---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16103"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16103"
heading: "Conserve by Bicycling Program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16103"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter VII — Vehicles and Fuels"
  - "Part D — Miscellaneous"
---

# §16103. Conserve by Bicycling Program

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Program—** The term “program” means the Conserve by Bicycling Program established by [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4)” means the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) of Transportation.
- (b) **Establishment—** There is established within the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) of Transportation a program to be known as the “Conserve by Bicycling Program”.
- (c) **Projects—**
  - (1) **In general—** In carrying out the program, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall establish not more than 10 pilot [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) that are—
    - (A) dispersed geographically throughout the United States; and
    - (B) designed to conserve energy resources by encouraging the use of bicycles in place of motor vehicles.
  - (2) **Requirements—** A pilot [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall—
    - (A) use education and marketing to convert motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips;
    - (B) document [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) results and energy savings (in estimated units of energy conserved);
    - (C) facilitate partnerships among interested parties in at least 2 of the fields of—
      - (i) transportation;
      - (ii) law enforcement;
      - (iii) education;
      - (iv) public health;
      - (v) environment; and
      - (vi) energy;
    - (D) maximize bicycle facility investments;
    - (E) demonstrate methods that may be used in other regions of the United States; and
    - (F) facilitate the continuation of ongoing programs that are sustained by local resources.
  - (3) **Cost sharing—** At least 20 percent of the cost of each pilot [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall be provided from non-Federal sources.
- (d) **Energy and bicycling research study—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences for, and the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct and submit to Congress a report on, a study on the feasibility of converting motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips.
  - (2) **Components—** The study shall—
    - (A) document the results or progress of the pilot [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) under [subsection (c)](#c);
    - (B) determine the type and duration of motor vehicle trips that people in the United States may feasibly make by bicycle, taking into consideration factors such as—
      - (i) weather;
      - (ii) land use and traffic patterns;
      - (iii) the carrying capacity of bicycles; and
      - (iv) bicycle infrastructure;
    - (C) determine any energy savings that would result from the conversion of motor vehicle trips to bicycle trips;
    - (D) include a cost-benefit analysis of bicycle infrastructure investments; and
    - (E) include a description of any factors that would encourage more motor vehicle trips to be replaced with bicycle trips.
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) to carry out this section $6,200,000, to remain available until expended, of which—
  - (1) $5,150,000 shall be used to carry out pilot [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) described in [subsection (c)](#c);
  - (2) $300,000 shall be used by the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) to coordinate, publicize, and disseminate the results of the program; and
  - (3) $750,000 shall be used to carry out [subsection (d)](#d).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 755, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 828.)