Strengthening the Bond Act through Bicycle and Pedestrian Enhancements

Contact: Robin Dropkin 434-1583 Parks and Trails New York; Jesse Day 436-0889 New York Bicycling Coalition

New York Bicycling Coalition and Parks and Trails New York

A wide range of NYS citizens, including safety and health advocates and municipal leaders, recognize that bicycling and pedestrian projects are essential parts of the transportation system. This approach will ensure the diversity of local transportation options, increase safety for vulnerable youth and senior populations, expand opportunities for state residents to live active lifestyles, and add to the livability of our communities.

The transportation bond act language recognizes this essential role of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in principle. However the local communities across New York struggle to provide safe accommodation for non-motorized users of the transportation network. Providing specific funding sources for creative multi-modal transportation projects is essential to New York’s transportation system, the health of its citizens and the development of its communities.

Time and again, modest investments in bicycle and pedestrian facilities have led to high levels of use (e.g. the New York City Greenway system and the Erie Canalway Trail). When grant rounds for dedicated federal funding programs like CMAQ and Transportation Enhancements are announced, they always receive significantly more in requests than there is funding available. There is a clear pent-up demand for more of these improvements across New York.

There is also a clear need. Our rising affluence has a dark side. Car-dependent lifestyles have spurred an epidemic rise in obesity. The United States spends more than $93 billion on obesity related health problems. New York State needs to make wise balanced infrastructure investments that will help reduce its share of that number.

For too long, cycling and walking were considered periphery to the transportation system. All transportation users are at one point are pedestrians. Since the inception of ISTEA in 1991, nearly $3 billion has been spent on bicycling and walking. This figure amounts to less than one percent of the amount of money spent on the entire transportation system. There is considerable transportation efficiency in the construction of non-motorized facilities. For little additional money traditional road and transit projects can accommodate bicycling and walking.

The percentage of highway fatalities for bicyclists and pedestrians is 25% in New York. Hospitalization statistics indicate that the costs to society incurred as a result of life-long injury may well represent half of the state’s transportation safety problem. Cyclists and pedestrians are the most vulnerable users of the transportation system, yet less than 5% of safety funding goes to meet their needs.

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