Wisconsin’s Senators are working together on a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding the funding for bike and pedestrian safety.
Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin are joined by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen in the introduction of the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Safety Transportation Act, which is named after a Wisconsinite who was killed while riding her bicycle.
Debbink Langenkamp was an American diplomat who served in Ukraine, and was evacuated in 2022 following the Russian invasion.
Senator Baldwin said of the bill, “Sarah should still be with us today, and I’m proud to honor her legacy by preventing future tragedies and giving our local communities the tools they need to protect Wisconsin bikers and pedestrians on the road.”
Sen. Johnson noted that the bill will “protect Wisconsinites by investing in infrastructure to enhance road safety for pedestrians and cyclists.”
According to the National Household Travel Survey and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicyclists and pedestrians account for 7.8 percent of transportation trips but 21 percent of fatalities.
In 2022, overall traffic fatalities decreased slightly, while bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities increased by 13 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.
The bill is also supported by legislators from around the country on both sides of the political aisle.
