Workshop TR 7.1, Thursday 22 June, 11.00 - 12.30

National Funding of local bicycle schemes

John Fegan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, USA   Progress Report on the U.S. Government Efforts Promoting Bicycle Use and Safety;  Funding Bicycle Projects and Programs at the Local Level The role of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is to administer national transportation legislation passed by the U.S. Congress, distribute federal funds to States and localities, and to provide technical assistance as required. The National Bicycling and Walking Study was required by the Congress. In addition, two recent pieces of Federal Legislation, (the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 and the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) of 1998), provide the mechanisms and Federal funds for transportation projects in the U.S. These two acts amended existing law and called for a more balanced transportation system in the United States that provides connections among transportation modes and also offers individuals choices in the mode of transportation they can use for individual trips. This will be a significant shift from a transportation system almost totally dependent on the use of the private motor vehicle. Both ISTEA and TEA-21 rely heavily on planning processes at State and metropolitan levels of government, and delegate the responsibility for selecting particular projects for funding to the States and Metropolitan units of government. In addition, both pieces of legislation have made bicycle projects and programs broadly eligible for the major funding program, but funding is not guaranteed. Since 1991 Federal dollars spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects have increased from about 4 million U.S. dollars in 1991 to 238 million dollars in 1997. In fact, from 1991-1998 at least one billion dollars have been spent on bicycle (and pedestrian projects and programs). That is still less than one percent of the money potentially available. The lessons learned will be presented.

Jonathan Moore, Head of Traffic Management, Scottish Executive, Transport Division, UK The Scottish Cycle Challenge Initiative Scottish Office Ministers announced the Scottish Cycle Challenge Initiative in December 1996 as a one year initiative to be funded during 1998-99.  It was aimed at contributing towards the measures needed to implement the National Cycling Strategy's national targets. The Scheme originally committed funds of up to £500,000 (850,000 Euro) to pump-prime local and innovative cycle projects. Eighty applications were received from a wide range of bodies by the closing date.  These included public and private sector organizations as well as voluntary groups and local tourist organizations and a wide variety of projects. Each application was evaluated on its ability to encourage the use of cycling for local journeys, its innovative content, the project's ability to demonstrate effectiveness and not to compromise the safety of cyclists or other road users.  Wider aspects were also considered such as geographical spread and whether projects were of local relevance only or whether they could be adopted elsewhere in Scotland.  Priority was given to bids which sought 50% or less funding and those involving partnerships between groups. 37 projects have been successful in securing funding under the Initiative.  Due to the high quality of bids received, Ministers agreed to increase the original funding package by some £150,000 (255,000 Euro) to of £650,000 (1.1 million Euro). The grants awarded range from £450 (765 Euro) to establish a school cycle club to £150,000 (255,000 Euro) to modify express trains in Scotland to carry cycles. This paper describes how the scheme was administered as well as highlighting some of the more innovative and unusual projects.