Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2010 Objective

22-15. Increase the proportion of trips made by bicycling.

22-15a. Adults aged 18 years and older
Trips of 5 miles or less
1995 Baseline: .6%
2010 Target: 2.0%

22-15b. Children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years
Trips to school of 2 miles or less
1995 Baseline: 2.4%
2010 Target: 5.0%





Progress Toward Healthy People 2010 Targets
At the time of the Midcourse Review, trend data were not available for both 22-15a and 22-15b. However, according to the website, data sources were identified for these objectives, and data to assess progress are anticipated by the end of the decade.


Progress Toward Elimination of Health Disparities
There were no observed changes in disparity.

Race and Ethnicity table: Data not available.

Gender, Education, Location and Disability table: 22-15a. Best group rate included people in the categories of male, less than high school, at least some college, and urban or metropolitan. 22-15b. Best group rate included people in the categories of male and urban or metropolitan. In both subobjectives, disparity from the best group rate was less than 10% or not statistically significant, or else data was not available.

Opportunities and Challenges
The convenience of automobiles in combination with lack of bikeways has led to a decrease in bicycling as a main mode of transportation. With the increase in gas prices over the last few years, however, more people have turned to alternate transportation such as biking. Awareness of air pollution and the affect of vehicles on global warming may also be motivation for people to bike. In addition, some cities offer citizens the opportunity to put their bikes on the city bus in order to combine the two modes of transportation.

Unfortunately, access to safe bikeways is a major concern for cyclists, especially in metropolitan areas. Lack of money to update roads with adequate bike lanes is a challenge for many cities. Also, some businesses and stores do not provide a place (such as a bike rack) for cyclists to lock up their bikes.


Emerging Issues
According to the Healthy People website, opportunities for physical activity through environmental and policy interventions is an emerging priority for public health. This includes increasing access to walking and biking trails and recreational facilities. By raising awareness of this issue, hopefully more suitable facilities will be created and individuals will be able to utilize bicycling as a safe mode of transportation.



A Related Bill in the Minnesota State Legislature

HF1705

Title: Bicycle and pedestrian accommodation inclusion required as part of trunk highway bridge improvement program.

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Hornstein [District: 60B] (introduced 3/16/2009)
Cosponsors: Hausman, Lieder, Nelson, McFarlane, Loeffler, Kahn

Latest Major Actions: 4/2/2009 Division action, to pass as amended and return to Finance; 4/6/2009 Author added (Kahn)
Status: In House for Legislative Session 86

My Political Representative: Representative Thomas Huntley

Recommended Action: Vote YES for HF1705 to require bicycle and pedestrian accommodation as part of the trunk highway bridge improvement program.