Our Vision
This idea is the moonshot for the 21st century. We’re working to re-imagine transportation in the United States, to make bicycling: safe, normal, easy, accessible and our preferred option. The positive effects on our lives, environment, local economies, and health are just a few of the great benefits we will gain as a result of thinking big.
The Change We Need
As society evolves and we feel the impacts of climate change, we must accelerate our actions in reversing global warming. Likewise, our relationship to those systems which directly impact global warming must also change. One such important system is transportation.
The emissions from transportation are one of the largest contributors to climate destabilization. The United States must proactively rethink how we view, use, and define transportation mediums and alternatives.
Time is of the essence in achieving carbon negative. Because systemic problems require systemic solutions, we must begin to embrace collaboration and innovation to succeed.
The costs incurred by the 2021 Texas winter storm and the California wildfires alone could pay for bicycling transportation programs. It will be less expensive to solve climate change than to pay for the losses of life, property and place caused by it.
Driving this imperative:
The impacts and costs of global warming GHGE, sulfur dioxide (SOx), nitrogen dioxide (NOx) and other pollutants
The catastrophic impacts (short and long-term) of the 2019 global pandemic
Social justice initiatives designed to foster equality and parity
Western health crises fueled by diabetes and heart disease
Being the Change We Need
Our goal is to create a new Bicycling Administration within the Department of Transportation to foster the normalization and evolution of biking as a sustainable, safe, and easy mode of transportation, enabling many, many more people to ride.
Moonshot Bicycling Initiative
Allocate
funding for bicycle infrastructure, road responsibility, rights and safety education, free Learn to Ride courses for children and adults, bike and e-bike rebates, include everyone in the Bicycle Commuter ACT, regardless of employment, expanded Safe Routes to Schools program and more.
Build
a solid foundation for Communities to ensure bike infrastructure is safe and accessible for everyone. Move from the old paradigm of relying on individual responsibility for safety, to creating streets that reduce the risks of human error and failings.
Educate & Expand
via a national public relations campaign to spread the word about biking, education programs, bike and e-bike rebates, and Bicycle Commuter Assistance programs. It's easier and more efficient to learn good habits from the start, than to break bad habits and learn good ones.
New DOT Bicycling Administration
1
New Dedicated Biking Administration
Reduce influence of car-centric thinking and shift to engineering-led and data-driven approaches.
2
Active Stance on Bicycling for Transportation
Attract new riders with engineered safe roadway designs, and create publicity campaigns to promote the benefits of bicycling for transportation and health.
3
Innovative Insight with Biking Engineers
Staff the administration with bike-centric engineers to employ a more human-centered design approach in the creation of safe, sustainable infrastructure.
4
Sufficient Funding for Required Changes & Growth
Enact protective legislation and provide funding for large-scale, quantifiable changes.
Goals & Benefits
GOALS
Promote/normalize biking for transportation – a transportation option that accommodates a changing demographic, many of whom do not drive
Establish national bike and e-bike rebate program to drive adoption and accessibility in urban, suburban and rural communities
Make The Bicycle Commuter Benefit Program available to all, regardless of employment type/status, and expand rebate purchase options to include all bikes
Encourage e-bike transportation for errands, commuting, taking kids to school, etc.
Reduce dependency on vehicles, including electric vehicles, thereby reducing the enormous resources used to power and produce them
Reduce carbon emissions (additional 600 million metric tons per year), with 49% biking mode, through the promotion/use of minimal footprint transportation options
Integrate different transportation modalities through coordination of various DOT departments/administrations
Establish new national safety regulations regarding bike lane widths, safety signals, etc.
Improve and modernize road infrastructure through the inclusion of bicycle lanes, protected bike lanes, and paths and tracks for all future road and bridge repair and building projects
Create and distribute road safety education program for all road users, including motorists
Create a cooperative, multi-modality, transportation culture through safety initiatives, education and incentives
Establish ”Learn to Ride” programs for all ages
BENEFITS
Align Pandemic Recovery with innovative Transportation Policies suited to address the current challenges
Foster innovation and sustained demand in the multi-billion-dollar bike industry
Provide an opportunity for growth for the 7000+ local bike shops in the United States—a job generator
Reduce greenhouse gas production and fossil fuel extraction
Alleviate traffic congestion
Provide a low-cost, high-impact systemic solution for the peril of global warming
Reduce the wear and tear on current infrastructure by reducing auto traffic through biking for transportation initiatives and programs
Provide standardized regulation recommendations by subject matter experts
Provide increased access to bikes, bike safety and infrastructure for urban, suburban and rural communities
Facilitate access to a low-cost transportation alternative
Create a cooperative transportation culture through education of all road users
Foster a biking culture that is open and inclusive to all via national bike safety education program
Enable biodiversity and land preservation
Reduce leapfrog effect and habitat loss by reducing funding to expand freeways and highways
Enable Millions More People
to Bike Through Access
Bicycling is Booming
Bicycling in the United States is booming because of Covid-19. Let's expand it into a sustainable transportation boom with a national biking campaign to normalize biking as transportation while greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE).
The Joy of Riding is Real
Most people say riding a bike feels like flying. It's one of the few activities that has a strong social/communal component, as well as significant physical and mental health benefits. We gain strength, confidence and health while we make a positive impact on ourselves, our community, and our planet.
A Path is Attainable
What does the path to more people on bikes in the United States look like? We begin to influence and change attitudes, choices and behaviors with low-barrier access to affordable biking. We build safe bike infrastructure and promote road safety education. In a relatively short period, we can achieve significant impacts
Diversity & Inclusion
Empowerment Through Action
Bicycling must be made safe and welcoming for BIPOC to ensure we meet the needs of all communities.
Input and collaboration from these communities to address the impact of systemic racism in the bike world are essential for success. Equally important, the image of bicycling as the activity of white men must change to include riders of all races, backgrounds, and genders.
Conclusion
Adopting these policies now will significantly help to reduce greenhouse gasses, create jobs, positively impact public health and reduce spending in areas that increase GHGE. Together we can forge a healthier, more enjoyable path forward one ride at a time.