Federal law regarding bicycle and pedestrian accommodation

Federal transportation law affects state, regional, and local planning to a great degree. Federal law has a lot to say about bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. These laws apply whenever federal funds are used on a road project--meaning that they apply for almost every major road project, local, county, state, and federal.

MBF has created a nearly complete list of federal laws that might affect local, regional, and state planning and road projects.

Some of the more important points:

• Each state shall have a bicycle/pedestrian coordinator
  
• Bicyclists and pedestrians shall be given due consideration in all state and metropolitan transportation plans.
  
• Bicycle and pedestrian accommodations should be considered on roads where they are allowed to travel, when those roads are constructed or reconstructed. Accommodation is not absolutely required, but at least consideration of whether or not such accommodations are appropriate is required.
  
• "Transportation plans and projects shall provide due consideration for safety and contiguous routes for bicyclists and pedestrians." No wiggle room there . . .
  
• Scenic Byway funds can be used to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities along scenic byways.
  
• Statewide and metro-wide planning must consider bicycle facilities and pedestrian walkways as part of an integrated multimodal transportation system. Plans must include specific strategies to increase safety of nonmotorized transportation, increase mobility options, and improve quality of life.
  
• Plans must solicit and consider broad-based public input and interests and concerns of elected officials of local governments.

There is much more here that can be used to inform local advocates and planners about the obligation to consider the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in planning and projects.