[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 547 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 547
To encourage energy conservation through bicycling.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 6, 2003
Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To encourage energy conservation through bicycling.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONSERVE BY BICYCLING PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Conserve by
Bicycling Program established by subsection (b).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(b) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of
Transportation a program to be known as the ``Conserve by Bicycling
Program''.
(c) Projects.--
(1) In general.--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) Requirements.--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) Cost sharing.--At least 20 percent of the cost of each
pilot project described in paragraph (1) shall be provided from
State or local sources.
(d) Energy and Bicycling Research Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, 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) Components.--The study shall--
(A) document the results or progress of the pilot
projects under subsection (b);
(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.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated 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 (e).
<all>