Rep. James Oberstar is a hero to bicycle advocates for including spending on bike paths in his proposed highway bill, says The Hill.

It's not a done deal because many worry that Congress may extend the existing highway bill, rather than taking up the new one, but still, bike enthusiasts say this is a step, or pedal, in the right direction.

Oberstar likes to bike and is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 

"You get on a bike and you can go anywhere,” he said. “It was 1896 that [it was said], ‘A bicycle gives a woman freedom, independence of movement’ — that’s what it does, it gives everyone freedom and independence of movement.”

And he said:

“We have to look to the mode of transportation as is done in the Netherlands, in Denmark, in Germany — all trips for all purposes on bicycle,” Oberstar said.

The Hill says:

The Bikes Belong Foundation estimates Oberstar’s bill would increase funding for bicycling and walking to more than $1 billion annually.

“We think its transformational, visionary,” Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, said.

Bicyclist groups like Bikes Belong have been pushing for passage of the bill before the recess and have emphasized the importance of bicycle funding for job creation and as a way to reduce greenhouse gases and traffic congestion.