The League was beyond excited that Streetfilms attended the 10th annual National Bike Summit and documented from an advocates viewpoint what it is like to participate in an event that seems larger than us all – the bicycle movement. Watch “Voices from the National Bike Summit” below, get inspired, and we’ll see you next year at the 11th annual National Bike Summit.
The 10th National Bike Summit ended last Thursday, March 11th, with a momentous Congressional Reception, inspiring bike advocates from around the country – and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood – to bring the American bicycle movement to the next level! The 2010 Bike Summit was a paramount event for countless reasons but there are 10 clear highlights.
Drum roll please…
10. Rewards for A Decade of Service – The Summit really wouldn’t be what it is today without the ongoing support of three people we recognized for their decade of commitment to the event: Congressmen Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have spoken at all ten Summits, offering words of wisdom and inspiration; always challenging us to aim higher. Their staff provide invaluable logistical help and strategic guidance as we navigate the halls of power. The third award was to Bikes Belong, the title sponsor of all ten – a serious financial commitment which they exceed every year by also drumming up attendees. Thank You!
Just before the Summit kicked off, at the League’s annual meeting, we also recognized more than a decade of service by outgoing Chair of the League Board, Amanda Eichstaedt. She received the Paul Dudley White award for her contribution to bicycling over the years, including service on the League board and as Chair of the board for the past three years.
9. The League’s six asks for the Congressional Lobby Day (starting on page 14 of the agenda) were well received by our nation’s Senators and Congressmen. H.R. 4722, the Active Community Transportation of Act of 2010, had nine additional bill co-sponsors as a result of our meetings on Capitol Hill.
8. Bike/Ped Eligibility for Transit Funds Increased – Speaking at the opening plenary of the Summit, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff confirmed that the eligibility of FTA funds for bicycling and walking projects has been extended. Following a Federal Register notice last year, FTA has agreed that bicycling projects that increase access and service to transit facilities are eligible for FTA funding provided they are within a three-mile radius of a transit station (one mile for walking). Eligibility doesn’t guarantee any more funding for bike/transit projects, but certainly removes a major hurdle that has prevented it in the past.
3. Google announced at the Opening Plenary Session at the National Bike Summit an addition to their suite of online directions - Google Maps biking directions! “This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists.
2. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood energized and thanked the crowd at the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit on March 11, 2010 declaring, “You have a full partner in Ray LaHood.” Today, March 15, LaHood issued his new Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations. LaHood then made the most substantial statement the DOT has ever made about bicycling and announced, a ” sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.”
And finally, the number one reason the 10th Annual Bike Summit Rocked…
1. You! More than 725 bicycle advocates, educators, enthusiasts, and industry leaders attended the 10th Annual National Bike Summit and had more than 425 scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill! That is approximately 600 more Bike Summit attendees than we had 10 years ago!
To recap, the National Bike Summit was a great success, and the League is confident in the progress we will make in the year to come in conjunction with the Bike Summit! The League thanks all of our sponsors, advocates, supporters and industry leaders who turned out in record numbers to support the cause we all know will make America a healthier, better place to live – bicycling.
The League of American Bicyclists was more than thrilled to have Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood join us at the Congressional Bike Reception on the third day of the National Bike Summit on March 11, 2010. We were even more excited with his support of bicycling as a vital part of America’s transportation system. LaHood blogged, “Bicycles are a critical part of a cleaner, greener future in American transportation, so keep those wheels spinning.” Below is a clip of LaHood’s blog Fast Lane, recapping his Bike Summit experience. Read LaHood’s whole post here.
On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of addressing the National Bike Summit. I was invited to speak as a member of the Obama administration, but I have been a supporter of bicycling for many years and was a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus when I was in Congress.
$30 million would establish a federal transit safety oversight program
$ 1 billion a year for high speed rail funding
Commits to develop long term solutions to financing and performance
Administration seeks to integrate economic analysis and performance measurement in transportation planning to ensure tax dollars better targeted and spent.
Needs a program that “increases options, promotes s sustainable environment, and makes our economy more productive.”
States funding transportation with gas tax is unsustainable. Does not suggest alternative.
View the Department of Transportation Funding Highlights here.
The good news is that the share of all trips made by bicycle is up 25 percent since 2001, to one percent. The bad news is that even short trips are still dominated by privately owned vehicles, a category of vehicle that does not include bikes. Half of all trips are three miles or less, but fewer than 2 percent of those trips are made by bicycle, while 72 percent of them are driven. Private vehicles like cars, pick-up trucks, and SUVs, account for 60 percent of trips of a mile or less. Think about that next time you hear people wondering why we have such big problems with the environment, health and childhood obesity, and traffic congestion.
Eighty-five percent of bicycling trips are three miles or less, but nearly 58 percent of transit trips are longer than that. This fact — that most transit trips are longer than most bike trips — reinforces the compatible nature of the two. In regions with transit service, biking and transit together will get you pretty much wherever you want to go. Transit agencies should do more to promote bike-transit connections.
There are many worthy tables and graphs to be made with this data. For now, here is a simple one that illustrates the 30-40-50 trip distance concept. That is, nearly 30 percent of trips are a mile or shorter, 40 percent are two miles or shorter and 50 percent are three miles or shorter. It gives you a sense of how much of our daily travel involves distances that can be easily walked and biked.
Did you miss the latest issue of the Journal of Public Transportation? Don’t worry. They’re posting them free online. The latest issue contains “Integrating Bicycling with Public Transport in North America,” a review of bikes and transit policies in eight North American cities by researchers John Pucher of Rutgers and Ralph Buehler of Virginia Tech. The authors conducted case studies of San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, New York, Vancouver and Toronto.
Among the questions considered: what happens when a well integrated system that encourages bicycling and transit use leads to crowding? Many European cities provide ample secure parking at stations. In this article, the authors take a page from Complete Streets and recommend “Complete Stations,” which offer easy bicycle access to platforms and fully accommodate the needs of cyclists — an inexpensive solution compared to Park and Ride stations for cars.
Speaking of bikes on buses here is a great video from Chicago on how the two can safely share the road.
Using some of the findings in the report above, let’s play a little bikes-on-transit trivia.
(Note: the word “subway” is used below as a blanket term and does not refer only to New York City. Answers are subject to change as cities compete for the best transportation network in North America.)
1. Which city provides the most bicycle racks city-wide, including bike parking at almost all subway stations?
(A) Minneapolis
(B) Toronto
(C) New York City
(D) Chicago
2. Which city offers indoor or sheltered bike parking at the most subway stations?
(A) Washington
(B) New York
(C) San Francisco
(D) Chicago
3. Which city offers no secure or dedicated bike parking at rail stations and no bike racks on buses?
(A) New York
(B) San Francisco
(C) Vancouver, BC
(D) Washington
4. Which city allows bikes on subway trains at all times?
(A) Washington
(B) Chicago
(C) Toronto
(D) New York City
5. Which city has a bike ordinance encouraging parking bikes at sign posts, which are within a block of most bus stops?
(A) Portland
(B) Vancouver, BC
(C) Minneapolis
(D) Washington
6. Which city has five of the ten “bike stations” in the United States?
(A) Washington
(B) Portland
(C) New York
(D) San Francisco
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Answers
(B) There are 15,000 post and ring racks throughout Toronto
(D) Secure parking is available at 83 CTA stations, funding is secured for more in 2010
(A)
(D) Cyclists are asked, but not required, to avoid rush hour
Today, on NPR’s Morning Addition, Ari Shapiro’s bike was among the first to roll into the new bike shelter located at Union Station. Not only will the shelter provide a safe facility for commuters to store their bikes, it will serve as a very visible symbol of the changing approach to transportation planning in Washington, D.C. For commuters arriving at Union Station via MARC, VRE or AMTRAK, the final leg of their commute is usually on the Metro or bus. Soon commuters will be able to purchase a yearly $100 membership or pay a daily fee of $1 to keep their bicycle in a safe, reliable bike shelter, adding some much needed connectivity to D.C.’s transportation system. (photo credit: The City Fix)
On a personal note, the opening of the bike station will greatly improve my daily venture into D.C. as I am a regular commuter on the MARC train and have found the lack of bike transportation options for commuters arriving in Union Station to be quite frustrating. Because commuters are not permitted to bring their bikes on the train, leaving your bike locked at the bike racks out front is the only other option. However, this is hardly a viable option, as is evidenced by the teams of wheeless and seatless bikes that stand embarrassed and dejected. The opening of the Union Station bike shelter provides a safe place for commuters to store their bikes, thus diversifying commuting options, relieving stress on the Metro and ultimately creating a healthier place to live and work.
Also, today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has an article on a bike parking ordinance that was approved by the planning commission last night.
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