issues from teaching techniques, to local government, to shops and how to work with them to deliver bike education. The conference is being held this June 18-20 in San Jose, Calif. and is the only national conference dedicated to the critical topic of bicycle safety and education. The League has extended our early bird discounted registration rate to June 12. If you teach bicycle safety, you should be in San Jose this June 18-20. View agenda. Register today!

Last week the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced their goals for the transportation authorization bill The Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009.  Senator Lautenberg stated that, "We need a transportation policy that reestablishes our leadership throughout the world when it comes to transportation - and meets our country's transportation demands for generations to come." He added, "This legislation will establish a national policy that improves safety, reduces congestion, creates jobs, and protects our environment."  

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Burr (R-NC) , Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined together to introduce the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act. The Act will triple funding for the program, from the FY2009 level of $183 million to $600 million per year to meet the high demand and need for the program; expand eligibility to include high schools and to allow a state to spend a portion of its funds to address bus stop safety and improved access in more rural communities; improve project delivery and reduce overhead by addressing regulatory burdens; and add a research and evaluation component. Read more.

Transportation for America unveiled its blueprint this month for restructuring the nation's transportation program in order to build a smart, safe and clean transportation system that provides real transportation choices for all Americans. In its proposal, T4 America supports a number of the America Bikes Coalition's recommendation to Congress for the next transportation authorization bills by calling for the implementation of federal complete street policies, the creation of a balanced allocation of federal transportation funds that would include increased investment for bicycle and pedestrian projects. As a founding member of the America Bikes Coalition, the League has been working with T4 America to ensure that the next federal transportation bill is truly multimodal. Read T4 America's The Route to Reform. You can also view the America Bikes Coalition recommendations here. 

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood stresses the importance of bicycle safety and defensive riding as Bike Month comes to a close. LaHood wrote in his blog Welcome to the Fast Lane, that "Our roads and communities must be built to allow people to get around safely outside of their cars, on bike or on foot." He adds, "as more people take to bicycling, that idea can only be sound when drivers and cyclists help each other share the roads safely." Read more.

As the heavier driving season approaches, the Alliance to Save Energy is launching phase two of the Drive $marter Challenge campaign. Consumers can learn to drive down their gasoline expenses with good vehicle maintenance and wise driving habits.
"Why spend more at the gas pump than you have to - especially in the midst of such a tough economy?" asks Alliance President Kateri Callahan. Start to incorporate bike trips for your everyday commuting and errands. Visit the Drive $marter Challenge.

Broadway is now a pedestrian mall from 47th to 42nd Street and from 35th to 33rd Street. The iconic thoroughfare is officially closed to motor vehicles in two key sections of midtown - Herald Square and Times Square. You are allowed to walk or bike through the area. Mayor Bloomberg said he believes the street shutdown will make New York more livable by reducing pollution, cutting down on pedestrian accidents and helping traffic flow more smoothly.
Source N.Y. Daily News
View pictures on Streetsblog

Caltrain is done expanding the number of bike spaces on all their gallery bike cars - each gallery bike cars now have 40 bike slots each, up from 32 bike slots each. They are also expanding bike capacity on seven Bombardier bike cars to 24 bike slots each, up from 16. When that work is complete, the vast majority of their trains will have from 48 to 80 bike slots. This is a substantial improvement in the consistency of available bike spaces on trains. Learn more.

New York, N.Y.: NYCDOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan was a bike commuter on Bike to Work Day, leading a commuter ride from Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza to City Hall. Along the way, there was a brief stop on the Brooklyn Bridge for Transportation Alternatives' Bike Breakfast. Then it was on to City Hall for a presser with Council Member David Yassky, co-sponsor of the Bicycle Access Bill (Intro 871), which he expects to pass later this year. Events are still going on through May 31.

San Francisco, Calif.: More than 200,000 people biked to work for San Francisco's 15th annual Bike to Work Day. There were twice as many bikes as cars on Market Street during the morning commute. Participants rallied on City Hall steps to show support for 50+ projects that will double the number of bike lanes on city streets -- a proposal headed to city decision-makers next month. Read more.

Washington, D.C.: 8,000 bicyclists registered to celebrate Bike to Work Day 2009 at locations in the Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia areas - a new record. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu participated in Bike to Work Day and spoke at the D.C. event - another positive sign that the new Obama Administration supports bicycling. Read more.

Lee County, Fla.: BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County, Fla. BikeWalkLee kicked off Bike to Work Day on the steps of the County Court House and had a number of county officials in attendance, along with the area's cyclists. County Commissioner Ray Judah was the keynote speaker.

Marin County, Calif.: Marin County enjoyed a great day on May 14 as over 4,300 cyclists participated in Bike to Work Day - contributing to the 36% regional increase over last year. Read more.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, 71-year-old, is trading in his 2001 Volvo for an AC Transit pass and some tennis shoes . "I'm trying to reduce my carbon footprint to the absolute minimum," he said. "I figure, if I really want to go someplace I can just rent a car."  Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Clay Allsopp, a high school junior at Enloe High School, recently won the HensonFuerst Video Public Service Announcement Contest which asked area teens to produce videos about cycling safety. View Allsopp's winning video