Let's fund the trails transformation we need
Nearly half of the trips Americans take are within a 20-minute bike ride; more than one-fifth are a 20-minute walk - but more than 40% of Americans lack access to safe walking and biking routes near home.
Connecting pedestrian and bike trails within and across communities will make it easier, safer, cleaner, and more efficient for people of all ages and abilities to get where they need to go -- without needing a car. Through the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill, Congress has the opportunity to support four key initiatives for bike, pedestrian and wheelchair-friendly infrastructure. These initiatives can help us support close-to-home recreation, trail infrastructure, and safe commuting nationwide:
- Reauthorizing the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), which helps communities build connected trails systems so people can get where they want to go safely by foot, bike or wheelchair;
- Funding the Transportation Alternatives Program, which supports trail maintenance, technical assistance and metropolitan planning in every state;
- Funding the Recreational Trails Program, which funds the development and maintenance of recreational trails; and
- Passing the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act, which increases safety measures for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
We need Congress to support robust funding and implementation for these critical programs.