By now you’ve probably seen or heard about U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s recent social media post criticizing what he called “DEI bike lanes” while announcing changes to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant program. It’s a catchy, if nonsensical, phrase.
Still, “DEI” is actually excellent shorthand to describe bicycle infrastructure—just not in the way Secretary Duffy intended.
Bike lanes, shared-use trails, safe crossings, and Complete Streets are Direct, Effective Investments in our transportation system.
They help children bike to school safely. They allow older adults to remain mobile. They give commuters another way to reach work and transit. They support local businesses, reduce congestion, improve public health, and provide transportation options for people who cannot—or choose not to—drive.
That’s not a “pet project.” That’s sane transportation policy.
What Actually Happened?
The League of American Bicyclists recently reviewed the latest round of federal BUILD grants and found that the situation is more nuanced than the public rhetoric suggests. Although the Administration has criticized bicycle infrastructure and canceled or altered some previously awarded grants, the newest BUILD awards still include dozens of projects with bicycle, pedestrian, or Complete Streets components. That reflects an important reality: state and local governments continue to identify bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure as essential transportation needs.
The Need Hasn’t Changed
Political rhetoric comes and goes, but the transportation needs of Fairfax County residents do not. Every day, people use bicycles to reach work, schools, parks, Metrorail stations, shopping centers, restaurants, and community events. Thousands more would ride if they felt safer doing so.
Local governments continue investing in bicycle infrastructure because they see firsthand what these projects accomplish. Well-designed bike lanes improve safety, create predictable traffic patterns, expand transportation choices, and help build healthier, more connected communities.
Those aren’t ideological goals. They’re practical transportation outcomes that come from Direct, Effective Investments in bicycling.
Advocacy Matters More Than Ever
One of the League’s most important conclusions is that local advocacy matters. Federal priorities may shift from one administration to the next, but local governments still decide which projects to propose, which improvements to champion, and how strongly to advocate for them. When elected officials hear from residents who value safe bicycling and walking, they’re more likely to continue investing in those projects and defending them when funding becomes uncertain.
That’s where organizations like FABB make a difference.
Every bike lane, trail connection, safer intersection, and traffic-calming project in Fairfax County exists because people spoke up. Volunteers attended public meetings, reviewed plans, met with elected officials, and demonstrated that better bicycling infrastructure benefits everyone—not just people on bikes.
If you’d like to see more Direct, Effective Investments in Fairfax County’s transportation future, we invite you to join FABB. Together, we can continue working with county leaders, transportation agencies, and our regional partners to ensure that safe, connected bicycling remains a vital part of Fairfax County’s transportation network—regardless of which political slogan happens to be trending.
