42 USC § 16103 - Conserve by Bicycling Program

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s16103"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 16103 - Conserve by Bicycling Program"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "16103"
section_name: "Conserve by Bicycling Program"
chapter_number: 149
chapter_name: "NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY AND PROGRAMS"
subchapter_number: "VII"
subchapter_name: "VEHICLES AND FUELS"
part_number: "D"
part_name: "Miscellaneous"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 755, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 828.)"
---


# § 16103. 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 non-Federal sources.

**(d)** **Energy and bicycling research study**

**(1)** **In general** August 8, 2005

Not later than 2 years after , 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 (c);

**(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.

**(e)** **Authorization of appropriations** There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 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 (d).

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 755, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 828.)