The America Bikes Act Bolsters Safety, Increases Access to Bikes, Onshores Bike Manufacturing
WASHINGTON — Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus Congressmen Vern Buchanan and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) announced the introduction of the America Bikes Act (H.R. 9041), comprehensive bipartisan legislation that will bolster cyclist safety, increase access to bikes and bring bike manufacturing back to the United States.
“Investing in safe, reliable transportation is essential for families, workers and seniors across Florida’s 16th District and communities nationwide,” said Buchanan. “That is why, as co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, I joined Rep. Mike Thompson to introduce the bipartisan America Bikes Act. This legislation delivers stronger investments in bicycle infrastructure and expands access to safer transportation networks. From neighborhood streets to daily commutes, bicycles remain a simple and effective way for Americans to get around, and this bill will support practical improvements that reduce congestion, improve mobility and keep cyclists safe.”
“Cycling is good for people and good for our planet. It just makes sense that we’d invest in expanding bike access and road safety so more Americans can benefit from cycling,” said Thompson. “As Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus and an avid cyclist myself, I know that these sensible measures will improve and expand access to safe, healthy transportation for decades to come. I’m honored to work with Rep. Vern Buchanan on this landmark legislation.”
The America Bikes Act is landmark legislation designed to support and expand cycling across the nation by tackling safety, access and manufacturing challenges all in one bill. This bill includes cycling provisions previously introduced by Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.).
Buchanan and Thompson’s legislation improves cyclist safety by expanding access to federal funding for local governments to improve roadway safety for bicyclists and pedestrians; helping local, regional and Tribal governments fund safety action plans and infrastructure projects aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries; and making bike safety education a standard part of youth learning nationwide and expanding access to funding for on-bicycle education to elementary and secondary school students.
The bill also encourages more people to bike by improving access to programs that help kids safely bike and walk to school, expanding biking and walking infrastructure on federal lands, and reauthorizing federal funding for communities to plan, design and build walking and biking infrastructure. It expands incentives so more Americans switch to bicycle commuting and creates a grant program to connect biking and transit stations, including supporting bike parking at transit stations and expansion of bikeshare programs.
Furthermore, it creates incentives to manufacture bikes in the United States, supporting American manufacturing and creating jobs. Earlier this congress, Buchanan and Thompson introduced the U.S. Bicycle Production and Assembly Act (H.R. 3904) to provide a temporary suspension of tariffs on imported bicycle components if those components are used to assemble bikes in the U.S.
The America Bikes Act is endorsed by leading cyclist and road safety organizations, including The League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, PeopleForBikes, Safe Routes Partnership, National Bicycle Dealers Association and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
“With the America Bikes Act, Congressional Bike Caucus Chairs Mike Thompson and Vern Buchanan are celebrating the freedom bicycling brings to people and communities. The League believes life is better for everyone when more people can ride bikes and this bill represents a number of common sense initiatives to ensure our transportation system is safe and accessible to everyone,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director, League of American Bicyclists.
“Every child deserves the freedom to safely walk, bike, and roll to school and around their community. We applaud the Congressional Bike Caucus for introducing the bipartisan America Bikes Act, which includes language to restore statewide Safe Routes to School coordinators, a proven investment that helps communities make it easier, safer, and more joyful for kids to get where they need to go,” said Marisa Jones, Executive Director, Safe Routes Partnership.
“This bipartisan bill combines effective safety measures and critical reforms to funding programs that together will deliver the safe and practical bicycling routes that Americans demand and need for both daily transportation and healthy recreation,” said Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
“The America Bikes Act is a major step forward for the bike industry and the millions of Americans who want safer, better places to ride. By investing in connected bike infrastructure and supporting domestic bicycle manufacturing, this legislation will help more people ride bikes more often, strengthen the U.S. bike economy, create American jobs, and improve the health and safety of communities across the country. We thank Congressman Thompson and Congressman Buchanan for their leadership and commitment to expanding access to bicycling nationwide,” said Jenn Dice, President and CEO, PeopleForBikes.
“This bill is a game-changer for America’s bicycle retailers and the industry as a whole. The reinstatement of the employer-provided bicycle commuting benefit means more Americans will have a real financial incentive to commute by bike, and that translates directly into more customers walking through the doors of local bicycle shops. The suspension of duties on bicycle assembly parts lowers costs for domestic manufacturers, strengthens our supply chain, and helps American businesses compete. When paired with the $500 million annual investment in active transportation infrastructure and the Bicycle Transit Integration Grant Program, this package creates the conditions for a true cycling renaissance in the United States. The NBDA stands fully behind this bill and urges its swift passage,” said Heather Mason, Executive Director, National Bicycle Dealers Association.
###
