Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
With the recent increase in gas prices, the White House has been looking for ways to improve other modes of transportation. Specifically, the federal government has been looking at ways to promote bicycling.
The Biden Administration has passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes funding for bike lanes, bike trails, and bike bridges. Several cities, like Tuscon and Pheonix, have received $25 million in funding for bike-related projects. In Washington D.C., a pedestrian and cyclist bridge construction will soon begin over the Potomac River.
Interestingly, the head of the Department of Transportation does not have a good track record regarding biking infrastructure. Buttigieg received a 1.5/5 friendliness rating from People For Bikes when he was mayor. Also, according to the League of American Bicyclists, when Buttigieg was mayor, biking only took up 1% of the transportation budget. The passing of the federal act goes to show that Buttigieg is changing his views.
I think this is a big advancement for those who regularly use a bicycle. Better biking infrastructure will lead to increased biking rates and better biking conditions. Additionally, this will lead to the creation of more jobs (it is estimated that 1.5 million jobs will be created). Also, this will be a large step in combating climate change. Overall, I am excited to see the impact of this bill and what it will do for the future of bikers.
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