Norton, Larsen, and DeFazio Continue Push For Pedestrian And Bicyclist Safety

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-DC) today called for continued focus on improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety in response to the troubling increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in recent years.

The Members released a report today from the Government Accountability Office, which they requested to investigate the trends and causes of accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles and to make recommendations about improving safety. Among its findings, the report indicates that modernizing road design could help improve safety for all road users. It also finds that state and local safety efforts for pedestrians and bicyclists are inconsistent and could benefit from a federal initiative to unify safety projects.

"My city, the District of Columbia, has been a leader in designing and implementing transportation plans that encourage more pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Because D.C. has led in building bike lanes and trails, we are particularly appreciative of this GAO report, which recommends necessary steps to ensure safety for our pedestrians and cyclists. I was pleased we got increased funding for pedestrian and bicycle safety projects in our surface transportation reauthorization, but more needs to be done to reduce the unacceptable increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities," Norton said.

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