Legislation often has weird clauses, but this one is super-weird. The most excellent StreetsBlog reports that Senator John McCain (R-AZ) inserted a stipulation in the federal aviation reauthorization (SB 223) that could bar airports from using passenger facility charges for bike parking facilities if it stays in the bill and the bill is passed.

The League of American Bicyclists calls this “a singularly mean-spirited and unnecessary thing to do.”

As Andy Clarke of the LAB points out, cycling to the airport may not be a huge thing in this country. However, part of that may be infrastructure-related. It’s certainly popular in other places. Schipol Airport in Amsterdam (AMS) has abundant bicycle parking, and bicycle routes into the airport. It’s a popular means for airport workers to arrive at work, and for others to connect to the airport transit hub. Portland Airport in Oregon offers employee bicycle parking (pictured).

The League is working to have the language removed from the authorization.

Author: julie

Julie Kosbab is an online marketing consultant and active transportation advocate living in Anoka County, Minnesota. She was one of Minnesota's only League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors when certified in 2005. She is a past member of the National Bicycle Tour Directors Association. She has 2 children and 4 bicycles. Find her on Twitter as @betweenstations.