American Bicyclist - Summer 2019

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SOLUTI O N

RESU LT

Bicycle Commuter Act

+ Reinstate bike commuter benefit

H.R. 1507, the Bicycle Commuter Act, would make up to $53/month in tax benefits available to bike commuters, including those using bikeshare and e-bikes. Bike commuters would also be able to combine the benefit with parking and transit benefits for more freedom of choice.

+ Allow combining with parking and transit benefits

SOLUTI O N

RESU LT

Transportation Alternatives Enhancement Act

+ Big impacts on how well local governments can access and utilize federal funding to build better infrastructure for biking and walking

In April, Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced S.1098, the Transportation Alternatives Enhancements Act, which would make a number of improvements to Transportation Alternatives that would empower local leadership to direct spending on bike and pedestrian projects.

SOLUTI O N

RESU LT

SAFE Streets Act

+ Improve safety funding

In May, following the League's congressional testimony and lobbying, Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Adriano Espaillat (NY13) introduced H.R. 3040, the Safe and Friendly for the Environment Streets Act, or the SAFE Streets Act. This would create a special rule for Highway Safety Improvement Program funding to require places with an above average number of crashes impacting people who bike, walk, or roll to spend those safety funds on reducing the danger faced by vulnerable road users.

+ Require states’ spending on safety to match the rates of fatalties on their roads + Improves infrastructure for vulnerable road users

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