Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations: What did Congress intend with Tea-21?

Is your local department of transportation or public works department still building roads, highways, and bridges that are not bike/ped friendly? If federal funds are involved in the construction--almost always the case in large projects involving major roads--here is what the U.S. Department of Transportation says is required, in Accommodating Bicycle and Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach:

* Congress clearly intends for bicyclists and pedestrians to have safe, convenient access to the transportation system and sees every transportation improvement as an opportunity to enhance the safety and convenience of the two modes.

* "Due consideration" of bicycle and pedestrian needs should include, at a minimum, a presumption that bicyclists and pedestrians will be accommodated in the design of new and improved transportation facilities.

* To varying extents, bicyclists and pedestrians will be present on all highways and transportation facilities where they are permitted and it is clearly the intent of TEA-21 that all new and improved transportation facilities be planned, designed and constructed with this fact in mind.

* The decision not to accommodate [bicyclists and pedestrians] should be the exception rather than the rule. There must be exceptional circumstances for denying bicycle and pedestrian access either by prohibition or by designing highways that are incompatible with safe, convenient walking and bicycling.

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