On Monday, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released new standards to change the way transportation agencies measure their performance. This is a MAJOR win for biking and walking, and great news for the future of protected bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes.

Four big wins in U.S. DOT’s new rule:

1. States will measure the movement of people, not just vehicles
2. State DOTS will have to track their impact on carbon emissions
3. People who walk, bike, or ride transit will be counted
4. Free-flowing rush hour car traffic isn’t the goal

Streetsblog USA, wrote Thursday:

“An earlier draft of these rules would have codified outdated highway-era dogma, emphasizing the movement of cars and trucks as a primary goal. Thousands of comments poured in demanding an approach that factors in the value of transit, biking, and walking — and the agency listened.”

Action for Change

This was a great example of people taking action and making change happen. U.S. DOT received 5,000 letters along with 150 letters from organizations like BikePGH urging the agency to measure the movement of people, not just vehicles. This is why it’s important to voice your opinion on important matters like these to the people who make decisions that affect our lives.

Photo: Transportation for America