Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), co-chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus, reintroduced the Bikeshare Transit Act last month. This bipartisan legislation supports local bikeshare programs by helping communities access federal funds for bikeshare facilities and equipment.
I can't actually find the bill online, but an identical bill was introduced by the pair last year.
This bill makes a bikeshare project eligible to be an associated transit improvement project, including one carried out to facilitate a bicycle rental operation that makes bicycles available for public transportation, allows riders to pick up and drop off bicycles, serves a defined geographic area, and facilitates the transit of individuals between various points in the area. Public transportation capital projects shall include any project for the acquisition or replacement of bicycles and related equipment, including technology and vehicles needed to restock stations, and the construction of bicycle-related facilities to facilitate a bikeshare project. The bill also makes eligible for funds under the congestion mitigation air quality improvement program projects or programs that reduce demand for roads through bikesharing.
Meanwhile, another piece of bikeshare friendly legislation was reintroduced last month as well.
bikeshare is missing from pre-tax transit benefits that offer many commuters savings on transit passes. Last month, Reps. Joe Crowley (D – N.Y.) and Erik Paulsen (R – Minn.) introduced the “Bike to Work Act,” which would fix that gap and add bikeshare to the list of modes eligible for commuter benefits.
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