Cycling advocates from across the United States descended on Capitol Hill in March for the 2026 National Bike Summit, pushing federal lawmakers to reauthorize the Safe Streets and Roads for All program and expand protected cycling infrastructure funding. The annual event, organized by the League of American Bicyclists and partner organizations including the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, comes at a critical moment: federal transportation funding decisions made this year will shape American cycling infrastructure for the next decade.
What Happened
The 2026 Bike Summit focused on three primary legislative asks. First, advocates pushed for the reauthorization of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, which has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to cities and towns for pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements since its creation in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program’s current authorization period is approaching, and without Congressional action, the funding pipeline could dry up.
Second, advocates called for increased federal investment in protected bike lane networks. Research from the Federal Highway Administration has shown that adding bicycle lanes can reduce total crashes by up to 49% on urban four-lane undivided collector and local roads. Despite this evidence, many cities still lack the dedicated federal funding needed to build connected networks rather than isolated segments of cycling infrastructure.
Third, the summit highlighted the need for updated design standards that prioritize cyclist and pedestrian safety in federal road projects. Current federal highway design guidelines still default to car-centric configurations, making it difficult for local transportation departments to justify cycling infrastructure even when demand exists.
Why It Matters
The stakes are stark. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cyclist fatalities in the United States have increased by over 50% in the past decade, even as fatalities in other road user categories have remained relatively stable. In 2023 alone, nearly 1,000 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes, the highest number in decades.
The primary driver of this trend isn’t reckless cycling. It’s road design. Streets built exclusively for high-speed motor vehicle traffic create inherently dangerous conditions for anyone not in a car. Protected bike lanes, which physically separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic using barriers, bollards, or raised curbs, have been shown to reduce cyclist injuries by 75% compared to painted bike lanes, according to research from the Urban Institute.
Cities that have invested in comprehensive cycling networks have seen remarkable results. In communities with connected protected lane systems, cycling commute rates have increased by 50 to 200%, while cyclist injury rates have simultaneously declined. The key insight is that safety and ridership are self-reinforcing: safer streets attract more cyclists, which in turn makes cycling even safer through increased visibility and driver awareness.
The debate around cycling infrastructure is also playing out at the local level. In Berkeley, California, the city council’s infrastructure committee is set to discuss bike lane proposals for Hopkins Street on April 15, where much of the corridor currently forces riders to share lanes with cars. The discussion has become contentious, with safety advocates arguing that the current plans don’t go far enough to protect vulnerable road users.
What This Means for You
Whether you commute by bike, ride recreationally, or are considering cycling as transportation, the federal funding decisions being debated right now will directly affect the quality and safety of your riding experience. If the SS4A program is reauthorized with increased funding, your city or town may be able to apply for grants to build protected bike lanes, improve intersections, or create safer routes to schools and workplaces.
In the meantime, there are practical steps you can take to ride more safely on existing infrastructure. Visibility is your best defense, particularly in urban environments where driver attention is divided. Using front and rear lights during all riding conditions, not just after dark, has been shown to reduce collision risk by up to 33%.
Route selection also matters enormously. Even in cities with limited cycling infrastructure, choosing streets with lower speed limits, lighter traffic volumes, or existing bike lanes can dramatically reduce your risk. Many cycling navigation apps now include route options that prioritize cycling-friendly streets over the shortest distance.
If you want to get involved in advocacy, contact your local representatives about cycling infrastructure priorities in your community. The Bike Summit demonstrated that organized advocacy works: several of the SS4A grants awarded in recent years were direct results of local advocacy groups pressuring their representatives to support the program.
Key Takeaways
The 2026 National Bike Summit is pushing for reauthorization of the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, increased federal protected bike lane funding, and updated cyclist-friendly road design standards. With cyclist fatalities up 50% over the past decade, the need for infrastructure investment has never been more urgent. Protected bike lanes reduce cyclist injuries by up to 75% compared to painted lanes. Whether through advocacy or personal safety practices, every cyclist has a role in making the roads safer.
