Van Hollen, Raskin Introduce Bill to Expand Federal Funding for Bike and Pedestrian Safety

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies, and Congressman Jamie Raskin (both D-Md.) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act – legislation to expand federal funding opportunities for local governments to improve roadway safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. This legislation is named in honor of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a mother, wife, and American diplomat who was killed while riding her bicycle in Bethesda barely two weeks after being evacuated from Ukraine in the summer of 2022 following Russia’s invasion.

This bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and in the House by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), and Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.).

“Too many Americans know the pain that the Langenkamp family carries: that of a loved one taken tragically by a cycling or pedestrian road crash. The truth is that many of our roads still aren’t built to protect those on bike or on foot. In honor of Sarah, who was a committed public servant, we’re working to expand our federal investments in making our roads safer and more accessible for everyone,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“After my constituent Sarah Langenkamp was killed after being struck by a car while biking, her grieving family sprang into action, fighting for policy change to protect cyclists and everyone who uses our streets,” said Rep. Raskin. “Sarah was a dedicated, passionate public servant and I’m honored to introduce this legislation in her memory to help state and local governments invest in effective road safety efforts and save lives. May Sarah’s memory continue to be a blessing to her family and to our community.”

”Sarah’s death meant we lost a mother, a wife, a friend and an incredible diplomat, and she was just one of thousands caught up in a worsening trend of traffic death in America,” said Sarah’s husband Dan Langenkamp. “We have to do more to protect people, and this bill, by helping communities build the walking and biking infrastructure they need, will do just that.”

“Sarah Debbink Langenkamp should still be with us today,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “That’s why we need to pass the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act, so no more innocent Marylanders lose their lives while biking to work or enjoying a walk. This legislation will honor Sarah’s memory by supporting our local communities in getting the funding they need to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.”

“Whether you’re walking, biking, or driving, Americans should feel confident they can get from point A to point B safely on our roads. Sarah should still be with us today, and I’m proud to honor her legacy by preventing future tragedies and giving our local communities the tools they need to protect Wisconsin bikers and pedestrians on the road,” said Senator Baldwin.

“Sarah Langenkamp’s death was both tragic and heartbreaking,” said Senator Hagerty. “Roadway safety is a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure, and I’m pleased to join this legislation that will provide local governments with opportunities to keep Americans safe, regardless of how they decide to travel.”

“While honoring Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, this bill will protect Wisconsinites by investing in infrastructure to enhance road safety for pedestrians and cyclists. By using taxpayer dollars effectively, it will help prevent further deaths from preventable traffic accidents and ensure Americans feel safe when using our roads,” said Senator Johnson.

“Sarah’s passing was a tremendous loss to her family and to her community. We must ensure no other family endures the same tragedy. Thank you to Reps. Raskin, Van Orden, and Steil, and Senators Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Baldwin for their leadership on the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act. Together, we can ensure federal dollars are going towards making our roads safer for everyone,” said Rep. Mike Thompson, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus.

According to the National Household Travel Survey and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicyclists and pedestrians account for 7.8% of transportation trips but 21% of fatalities. In 2022, overall traffic fatalities decreased slightly, while bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities increased by 13% and 0.7%, respectively. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) advises that bicycle lanes can reduce total crashes up to 49 percent on urban four-lane undivided collector and local roads and reduce total crashes up to 30 percent on urban two-lane undivided collector and local roads. In addition, FHWA reports that sidewalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by 65-89 percent along roadways and that adding a shoulder on a rural road can reduce pedestrian crashes by 71 percent.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – created more than a decade ago and expanded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – funds projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities and other road safety efforts, and it includes a set-aside to ensure communities with a population under 5,000 have a fair opportunity to apply for these funds. However, it is those communities – often rural or low-income – that face difficulty meeting the program’s 20 percent local matching fund requirement.

The Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act allows the option of using federal funds from the Highway Safety Improvement Program to cover the local cost share of safety projects under TAP. Allowing up to 100 percent federal support for pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives will give states additional flexibility to support locally identified and initiated projects to improve roadway safety for all users.

This legislation is endorsed by The League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes Partnership.

“We have a safety crisis on our roads, especially when it comes to the dangers for people biking, walking, or using a wheelchair. Sarah Debbink Langenkamp's tragic and preventable death is emblematic of the work our nation needs to do in order to save lives,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “This bill, named in her honor, would do just that by cutting red tape and making it easier for states and local governments to fund and build safer roads."

“As an organization committed to supporting safe and joyful walking and bicycling to school, the Safe Routes Partnership appreciates Senator Van Hollen’s leadership introducing this legislation in honor of Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, who was killed riding her bike home from her children’s school. This bill equips states with new tools to build safe, connected places to walk and bike and strengthens our national commitment to safer roads,” said Marisa Jones, Managing Director, Safe Routes Partnership.

Full text of the bill is available here.