United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-97-032
Environmental Protection December 1997
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
&EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs
As a Transportation Control Measure
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with
governmental and non-governmental groups that share the objective of
promoting bicycling and pedestrian programs as environmentally
sound, viable transportation options.
Significance
"When I see an adult on a bicycle I do not despair for the future of the
Human Race."
- H.G. Wells
Bicycling and walking are underutilized modes of transportation that
offer the potential for significant reductions in transportation emissions
while also reducing traffic congestion and demand on petroleum. Addi-
tional benefits of using these options include making neighborhoods
safer and more friendly as well as reducing other environmental impacts
of motorized transportation, such as solid and hazardous waste produc-
tion, water pollution, greenhouse gases, noise, and the destruction of
open space, wetlands, and other habitats.
Since the Federal Highway Administration estimates that 60 percent of
all automobile trips are under five miles in length (Transportation Air
Quality Selected Facts and Figures; USDOT FHWA, 1996), it appears
that the public misses a great many opportunities in which bicycling and
walking could be substituted for driving. Several governmental and
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public interest groups are now participating • Provide outreach to the general public
in an initiative to encourage the public to and other government agencies concern-
choose bicycling and walking more often. ing safely increasing bicycling and
walking usage levels.
Initiative Design
EPA is working as part of the Interagency
Task Force on Bicycling and Walking to
support the goals of the National Bicycling
and Walking Study. The study's goals are
to double the current percentages of total
trips made by bicycling and walking while
reducing by ten percent the number of
bicyclists and pedestrians killed or injured
in traffic crashes. (Recent motor vehicle-
related bicycle and pedestrian fatalities
have averaged roughly 7000 per year.) The
task force includes representatives from
government agencies and advocacy groups.
Partners
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -
Office of Mobile Sources
• U.S. Department of Transportation -
Federal Highway Administration
• Bicycle Federation of America
• League of American Bicyclists
Implementation Plan
• Provide technical guidance in the inter-
pretation of national transportation
legislation.
• Include consideration for integration of
bicycling and pedestrian needs in EPA
programs and policies.
• Serve as a positive national presence and
role model.
For Further Information
For more information on this program,
please contact:
Pat Childers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Mobile Sources (6401J)
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-7744
E-mail: childers.pat@epa.gov
John Fegan
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
(202) 366-0150
Bill Wilkerson
Bicycle Federation of America
(202) 463-8405
Heather Andersen
League of American Bicyclists
(202) 822-1333
Additional documents on transportation
and air quality are available electronically
from the EPA Internet server at:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/traq
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