High-quality, modern bicycle infrastructure that boosts local economies, reduces congestion, and improves safety and public health 

Efficiency and modernization improvements to key programs that streamline project delivery and accelerate progress

Congressman Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and lead author of the bill, is expected to release and begin markup of the bill in early-to-mid May. If that happens, the next 60 to 90 days will determine what bike infrastructure funding and policies make it into the final bill.

Lawmakers are still negotiating major policy provisions in the bill, and it remains unclear whether they will meet the mid-May target. While Congress must reauthorize surface transportation programs before they expire on September 30, 2026, a short-term extension of current law is increasingly likely. Lawmakers are still grappling with several long-standing and unresolved issues including identifying a sustainable funding source and broader disagreements about transportation priorities. These challenges are compounded by a packed legislative calendar and the approaching midterm elections.

An extension would maintain current funding levels established under the IIJA, likely ensuring that communities across the country can continue building bike lanes, trails, and connected networks without interruption. Additional time could also allow lawmakers to strengthen key programs and policies, helping deliver a final bill after the mid-term elections that better supports safe, connected places to ride and long-term growth in the U.S. bicycle market.

Although we do not yet know what will be in the bill, PeopleForBikes has pressured lawmakers to include funding for key programs, such as the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program. 

House lawmakers recently introduced three more bills central to PeopleForBikes’ federal infrastructure policy agenda that will create more places to ride. These bills are under consideration for adoption into the broader surface transportation reauthorization package:  

Active Transportation for Public Lands Act (H.R. 8514)

Expands access to biking and walking in national parks and public lands by funding new and improved trails and bike paths. This bill will unlock expanded outdoor recreation economies, boost demand for bike tourism, and create more high-quality places to ride in some of the country’s most visited destinations.

Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act (H.R. 8565)

Strengthens and expands the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) to fund connected, protected bike networks in communities nationwide. By making biking a viable transportation option, this bill will directly drive ridership growth, increase bike sales, and support long-term market expansion for the bicycle industry.

Parks to People Active Transportation Act (H.R. 7751)

Invests in greenways and trail connections that link neighborhoods to parks, jobs, and essential destinations. By improving network connectivity and access to safe places to ride, this bill will help build more bike-friendly communities, increase bicycling participation for both transportation and recreation, and expand the customer base for bike businesses.

A Critical Bill at a Critical Moment for Bike Businesses

Communities across the country have made huge strides in recent years to expand access to safe places to ride a bike. While growth in bike lanes and trails has come thanks to a mix of federal, state, and local investments, federal funding — especially in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill — is critical to continuing this momentum. Where people can safely ride bikes, they buy bikes: PeopleForBikes’ data demonstrates that communities with better bike networks have more bike shops and higher sales. As our industry continues to navigate evolving consumer demand and a challenging trade environment, it is crucial that we continue to boost demand for bicycling by creating more places to enjoy the many benefits of riding a bike.

With lawmakers targeting to introduce this bill by mid-May, it is critical that Congress hears from members of the bike industry about how important their support for pro-bike infrastructure policies is to your business.

Now is the time to speak up. Contact your senators and representatives and make it clear to them that investing in bike infrastructure is investing in American communities, public safety, and economic growth. Reach out to PeopleForBikes Director of Federal Policy Chris Bell at chris@peopleforbikes.org if you would like additional assistance contacting your elected officials. 

What the Federal Transportation Bill Means for Bike Infrastructure and the U.S. Bicycle Industry

Last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize federal transportation funding programs for five years. The 1,005-page bill includes major investments in roads, bridges, transit, and bicycle infrastructure.

The legislation would directly impact federal funding for bike lanes, trails, greenways, and transportation safety programs across the country. PeopleForBikes and our partners spent the past year advocating to preserve and strengthen key bicycle infrastructure and safety programs included in the bill. Learn more about PeopleForBikes efforts to shape the bill here.

The last surface transportation reauthorization bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, included big wins for bicycling thanks to the work of PeopleForBikes and our partners.

Federal transportation policy shapes how communities fund bike lanes, trails, connected active transportation networks, and roadway safety improvements. The next transportation bill will influence billions of dollars in future investment — affecting riders and local communities for years to come. Federal investment in bike infrastructure also plays a significant role in expanding ridership, improving access, and supporting long-term growth for the U.S. bicycle industry.

Key Bike Infrastructure and Safety Provisions in the BUILD America 250 Act

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)

What it is: TAP is the nation’s largest dedicated federal funding source for bike lanes, trails, sidewalks, and active transportation infrastructure.

What changed: The BUILD America 250 Act reauthorizes TAP at an average of $1.6 billion annually, a modest increase over current funding levels. However, the bill also makes it easier for states to transfer TAP funding away from bike and pedestrian projects.

Why it matters: TAP is one of the most important federal programs supporting local bike infrastructure projects nationwide. Changes to the program could directly impact future investment in connected bike networks and safer streets.

PeopleForBikes’ position: Preserving and increasing TAP funding is a top PeopleForBikes priority. We support the funding increase but remain concerned about provisions that could weaken long-term protections for bike infrastructure funding.

What it is: The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program funds local transportation safety planning and infrastructure projects aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

What changed: The bill reauthorizes the program at $3.75 billion over five years, slightly below IIJA funding levels. It also shifts the program towards implementation projects and lowers local cost-share burdens for communities.

Why it matters: SS4A has become one of the most important federal funding sources for bike safety improvements and Vision Zero initiatives across the country.

PeopleForBikes’ position: PeopleForBikes strongly supports continued funding for SS4A alongside efforts to make the program more accessible for local communities building safer bike infrastructure.

What it is: RTP funds the development and maintenance of trails, greenways, and off-road active transportation infrastructure.

What changed: The bill reauthorizes RTP at $84 million annually and includes language clarifying that electric bicycles are allowed on non-motorized RTP-funded trails.

Why it matters: RTP supports access to trails and outdoor recreation nationwide, while the e-bike clarification provides additional certainty for riders and land managers.

PeopleForBikes’ position: PeopleForBikes supports RTP reauthorization and advocated for the inclusion of e-bike access language in the bill.

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

What it is: HSIP is the federal government’s core transportation safety funding program.

What changed: The bill increases HSIP funding and retains IIJA requirements directing high-risk states to invest more resources into vulnerable road user safety.

Why it matters: HSIP funding helps communities address dangerous road conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians.

People for Bikes

Building and Improving Access to Great Places to Bike

PeopleForBikes at Work on Bike Safety

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