§ 16103. Conserve by Bicycling Program

• (a) In this section:
  • (1) The term “program” means the Conserve by Bicycling Program established by subsection (b).
  • (2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation.
• (b) There is established within the Department of Transportation a program to be known as the “Conserve by Bicycling Program”.
• (c)
  • (1) In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall establish not more than 10 pilot projects that are—
    • (A) dispersed geographically throughout the United States; and
    • (B) designed to conserve energy resources by encouraging the use of bicycles in place of motor vehicles.
  • (2) A pilot project described in paragraph (1) shall—
    • (A) use education and marketing to convert motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips;
    • (B) document project results and energy savings (in estimated units of energy conserved);
    • (C) facilitate partnerships among interested parties in at least 2 of the fields of—
      • (i) transportation;
      • (ii) law enforcement;
      • (iii) education;
      • (iv) public health;
      • (v) environment; and
      • (vi) energy;
    • (D) maximize bicycle facility investments;
    • (E) demonstrate methods that may be used in other regions of the United States; and
    • (F) facilitate the continuation of ongoing programs that are sustained by local resources.
  • (3) At least 20 percent of the cost of each pilot project described in paragraph (1) shall be provided from non-Federal sources.
• (d)
  • (1) Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005 , the Secretary shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences for, and the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct and submit to Congress a report on, a study on the feasibility of converting motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips.
  • (2) The study shall—
    • (A) document the results or progress of the pilot projects under subsection (c);
    • (B) determine the type and duration of motor vehicle trips that people in the United States may feasibly make by bicycle, taking into consideration factors such as—
      • (i) weather;
      • (ii) land use and traffic patterns;
      • (iii) the carrying capacity of bicycles; and
      • (iv) bicycle infrastructure;
    • (C) determine any energy savings that would result from the conversion of motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips;
    • (D) include a cost-benefit analysis of bicycle infrastructure investments; and
    • (E) include a description of any factors that would encourage more motor vehicle trips to be replaced with bicycle trips.
• (e) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $6,200,000, to remain available until expended, of which—
  • (1) $5,150,000 shall be used to carry out pilot projects described in subsection (c);
  • (2) $300,000 shall be used by the Secretary to coordinate, publicize, and disseminate the results of the program; and
  • (3) $750,000 shall be used to carry out subsection (d).