Action Alert: Individuals Can Take Action to Support Federal Trails, Walking, & Biking Programs
Right now, Congress is working on the next surface transportation reauthorization bill and the decisions made now will shape how safe, affordable, and connected our transportation system is for years to come. This also impacts our shared mountain bike trails. A national coalition of more than 1,100 organizations has urged Congress to protect and strengthen these investments, but lawmakers need to hear directly from constituents. You can take action and make a difference today by contacting your members of congress.
We support the coalition letter urging Congress to:
- Preserve and strengthen the Transportation Alternatives program
- Maintain and improve safety provisions for people walking and biking (MTB included)
- Keep broad eligibility for biking and walking in core federal transportation programs
Take action today:
- Find your U.S. Senators and Representative at:
https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member - Send an email or make a call
- You can email their offices directly or call their Washington, DC office.
Sample Phone Call Script
If have time to call, here’s a simple script you can use:
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [City/ZIP].
I’m calling to ask [Senator/Representative Last Name] to support strong federal investments in bicycling and walking in the upcoming transportation reauthorization.
I support the coalition letter urging Congress to protect the Transportation Alternatives program, improve safety for people walking and biking, and keep broad eligibility for active transportation. These investments save lives and strengthen our communities.
Thank you for passing along my message.
Sample Email You Can Send
You can copy, paste, and personalize the email below — adding a sentence about why biking or walking matters to you or your community makes it even more powerful.
Dear [Senator/Representative Last Name],
I am a constituent from [City/State], and I’m writing to urge you to support strong federal investments in bicycling and walking in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization.
I support the coalition letter sent to congressional leadership calling for the preservation and strengthening of the Transportation Alternatives program, continued focus on safety for people walking and biking, and broad eligibility for active transportation across federal transportation programs.
Investments in sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails make our communities safer, expand transportation choices, support local economies, and use taxpayer dollars efficiently. People walking and biking make up more than 20% of roadway fatalities, and Congress has a critical role to play in improving safety—especially on federal-aid roadways.
Americans across the political spectrum support these investments, and communities in every state rely on federal partnership to build safe, connected transportation networks. I urge you to protect and grow these programs and policies in the next transportation bill.
Thank you for your leadership and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, State]