WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), co-chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus, introduced the Bikeshare Transit Act on Thursday. The legislation would provide local communities additional flexibility to use federal funds for bike share programs. The introduction coincides with an announcement Thursday about a new bike share program in Portland, Oregon.
According to the bill's sponsors, some communities face challenges using federal transportation funds for bike share because it's not clear whether the programs qualify. The Bikeshare Transit Act clarifies that bike share projects are eligible for existing federal funding and defines bike share in federal transportation law.
"America is in the middle of a bike share revolution. Removing barriers faced by new and existing bike share programs is important to providing choice and adding value to our existing transportation network," Blumenauer said.
The leaders of the League of American Bicyclists and PeopleForBikes each said they support the move.
