H.R. 9041 — America Bikes Act

This section expands the highway safety improvement program to include projects connecting two or more segments of existing bicyclist or pedestrian infrastructure and projects reducing safety risks to vulnerable road users through programs developed under section 148(l)(2)(B). It raises the federal share to up to 100 percent for these projects and for proven safety countermeasures for bicyclists or pedestrians. It also allows flexible financing on a project or program basis, permits section 148 funds to count toward non-federal share requirements when projects include such countermeasures or address high-risk areas for vulnerable road users, and recognizes eight types of safety plans (including pedestrian, Complete Streets, Vision Zero, ADA transition, and Tribal plans) for eligibility.

This section expands the allowable uses of grant funds under section 405(g) of title 23, United States Code, to include providing on-bicycle education to elementary school and secondary school students.

This section revises Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 14 on Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety within one year of enactment to encourage nonmotorized safety education for elementary and secondary school students. It requires on-bicycle training, traffic rules awareness, safety precautions, and helmet use emphasis; directs consultation with practitioners to update materials including the Bike Walk friendly assessment tool; mandates dissemination of new curriculum to State educational agencies; and requires a report to Congress within three years on implementation, consultation, and dissemination efforts.

This section increases the federal share to 95 percent for projects and activities under the safe routes to school program when a state employs a coordinator for the program.

This section requires the Secretary to set aside and use not less than 5 percent of funds authorized under sections 203 and 204 of title 23 for active transportation each fiscal year. Active transportation includes construction, planning, and design of pedestrian and bicycle trails and infrastructure, safe routes for non-drivers including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities, and conversion of abandoned railroad corridors to trails.

This section establishes an active transportation infrastructure investment program under which the Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible organizations to construct active transportation networks and spines. It requires the Secretary to obligate at least 30 percent of funds to networks connecting destinations such as schools, workplaces, and transit, and at least 30 percent to spines; sets aside $3,000,000 annually for planning grants; and sets aside up to $2,000,000 annually for administrative costs.

This section provides duty-free entry under new HTS heading 9903.87.11 for parts of bicycles imported for assembly or manufacturing of complete bicycles (including electric models and trailers) in the United States. It exempts such parts from additional duties under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411) and requires importer certification to CBP, with the suspension effective for a 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment. It directs the USITC Chair to report after 5 years on the provision’s effects toward annual U.S. production goals of 2,000,000 bicycles within 5 years and 5,000,000 within 10 years.

This section expands the tax exclusion for qualified bicycle commuting benefits to cover employer reimbursements or direct provision of electric bicycles, non-motorized or limited-speed electric scooters, bikeshare, and related purchase, lease, rental, improvement, repair, or storage costs. It sets the monthly exclusion limit at 30 percent of the amount allowed for other qualified transportation fringes and applies the changes to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

This section reduces the set-aside percentage for certain activities under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program to 20 percent (from 40 percent). It extends the program's authorization through 2031 (from 2026).

This section defines reasonable cost for providing safe accommodations for pedestrians or bicyclists during replacement or rehabilitation of a highway bridge deck as not more than 20 percent of the total project cost.

This section permits electric bicycles, as defined in 23 U.S.C. 217(j), on recreational trails funded under the Recreational Trails Program when their use is allowed by applicable laws or regulations. It also includes electric bicycle use within the program's bicycling activities.

This section requires each State to use not less than 5 percent of funds apportioned under section 104(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, to carry out projects in comprehensive safety action plans each fiscal year.

This section establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation to fund bicycle transit integration projects. Eligible recipients include metropolitan planning organizations, transit agencies, states, units of local government, and Indian Tribes. Projects may develop bicycle parking at transit stations, expand bicycle sharing programs, or undertake similar activities as determined by the Secretary.