12% of all trips made in the U.S. are by biking or walking (over 4 billion per year!), yet only 1.5% of federal transportation funding is spent on biking and walking. Currently Congress is contemplating new transportation laws that would cut that minimal funding for sidewalks and bike paths and programs like Safe Routes to School, however, a recent survey has found that the majority of Americans want to increase or maintain the current levels of funding for bicycle and pedestrian pathways.
1,003 adults from around the U.S. were asked their opinions on federal funding for bike lanes, bike paths and sidewalks. Across lines of geography, gender, age, race, education, political views and income levels the vast majority–83%–want to increase or at least maintain current levels of funding.
If you haven’t already, please sign our Bike Lane Request Form and Survey to let our city know that we want safer streets.
Go the extra mile–call New York State Senator Chuck Schumer at (212) 486-4430 and urge him to pass a transportation bill that preserves funding for important bicycling and walking programs.
Talking Points:
- Over 3,000 pedestrians died in New York between 2001 and 2010
- In Erie County in 2010 alone, 5% of crashes involved bicyclists yet disproportionately included 31% of all injuries and fatalities
- Local communities must have access to funds to ensure safe biking and walking conditions are provided
- Having built communities with unsafe streets, it would be cruel for Congress to take away resources to improve biking and walking conditions and save lives