The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has removed multiple safety resources and references to bicycle infrastructure from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website. The removals follow a statement by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who recently expressed opposition to federally funded bicycle lanes. Materials removed include the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool (PBCAT), which helps researchers track factors contributing to collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians.
Internal FHWA communications and analysis by the Internet Archive indicate that staff have been directed to identify and remove references to bicycle lanes and certain other safety measures. Earlier in July, the agency removed bicycle lanes and speed cameras from its list of "Proven Safety Countermeasures," a collection of tools vetted by experts to reduce roadway fatalities. While some tools like the Highway Safety Information System have been offline for over a year, the recent removals mark an expansion of this trend.
A DOT spokesperson stated that the department is reviewing policies to ensure they promote "safety, efficiency, and common sense." The spokesperson noted that 80% of Americans commute by car and criticized previous focuses on bicycle infrastructure as part of a "phony climate agenda." The DOT maintains that its review aims to ensure infrastructure meets the needs of car-dependent families.
Safety advocates, including David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, have criticized the moves. Harkey stated that removing these tools undermines the ability of safety professionals to track and prevent crashes. He noted that while the agency claims safety is a priority, the criteria for the current review remain unclear and have resulted in the long-term unavailability of established research databases.