Commentary: US DOT's Misguided War on Bikeways - Streetsblog USA

"The current U.S. Department of Transportation defends its hostility to bike lanes and trails by doubling down on the myth that bike infrastructure does not work. Of course, DOT knows full well that bike infrastructure does work. As well-documented by Kea Wilson in her April 2025 Streetsblog article, bike infrastructure does not increase congestion. But it does save lives and allows more people to choose a non-polluting travel mode that reduces (or eliminates) the cost of car ownership (which averages about $12,000 per year per car)."

"In September 2025, DOT announced it was rescinding approved grants for bike infrastructure using vague reasons such as 'hostile to cars', 'could 'impede vehicle capacity and speed', and runs 'counter to DOT's priority of preserving or increasing capacity for motor vehicles.' By defunding cycling infrastructure, DOT has chosen to reject decades of the department's own research on the benefits of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure."

"On November 1, 2025, Albuquerque, New Mexico sued DOT for rescinding a $11.5-million grant for the Albuquerque Rail Trail, a project that does not involve any reductions in car lanes but simply unites various communities in the central city with a multi-use trail accessible to people of all ages, abilities and incomes. The city's lawsuit states that DOT basically replaced the grant criteria established by Congress with its own mission to accommodate cars."

DOT defends actions against bike lanes and trails by promoting the false claim that bike infrastructure does not work, despite knowledge to the contrary. Bike infrastructure does not increase congestion, saves lives, and enables more people to choose non-polluting travel while lowering or eliminating car ownership costs. In September 2025 DOT rescinded approved grants for bike projects citing vague, car-focused reasons and rejecting decades of the department's own pedestrian and cycling research. Albuquerque sued DOT on November 1, 2025 after a $11.5 million Rail Trail grant was rescinded. DOT leadership dismisses European successes with a cultural explanation.

Read at Streetsblog