Conference of Mayors Adopts Bicycling Resolution

According to the League of American Bicyclists:

This morning, June 23, the Conference of Mayors passed and adopted a resolution that bicycling should be integrated into the United States’ transportation, climate, energy and health policy initiatives. It got widespread support from the mayors, including more than 25 mayors who signed on to co-sponsors the bill. Chris Koos, the mayor of Normal, Ill., originated the popular resolution. The resolution is similar to the "National Bike Bill", sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2008.

Below is the full text of the resolution adopted by the US Conference of Mayors last weekend. Too bad there are no mayors from Missouri listed as co-sponsors . . .

UPDATE: Mayor Darwin Hindman of Columbia was among the co-sponsors. Mayor Hindman was also elected to the U.S. Council of Mayors Advisory Board where, he says, "I intend to influence the organization to move up active living, including bicycling of course, on priority."

ENSURING BICYCLING IS INTEGRATED INTO NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION, CLIMATE, ENERGY AND HEALTH POLICY INITIATIVES

WHEREAS, bicycling can provide multiple and cross-cutting
benefits in U.S policy initiatives that seek to address
transportation needs, limit climate change and energy
consumption and improve public health; and

WHEREAS, we now live in a nation with 300 million people, and
that number is expected to grow to 365 million by 2030 and to
420 million by 2050 with the vast majority of that growth
occurring in congested urban areas where there are significant
limitations on accommodating increased motor vehicle travel; and

WHEREAS, since 1980, the number of miles Americans drive has
grown three times faster than the U.S. population; and

WHEREAS, a national transportation system that invests in and is
conducive to bicycling reduces traffic congestion in our most
heavily congested urban areas while promoting an overall
improved quality of life that is valuable for the Nation; As
example: More than 200 cities throughout the U.S., representing
more than 35 million people have committed to implementing
bicycle friendly action plans to make their communities more
bicycle friendly; and

WHEREAS, the greatest potential for increased bicycle usage is
in our major urban areas where 40 percent of trips are two miles
or less and 28 percent are less than one mile; and

WHEREAS, surveys show that a majority of people want to ride
more but are dissuaded by concern over traffic danger and other
barriers, and case studies have shown that when those barriers
to bicycling are removed, people start riding; and

WHEREAS, a national network of interconnected urban and rural
bikeways can provide valuable community benefits, including low
or no-cost recreation and alternative transportation options for
people of all ages and abilities; and

WHEREAS, the transportation sector contributes one-third of the
greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and passenger
automobiles and light trucks alone contribute 21 percent; and

WHEREAS, Ten percent of global oil production goes solely toward
fueling America’s cars and trucks and the U.S. could save 462
millions of gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling
from one percent to one and a half percent of all trips; and

WHEREAS, bicycle commuters annually save on average $1,825 in
auto-related costs, reduce their carbon emissions by 128 pounds,
conserve 145 gallons of gasoline, and avoid 50 hours of gridlock
traffic; and

WHEREAS, over 800 of our Nation's Mayors have signed onto the
Climate Protection Agreement of the United States Conference of
Mayors urging the Federal Government to enact policies and
programs to meet or exceed a greenhouse gas emission reduction
target of a seven percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2012;
and

WHEREAS, two years ago the Conference of Mayors unanimously
endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, whereby a
key component is to implement climate-friendly land-use policies
and invest in public transportation and bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control estimates that if all
physically inactive Americans became active, we would save $77
billion in annual medical costs; and

WHEREAS, the United States is challenged by an obesity epidemic
in which 65 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 activity; and
WHEREAS, the percentage of U.S. children who walk or bike to
school has dropped by 70 percent since 1969 such that only 15
percent of students were walking or biking to school in 2001
while the rate of childhood obesity has tripled in recent years;
and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of
Mayors believes that achieving increased levels of bicycling is
in the national interest; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages the development and implementation of a coordinated
national bicycling strategy aimed to increase safe bicycle use
as a mode of transportation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages the development of federal transportation,
environmental and public health policies that recognize
increased and safe bicycle usage for transportation is in the
national interest and that we further urge Congress in the next
federal transportation reauthorization to establish policies and
funding mechanisms that will aim to Reduce the number of motor
vehicle miles traveled (VMT); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages improving safety conditions for bicyclists and
Collect transportation and safety data needed to monitor
progress; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages providing incentives for state and local governments
to adopt and implement Complete Street policies designed to
accommodate all users; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that even absent federal incentives,
Governors and state-level leadership should embrace Complete
Streets policies that acknowledge the contributions of bicycles
as a means to reduce vehicle miles by integrating bicycle use
into standard street design; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors calls
on all Mayors that sign onto the Climate Protection Agreement to
develop and implement action plans to incorporate bicycling
programs and policies as a key component in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions 80 percent by 2050; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
encourages every mayor to strive to make their city a Bicycle
Friendly Community.

Co-sponsors:

1. John Marchione, Redmond, WA
2. Marty Blum, Santa Barbara, CA
3. R.T. Rybak, Minneapolis, MN
4. Jim Brainard, Carmel, Indiana
5. Al Larson, Schaumberg, IL
6. Ron Littlefield, Chattanooga, TN
7. Joe Riley, Charleston, SC
8. John Hickenlooper, Denver, CO
9. Elaine N. Walker, Bowling Green, KY
10. Jerry Abramson, Louisville, KY
11. Peter Lewis, Auburn, WA
12. Richard Kaplan, Lauderhill, FL
13. Kevin Foy, Chapel Hill, NC
14. Richard Moccia, Norwalk, CT
15. Christopher Cabaldon, West Sacramento, CA
16. John Robert Smith, Meridian, MS
17. William Wynn, Austin, TX
18. Bill Mischler, Pinellas Park, FL
19. Elizabeth Kautz, Burnsville, MN
20. Christopher Coleman, St. Paul, MN
21. Ron Tussing, Billings, MT
22. James Cavanaugh, Goodyear, Arizona
23. Ken Flatto, Fairfield, CT
24. Bill Bogaard, Pasadena, CA
25. David Pope, Oak Park, IL
26. Darwin Hindman, Columbia, MO

(some more co-sponsors may have been added at the last minute.)