Federal Funding For Bikeshare is Focus of New Bill

By Charles Pekow – Once again, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has introduced legislation to clarify that bikeshare is eligible for federal grants. Blumenauer, perhaps Congress’ greatest cycling advocate, introduced the Bikeshare Transit Act of 2019 (H.R. 4001) which would allow federal money to be used to build bikeshare stations and buy and replace equipment. The law would apply to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program and other federal funding for mass transit. Currently, federal law doesn’t mention bikeshare and local authorities don’t know if they can use federal money for it.
The bill was referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.. It picked up two immediate cosponsors. Blumenauer introduced the bill in 2017 but Congress didn’t act.
Read Blumenauer’s statement here: https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2019/07/25/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E990-1