America Bikes Act

Summary of HR 9041 — America Bikes Act (Session 119)

• Purpose and scope

  • This bill aims to establish and expand programs to improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, incentivize biking in conjunction with transit, and advance safe, active transportation across the United States. It would modify federal transportation financing, create grant programs, update guidelines, and provide tax-related incentives to support cycling and walking.

• Key provisions and changes

1) Highway Safety Improvement Program adjustments
- Adds new eligible project categories under 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)(B):
- (xxix) Connecting two or more segments of existing bicyclist or pedestrian infrastructure.
- (xxx) Reducing safety risks to vulnerable road users through projects/strategies in a program of projects or strategies.
- Expands the federal share for certain safety improvement projects (23 U.S.C. 148(j)):
- Allows up to 100% federal funding for projects described in (xxix) or (xxx).
- Flexible financing for projects under 23 U.S.C. 133(h)(7):
- Enables 100% federal share for individual projects and allows costs to be funded on a project, multi-project, or program basis.
- Allows funds to count toward non-Federal share if meeting specific criteria (safety countermeasures, safety plans, or alignment with approved programs/land use planning).
- Broadens eligibility for safety countermeasure funding for bicyclists/pedestrians.

2) On-bicycle education funding (Section 405(g)(5) of title 23)
- Establishes grant/authorization to provide on-bicycle education to elementary and secondary students.

3) Revised pedestrian/bicycle safety guidelines
- Secretary must revise Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 14 within 1 year to emphasize on-bicycle training, safe navigation, traffic rules, safety precautions, and helmet use.
- Requires consultation with educators and dissemination to State educational agencies.
- Requires a Congress-facing report within 3 years on implementation, curriculum updates, and dissemination.

4) Safe Routes to School coordinator
- Increases federal share to 95% for projects involving a Safe Routes to School coordinator.

5) Federal lands and tribal transportation emphasis on active transportation
- Amends 23 U.S.C. to reserve at least 5% of funds for active transportation activities (including trails, sidewalks, ADA-compliant accommodations) on federal lands and elsewhere.
- Defines eligible activities and sets criteria for project selection and funding.

6) Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program
- Creates a competitive grant program to fund active transportation networks and spines.
- Eligibility includes local/regional governments, MPOs, tribes, and related entities.
- Requirements emphasize connected networks, transit integration, safety, equity, and community support.
- Funding allocation: at least 30% for networks connected to public transit/workplaces/schools, at least 30% for networks/spines; planning/design grants; and admin/TA set-asides.
Federal share generally capped at 80%, with up to 100% for disadvantaged communities.
- Grant timing: release RFP within 30 days of funding, select recipients within 150 days.
- Total cost thresholds: minimum project cost of $15 million (or $100,000 for planning/design).
Reports to Congress required every 5 years on impact and domestic bicycle assembly goals (see below).

7) Temporary duty suspension for bicycle parts
- Introduces a temporary duty-free entry (section 9903.87.11 HTS) for parts imported for bicycle assembly/manufacture, with specific rules and documentation requirements.
- Aims to support domestic bicycle production; imposes a 10-year effective window and a 5-year ITC-style assessment by the ITC.

8) Bicycle commuting fringe benefits expansion (IRS Section 132)
- Expands qualified bicycle commuting benefits to include broader definitions of eligible property (bicycles, e-bikes, certain scooters, bikeshare) and clarifies annual benefit limits.
- Applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

9) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) adjustments
- Reduces the required 40% share for certain activities to 20% in a specified subsection and extends a related programmatic timeline (to 2031).

10) Safe Streets/Walkways and biking/pedestrian accessibility
- Harmonizes definitions and cost considerations for bike/pedestrian friendly improvements in highway repair projects and bridge work.

11) Grants for projects in Comprehensive Safety Action Plans
- Requires each state to devote at least 5% of certain funds to projects described in Comprehensive Safety Action Plans.

12) Bicycle–Transit Integration Grant Program
- Establishes a program to fund bicycle parking at transit stations, expand bike-sharing, and similar integration efforts.
- Eligible recipients include MPOs, transit agencies, states, local governments, and tribes.

• Who would be affected

  • States, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, tribal governments, transit agencies, and eligible organizations implementing active transportation projects.
  • Bicycle manufacturers and parts suppliers through duty adjustments (HTS changes).
  • Individuals and workplaces via expanded bicycle commuting benefits.
  • Schoolchildren and educational systems via on-bicycle education requirements.

• Timeline and funding

  • Authorization: $500 million per fiscal year (2026–2030) from the Highway Trust Fund (excluding Mass Transit Account) for active transportation and related programs.
  • Planning/design grants and admin costs are explicitly funded within the program.
  • Final rule and regulatory updates targeted within 1 year; interim/final reporting requirements span 1–5 years after enactment.
  • The duty suspension for bicycle parts is effective over a 10-year window starting on enactment.

Note: This summary focuses on substantive provisions, funding mechanisms, eligibility, and potential policy impacts without expressing any political view.