The report includes the following statements that involve cycling
The combination of greater distances between destinations as development sprawls outward from city centers and the lack of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure contributes to eliminating walking and biking as options and to increased driving. One-fifth of all automobile trips in urban areas are one mile or less, and over two-fifths of these trips are under three miles, distances easily walked or biked if the proper infrastructure were available. Low-income communities in particular often have a higher number of busy through streets, poor cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, and few high-quality parks and playgrounds—all elements which seem to deter physical activity.
Children who walk or bike to school report being more physically active, including engaging in more moderate to vigorous physical activity, than those who travel by car, bus, or train.
Still, in 2009, only 13% of students rode a bike or walked to school, down from 44% in 1969. Similarly, the percentage of students riding a school bus has also declined and more students report coming to school by personal vehicle than other methods. Parents cite many barriers to “active transport,” commonly referencing distance to school, traffic-related danger, and weather. In the same survey, 12% of parents cited fear of crime as a barrier. Six percent of parents also cited school policies that prohibit walking and biking to school as the reason their children did not walk or bike to school. Bike and pedestrian safety is a real concern as well. In 2007, 14,000 children were injured and 300 killed by cars. There is a “safety in numbers” trend, in which roadways generally become safer for everyone when more people are out walking and biking.
Recommendation 5.8: Reauthorize a Surface Transportation Act that enhances livability and physical activity. A complete network of safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities would allow children to take more trips through active transportation and get more physical activity. New Federal aid construction projects should accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians by incorporating “Complete Streets” principles. As improvement projects for existing facilities are undertaken, transportation infrastructure should be retrofitted, where feasible, to support and encourage bicycle and pedestrian use. State and local money can also be leveraged to support safe facilities for children to walk or bike to places like parks, playgrounds, transit, and community centers. The reauthorization could adopt Complete Streets principles that would include routine accommodation of walkers and bicyclists for new construction, to influence retrofitting of existing communities, and to support public transportation. In addition, it could enhance authority for recreational areas on public lands.
Recommendation 5.9: The Environmental Protection Agency should assist school districts that may be interested in siting guidelines for new schools that consider the promotion of physical activity, including whether students will be able to walk or bike to school.
Those are both good recommendation in my opinion.
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