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Portland, Ore., has seen its bicycling rates jump dramatically through very modest investments. |
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Will More Funding Lead to More Biking?
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) "Active Transportation for America" report broadly quantifies, for the first time, the benefits that our nation can expect from increased walking and biking, and makes the case for a significant federal investment in these transportation modes.
Yet do we know that more funding leads to more walking and biking?
Yes!
Let's start with Amsterdam and Copenhagen, both of which have invested heavily in walking and biking over the years. Amsterdam's per capita investment of about US$40 annually has resulted in 30 percent of all trips taken by bicycle. Similarly, in Copenhagen, a US$20 annual per capita investment has resulted in a 20 percent bicycle "mode split"—the share of all trips taken by bike.
Except that's Europe… it's part of their culture… their cities are denser… gas costs more, so people drive less… cities are planned for walking and biking…
Despite these common assumptions, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris and other European cities were on the path to automotive dominance just a few decades ago. Through strategic investments in walking and biking, they have reversed these trends.
U.S. cities can similarly grow their walking and biking levels, no matter the perceived obstacles.
Portland, Ore., is arguably the nation's premier bicycling city, despite its hilly terrain and consistent rain for half of the year. Between 1996 and 2006, the number of Portlanders driving alone decreased by five percent. Transit trips increased by 10.5 percent, and pedestrian trips by 22 percent. And bicycling increased 146 percent.
All this improvement, for an annual per capita investment in the biking system of less than four dollars.
Portland isn't alone. Through focused investments in its walking and biking infrastructure, 28 percent of all trips in Minneapolis, Minn., are accomplished through walking and biking. Through transportation models, Hartford, Ct., predicts that a strong investment in its nonmotorized system could result in 8.8 million to 17.4 million miles of reduced driving annually. In Spokane, Wash., that prediction jumps to 91 million miles.
RTC's 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation aims to inject new funding into dozens of communities across the country. With this funding, these communities hope to reverse past trends and turn to more balanced, healthy transportation systems. And with the "Active Transportation for America" report quantifying the tremendous benefits our nation will realize with more walking and biking, more funding should be invested in active transportation in communities across the country.
Join the movement now. Take the Burn Calories, Not Carbon!TM pledge to walk and bike more and drive less, sending a message to your political leaders for more active transportation. If you've already taken the pledge, encourage your friends to do so. The more people calling for better active transportation systems, the more our elected officials will pay attention.
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