U.S. Conference of Mayors adopts "Bicycle-Friendly Communities" resolution

Just in time for the July 4 "take the Mayor for a ride", the US Conference of Mayors just adopted the resolution reproduced below. The resolution was adopted at the 71st annual meeting of the group in Denver, CO. Special thanks are due to the wonderful Mayor of Santa Barbara, Mayor Marty Blum, who introduced the resolution. The resolution was adopted unanimously in committee with Mayors from Houston, Indianapolis, Redmond, Schaumburg, Lauderhill making a particular point of supporting it during a brief discussion.

(go to www.mayors.org for more details of the meeting and the Conference of Mayors.)

Andy Clarke


Bicycle Friendly Communities

1. WHEREAS, an estimated 61 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese, and 13 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, due in large part to a lack of regular physical activity; and

2. WHEREAS, half of all trips in urban areas are three miles or less and more than one quarter are less than one mile in length; and

3. WHEREAS, short motor vehicle trips are the most environmentally damaging and contribute most to global climate change; and

4. WHEREAS, bicycling is a clean, efficient, healthy, economical, and accessible means of recreation and transportation with a wide variety of associated benefits to individuals and society at large; and

5. WHEREAS, bicycling also has the potential to play a significant transportation role in U.S. cities and to reduce the number and impact of motor vehicle trips; and

6. WHEREAS, many mayors are already pursuing policies and programs to improve conditions for bicycling,

7. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on cities and communities to promote increased, safe bicycle use for transportation and recreation and to adopt the goals laid out in the National Strategies to Advance Bicycle Safety, adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June 2000; and

8. BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors will work with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and national bicycle user groups to develop a more detailed action plan for cities and communities to follow to become more bicycle-friendly and that this action plan be presented at the First International Symposium on Bicycle Friendly Communities in March 2004; and

9. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the continued broad eligibility of Federal funds for bicycle programs and projects.