§16103 Conserve by Bicycling Program

Summary

The Department of Transportation must create the Conserve by Bicycling Program to run up to 10 pilot projects across the United States that try to save energy by getting people to use bicycles instead of cars. Program — the Conserve by Bicycling Program. Secretary — the Secretary of Transportation. Each pilot must use education and marketing to turn car trips into bike trips, record results and estimated energy saved, work with partners in at least two areas (for example transportation, law enforcement, schools, public health, environment, or energy), make good use of bike facilities, show methods others can use, and help local programs keep going. Each pilot must have at least 20% of its cost paid from non‑Federal sources. Within two years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary must hire the National Academy of Sciences to study whether people can realistically switch car trips to bike trips and report to Congress. The study must include pilot results, what kinds and lengths of trips could be biked (considering weather, land use and traffic, what bikes can carry, and bike infrastructure), estimates of energy saved, a cost‑benefit analysis of bike investments, and factors that would encourage more bike trips. Congress authorized $6,200,000 for the program until spent: $5,150,000 for pilots, $300,000 for coordination and publicity, and $750,000 for the study.