There are a few issues. First, the Secretary wants to provide more transportation choices for the millions of Americans who want healthy, safe, efficient, environmentally sustainable, and enjoyable ways to get around. Second, investing in bicycling and walking creates jobs and is good for the economy. Third, the problems with the transportation trust fund have little to nothing to do with bicycling.

Supporting the freedom of Americans to choose from a range of transportation options shouldn’t be partisan issue. Providing non-motorized transportation options benefits health, the environment, and the economy. Walking and bicycling are also the only options for many young, old, and low-income citizens.

Investing in bicycling and walking infrastructure creates jobs. That’s why state Departments of Transportation have committed $734 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to stimulate the economy with ready-to-go, job-creating bicycle and pedestrian projects. Building better biking and walking infrastructure requires people to pour concrete, lay asphalt, and drive bulldozers – and in fact because these projects tend to be small, labor intensive and quick to get off the drawing board, they are actually estimated to generate more jobs per million dollars spent than massive highway and bridge reconstruction projects. On top of that, the Secretary is also making the critical observation that it doesn’t cost anything more to restripe many roads with a bike lane – you are just putting the lane stripes down in a different place!

 Once bicycle and pedestrian projects are completed, they boost the local economy by attracting visitors and improving shopping districts. The Outdoor Industry Foundation estimates that the bicycling industry supports 1.1 million jobs and generates $17.7 billion in tax revenue each year.

 The argument that bicyclists don’t contribute to road costs doesn’t hold water. Just over half of the cost of transportation at all levels of government is paid for by fuel and vehicle taxes and tolls. The rest comes from property taxes, general fund allocations, bond issues, and transit fares. Non-drivers are already helping to pay. In addition, the majority of the 57 million American adults who bicycle also drive and so pay into the trust fund anyway. The bike riders that don’t drive reduce costly congestion and road wear.

The Congressmen should have commended the Secretary for recognizing the myriad benefits of bicycling and walking and the central part it plays in many people’s lives. We encourage all members of Congress to join the Congressional Bike Caucus and support the following legislation:

1. Active Community Transportation Act of 2010

2. Complete Streets Act of 2009

3. Safe Routes to School Program

4. Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act

5. Land and Water Reauthorization and Funding Act

~Darren Flusche
League Policy Analyst

Not surprisingly, Lance gets pissed off and tweets his millions of followers to share their outrage. He calls Kornheiser to put him straight. That’s what we all want to do. We are all thinking “How could anyone be so stupid and say that, even if they think they are just being funny.” We want to go on the show and put the record straight. Get an apology. Remind people we’ve got a right to the road. Ask for some respect out there. All credit to Lance for doing that and for getting the apology; I heard he did a great job (listen here). We’ve been on the phone with the station managers since it happened last Friday – Lance clearly has pull!

My anxiety is this.  Kornheiser got all the attention he wanted and so did the show. That’s what he’s paid to do. He got Lance Armstrong on his show – how cool is that? With a  little controversy thrown in for good measure. We’ve learned from numerous previous incidents – one as recently as two weeks ago in the Raleigh area – that the only way to deal with this kind of nonsense in the longer term is with the station managers and owners directly. Five years ago, Clear Channel instituted a strong disciplinary policy on this topic after a series of horrible incidents on their stations, and it worked. Since then we’ve done battle with Entercomm – local Boston retailers Landry’s set them straight – and others. Some of the “personalities” have been taken off the air and disciplined.

I probably would have encouraged Lance to call the ESPN owners to say he wouldn’t appear on their networks again until Kornheiser not only apologized but also was taken off the air and made to do some PSAs and public appearances (maybe even in spandex…) at local charity bike events; maybe until ESPN agreed to sponsor Bike to Work Day or a Safe Routes to School initiative… As plenty of people have said, if he gets two weeks off the air for criticizing a colleague’s fashion sense, surely exhorting people to potentially kill cyclists ought to generate some kind of meaningful punishment. More meaningful than getting to chat with one of the greatest sports personalities on the planet.

Credit to WashCycle for being all over this story.

Andy Clarke
President, League of American Bicyclists

The training will focus on issue definition, campaign goals, resources assessment, strategy, communication, tactics/timelines, and resource management. The curriculum will help you choose, direct, and win campaigns to promote better conditions for biking and walking in your state, province, or local community.  The trainings are set up in peer-to-peer and group breakout sessions to improve communication and foster collaboration. Previous participants have won complete streets campaigns, Safe Routes to School campaigns, and bike safety campaigns at the state and local level.

Located along the banks of the Mississippi River, New Orleans is a unique city with rich history, culture, food, and music. The historic neighborhoods of New Orleans offer residents and visitors a vibrant and enjoyable urban environment, whether along the narrow streets of the French Quarter or under the oak trees of Uptown. Spring in New Orleans brings countless festivals, crawfish season and amazing weather to enjoy the city’s great outdoor spaces; including Jackson Square, Audubon Zoo, City Park or the Mississippi River Trail. Already one of America’s best-kept bicycling secrets, see why New Orleans is best seen on two wheels. You’ll return energized and with a blueprint for a successful bicycling advocacy campaign. 

Register now

~Darren Flusche
League Policy Analyst

From BTA:

“We are overjoyed to have Rob join us in the Pacific Northwest. He not only brings strong experience with bicycle and active transportation issues, he also brings deep organizational development and strategic skills. With his experience on local and national issues, we are confident that he is the right person to advance the bicycling movement for Oregon,” said board chair Mary Roberts. The addition of Mr. Sadowsky to the BTA concludes a recruitment process that involved input from BTA members and non-members alike as well as key people throughout the cycling community nationally.

Mr. Sadowsky leaves the Active Transportation Alliance having grown the budget of the organization from $1 million to $3 million and from a staff of 10 to more than 30. During his time at the Active Transportation Alliance, he oversaw a successful rebranding of the organization from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to the Active Transportation Alliance, the development of a 20 year strategic plan for cycling in the Chicago area, and the creation of a professional services organization developing non-motorized transportation plans to numerous Midwest communities.

Rob had been among those listed as candidates for the position by BikePortland in December.

The President of the Board of the Active Transportation Alliances wishes Rob the best.

Finally, speaking of BTA, here’s a nice write up of their experience at the National Bike Summit.

~Darren Flusche
League Policy Analyst

 Unfortunately, good data on bicycling and walking levels are hard to come by.  Even the best national measures have limitations. The National Household Travel Survey cannot be reliably broken down to the local level – though it does tell us that the length of the average bicycle trip is about two miles. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks only about journeys to work and counts only some bike commuters – it misses bike-to-work trips by people who mostly use other modes or split the trip with transit. Some communities have relied on deceminal census data for their bike planning, which combines the methodological shortcomings of the ACS with nearly decade-old numbers. With the growth we’ve seen in bicycling and bike commuting, that is like relying on a elementary school transcripts to determine college admissions.

One indomitable west-bound male, with helmet

To make up for this, many communities do their own counts, often calling on volunteers for help. In appreciation for all of the bike counts that provide research data (Portland, LA, San Fransico, Pilladelphia, New York City,) I decided to volunteer for the bike count in nearby Arlington, VA. What better way to wind down from the National Bike Summit?

This Saturday’s count was rescheduled from the Snowmageddon weekend, but the change in date didn’t ensure pleasant weather. The cold rain kept all but the most dedicated away. For those of you familiar with the DC area, I was camped out on a stretch of Four Mile Run at 27^th Road for two hours. Fortunately, I was able to duck under an overpass.

Despite the nasty weather (and disappointing counts), it felt good help add to the greater bike-count body of knowledge. In order to make sure that disparate counts happening in communities all over the country can truly add to our knowledge of bicycling levels, Alta Panning + Design and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) launched the National Bicycle & Pedestrian Documentation Project. They have guidelines to standardize the various counts in an attempt to make them comparable.

Check out their website for information on Bike-Pedestrian Counting Equipment 101, Adjustment Factors, Counts Training, Survey Training, and Facts and FAQs.

An equally dedicated east-bound male, with helmet

~Darren Flusche
League Policy Analyst

Topics include:
-    Club leader transitions
-    Reaching new members
-    Budgeting
-    Insurance
-    Managing membership
-    Organizing rides and volunteers
-    Marketing
-    Local advocacy issues

The seminar will be held in conjunction with the Wheel and Sprocket Bike Expo Sale - so come to Milawaukee to pick up some great bike gear AND get great tips on bike club management.

Register now – space is limited! Contact Lisa Reitz at lisa@bikeleague.org for more information.

~Lisa Reitz
League Membership and Events

~Meghan Cahill
League Director of Communications

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.

7. The Bikes Belong Coalition Political Action Committee (Bike PAC) – the bicycle industry’s bipartisan political action committee – had 10 members of Congress join the meeting!

6. Bikes Belong rolled out their new campaign People for Bikes – a brand-new initiative to put more people on bikes more often.

5. We had two members from Capitol Hill join us for the 10th Annual Congressional Bike Ride – Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Senator Merkley (D-OR)!

4. Representative Tom Petri (R-WI) pedaled a pedicab at the League’s National Bike Summit the afternoon of the Lobbying Day.

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.

~Meghan Cahill
League Director of Communications

Today, he announced his new Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations. It is simply the strongest statement of support for prioritizing bicycling and walking ever to come from a sitting secretary of transportation.

On his blog, he writes:

Today, I want to announce 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.

We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

To set this approach in motion, we have formulated key recommendations for state DOTs and communities:

• Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
• Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
• Go beyond minimum design standards.
• Collect data on walking and biking trips.
• Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
• Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
• Improve nonmotorized facilities during maintenance projects.

Now, this is a start, but it’s an important start. These initial steps forward will help us move forward even further.

The Secretary ended by thanking the League of American Bicyclists, but we strongly thank him for his words, his energy, and now for his official policy statement. We agree that there is further to go and we look forward to working with the Secretary to get there.

Secretary LaHood speaks to the crowd at the League's National Bike Summit

Secretary Ray Lahood, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, and League President Andy Clarke

The League would also like to thank the 700 people who came to Washington, DC to tell Congress how important bicycling is to this country.

~Darren Flusche
League Policy Analyst

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.

via fastlane.dot.gov

~Meghan Cahill
League Director of Communications