What This Bill Does
This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to identify at least 10 existing long-distance bike trails and at least 10 areas where new long-distance bike trails could be developed on federal recreational lands and waters. The two secretaries must also work with organizations and stakeholders to complete a report listing these trails within two years of the law taking effect.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture bear the main responsibility for identifying and developing these trails. Bike riders, hiking organizations, horse riders and pack animal users are affected because the bill requires balancing bike trails with existing uses like horseback riding.
Key Provisions
• The two secretaries must identify at least 10 long-distance bike trails already in existence that are made up of trails and roads that existed on the day the law passes (Sec. 3(a)(1))
• The two secretaries must identify at least 10 areas where they could develop or complete new long-distance bike trails (Sec. 3(a)(2))
• Before naming any trail as a long-distance bike trail, the responsible secretary must ensure it does not conflict with existing uses like horseback riding or pack animal use (Sec. 3(b))
• The secretaries may publish maps, install signs and create promotional materials for any identified trails (Sec. 3(c))
• The secretaries must prepare and publish a report listing all identified trails no later than 2 years after the law takes effect, working with interested organizations (Sec. 3(e))
What Changes
The two secretaries will now be required to identify and potentially develop long-distance bike trails on federal recreational lands and waters. They must avoid conflicts with other existing activities like horseback riding. Maps, signs and promotional materials can be created for these trails.
Important Definitions
A "long-distance bike trail" is defined as a continuous route made up of one or more trails or rights-of-way that is at least 80 miles long on federal recreational lands and waters, uses existing trails as much as possible, has a consistent type of trail surface, and can be used for mountain biking, bikepacking, road biking, bicycle touring or gravel biking. The trail may include short road or highway connections.
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 605
To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture
to develop long-distance bike trails on Federal recreational lands and
waters, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 1, 2023
Mr. LUJA´N (for himself, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. MANCHIN, and Mr. BARRASSO) in-
troduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary
of Agriculture to develop long-distance bike trails on
Federal recreational lands and waters, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Biking on Long-Dis-
4
tance Trails Act’’.
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
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In this Act:
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•S 605 IS
(1) FEDERAL
RECREATIONAL
LANDS
AND
1
WATERS.—The term ‘‘Federal recreational lands and
2
waters’’ has the meaning given the term in section
3
802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement
4
Act (16 U.S.C. 6801).
5
(2) LONG-DISTANCE
BIKE
TRAIL.—The term
6
‘‘long-distance bike trail’’ means a continuous route,
7
consisting of 1 or more trails or rights-of-way,
8
that—
9
(A) is not less than a total of 80 miles in
10
length on Federal recreational lands and
11
waters;
12
(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
13
makes use of existing trails;
14
(C) is composed generally of a consistent
15
type of trail;
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(D) may be used for mountain biking,
17
bikepacking, road biking, bicycle touring, or
18
gravel biking; and
19
(E) may include short connections by way
20
of a road or highway.
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(3) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’
22
means each of—
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(A) the Secretary; and
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(B) the Secretary of Agriculture.
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•S 605 IS
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
1
the Secretary of the Interior.
2
(5) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
3
retary concerned’’ means—
4
(A) the Secretary, with respect to land
5
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; or
6
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
7
spect to land managed by the Forest Service.
8
SEC. 3. LONG-DISTANCE BIKE TRAILS ON FEDERAL REC-
9
REATIONAL LANDS AND WATERS.
10
(a) IDENTIFICATION
OF
LONG-DISTANCE
BIKE
11
TRAILS.—Subject to subsection (b), the Secretaries
12
shall—
13
(1) identify not fewer than 10 long-distance
14
bike trails, consistent with management require-
15
ments for the Federal recreational lands and waters
16
identified, that make use of trails and roads in exist-
17
ence on the date of enactment of this Act;
18
(2) identify not fewer than 10 areas in which
19
there is an opportunity to develop or complete long-
20
distance bike trails, consistent with the management
21
requirements for the Federal recreational lands and
22
waters identified;
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(3) coordinate with stakeholders on the feasi-
24
bility of, and identifying any resources necessary for,
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•S 605 IS
completing the development of the trails identified
1
under paragraph (2); and
2
(4) incorporate existing applicable research and
3
planning decisions in carrying out this Act.
4
(b) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—Be-
5
fore identifying a trail or road as a long-distance bike trail
6
under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall ensure
7
that the identification of the long-distance bike trail would
8
not conflict with an existing use of the trail or road, in-
9
cluding horseback riding or use by pack and saddle stock.
10
(c) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATE-
11
RIALS.—For any long-distance bike trail identified under
12
subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may publish and
13
distribute maps, install signage, and issue promotional
14
materials.
15
(d) GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION.—To the extent
16
practicable, the Secretary concerned shall seek to identify
17
long-distance bike trails and areas for the development or
18
completion of long-distance bike trails under subsection
19
(a) in a geographically equitable manner.
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(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date
21
of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in partnership
22
with interested organizations, shall prepare and publish a
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•S 605 IS
report that lists the long-distance bike trails identified
1
under subsection (a).
2
Æ
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