Bicycle infrastructure funding in the United States is at risk.
As Congress begins drafting its next national transportation bill, a coalition of major bike brands and advocacy groups is warning that federal investment in bike lanes, trails and road safety programs could face significant cuts.
Currently, the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Programme is the largest dedicated federal funding source for active transportation. Since 1991, TA has delivered roughly $17 billion in funding, supporting more than 42,500 miles of multi-use trails and thousands of local cycling and pedestrian projects nationwide. For context, TA accounts for only about 2–3% of federal surface transportation funding under the current infrastructure law.
With that law set to expire on Sept. 30, 2026, Congress is now renegotiating how billions in mobility funding will be spent — and advocates fear dedicated infrastructure programmes like TA could be scaled back in the process.
“It’s going to be a traditional highway bill — that means building roads and bridges, laying asphalt, pouring concrete….We’re not going to be spending money on murals and train stations or bike paths or walking paths.”
