Invest in transit, biking, to fight climate change

John Molseed, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·2 min read

Mar. 17—The number of miles people are driving in the U.S. took a huge tumble with the COVID-19 pandemic. While the vehicle miles driven began to rebound by July last year, the overall miles driven has remained below normal, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

While it's unclear exactly why that is, before the pandemic, younger people in the U.S. were already driving less. Researchers studying why teens weren't getting licenses or cars as early as generations before them found that ridesharing options, financial reasons and concern for the environment were among the top reasons teens were foregoing four wheels.

Also accompanying the drop in driving miles, sales of electric bikes increased by nearly 160% from January to October last year.

So, when it comes time to set policy and allocate money for transportation needs, it may be time to look toward bike infrastructure and transit investments to meet the needs of commuters tomorrow. Bolstering these could also help Minnesota move closer to net-zero carbon emissions.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Pathways to Decarbonizing Report in 2019, transportation has overtaken agriculture and electric generation as the biggest contributor of carbon emissions in the state.

Investing in transit and bike infrastructure can help people who are already choosing to drive less and give other people that option, as well.

As of now, the Omnibus Transportation bill doesn't include any provisions for additional funding or investment in transit. Members of the Northstar chapter of the Sierra Club outlined that as one of their biggest priorities this legislative session in a meeting regarding their priorities Monday (March 15).

BikeMN reviewed its legislative priorities Wednesday (March 17), which include bicycle and e-bike policy language, a safe routes to school bonding appropriation, and other funding ideas, including language that would require 10% of a metro sales tax for transit and active transportation to be dedicated to pedestrian and bike programs and infrastructure.

These are policies introduced during previous budget legislative years, and bike advocates aren't optimistic they will pass due to a tight budget year.

While the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency did introduce its clean car standards bill in December, relying on one form of transportation has contributed to policies that have exacerbated transportation emissions, including sprawl and lack of walkable neighborhoods and transit for suburban residents.

It's time to invest in transportation that actually takes us somewhere.

John Molseed is a tree-hugging Minnesota transplant making his way through his state parks passport. This column is a space for stories of people doing their part (and more) to keep Minnesota green. Send questions, comments and suggestions to life@postbulletin.com.