NATIONAL BICYCLING AND WALKING STUDY: TRANSPORTATION CHOICES FOR A CHANGING AMERICA. REPORT TO CONGRESS

This report has been prepared as part of the 'National Bicycling & Walking Study' mandated by the 1991 U.S. Department of Transportation Appropriations Act. It is about enhancing the travel options of bicycling and walking. The study aims to increase the use of these two travel modes by developing a plan for making bicycling and walking safer and more appealing modes of personal transportation. The document presents a plan of action for activities at the federal, state, and local levels for meeting the goals of doubling the current percentage of total trips made by bicycling and walking (from 7.9% to 15.8%), and reducing by 10% the number of bicyclists and pedestrians killed or injured in traffic crashes. This report draws upon all of the work completed to date in outlining an action plan to promote bicycling and walking as viable transportation options. A Federal Action Plan is presented along with actions necessary to achieve the safety objective and doubling the percentage of trips made by bicycling and walking. Separate chapters discuss the Action Plans and Programs at the state and local levels including examples of successful programs. The concept of "institutionalization" is discussed along with indicators of institutionalization and the need for actions that institutionalize bicycling and walking into the Nation's transportation system at the federal, state, and local levels. The vision of this program is a nation of travelers with new opportunities to walk or ride a bicycle as part of their everyday life, and a transportation system that provides new levels of personal mobility at modest cost while encouraging cleaner air and healthier populace,