in Minnesota this July 31-August 2. The event is packed with three days of riding with multiple options and activities. Thank you Twin Cities Bicycle Club for hosting!

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's writes in a recent blog entry titled "Smart Community Planning, More Transportation Options Lead to Reduced Carbon Emissions" that, "If we want to reduce transportation carbon emissions, we need to reduce the amount of driving we do." Additionally, he calls for communities to have additional transportation choices, such as light rail, fuel-efficient buses, and paths for pedestrians and bicycles that intersect with transit centers. Read more.

Congressman Blumenauer is set to introduce legislation that will implement a series of tax incentives for individuals and employers to make it easier for commuters who wish to commute to work by bicycling, walking, carpooling or using public transit. The legislation titled Green Routes To Work will also make changes to the bicycle commuter provision passed last year by allowing employees to receive both transit and bike benefits in the same month. The Green Routes To Work legislation will also revise the bike commuter benefit language to allow employees to elect to reduce their salary by the value of the Qualified Bike Provision. Click here to see provisions of the bill.

Congressman Jim Oberstar, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, joined Senator George Voinovich of Ohio and House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Chairman Peter A. DeFazio of Oregon in a Capitol news conference on July 14, 2009 to voice support for new authorization of surface transportation programs and opposition to an extension of current authority which is being advocated by White House officials. The current authorization, contained in the 2005 act known popularly as SAFETEA-LU, received an 18 month extension of highway programs by the Environment and Public Works Committee on July 15, 2009. The legislation passed with an overwhelming 18-1 vote.

Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and Mike Michaud (D-ME) have authored a sign on letter asking Congressman Jim Oberstar to support higher funding for the Recreational Trail Program, including an administrative set aside and study of off-highway fuel use. Please contact your Congress members, and ask them to sign!

The Jefferson County Commissioners intends to seek state legislation that would allow all 64 counties in Colorado the ability to ban bicycles on county roads. Currently, Bicycle Colorado, the state advocacy group, and Bike Jeffco, the local advocacy group, are in communication with County Commissioners to address this issue as well as safety and congestion concerns along the corridor. Colorado Counties have a strong influence at the state legislature, and Colorado bicyclists will need to unite to counter and fund any expansion of bike banning authority. Bicycle Colorado is preparing for a challenging and costly 2010 state legislative session and seeks your support. The League stands prepared to assist Bicycle Colorado in their efforts at the state level. Updates and specific calls to action regarding this issue will be posted at www.BicycleColorado.org. When a specific action item arises, the League will post on www.bikeleague.org.

The nation's most overweight states have low bicycle commuter populations according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009. Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia rank as the most obese states with 32.5, 31.2 and 31.1 percent of their populations categorized as obese. Interestingly, only 0.1 percent of Mississippians and Alabamans bicycle commute, while 0.2 percent of West Virginians do. Oregon, the state with the highest bicycle commuting rate, has a 1.7 percentage of bicycle commuters. Read more.

The Chattanooga Community Kitchen and Outdoor Chattanooga are providing bicycles for the homeless in their community. Chattanooga Community Kitchen marketing director Jens Christensen said the program is a local idea, and he knows from helping homeless people find and keep jobs that providing pedal power will work. He said getting a bike is a "bit of empowerment." The bikes are donations and will be repaired with money from a program started by Mayor Ron Littlefield. Read more.

Bruce W. Rosar, 56, of Cary, N.C. died Saturday, July 11, 2009 while riding his bike near Apex, N.C. According to authorities, Bruce was finishing up a 62-mile ride when he attempted to make a left-hand-turn and was struck by an oncoming motor vehicle. Bruce was an active League of American Bicyclists member, practicing League Cycling Instructor and a Board member since March 2008. He is survived by his wife Margaret Rosar, also of Cary, and brothers James and Keith. Visit the League's memoriam page for Bruce, and learn how you can honor his memory.  

We all know that driving while using a cell phone is not safe, and according to the New York Times, "drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers, and the likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a .08 percent blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated." Please encourage your friends and family to drive sans phone, as only five states and the District of Columbia require drivers who talk on cell phones to use hands-free devices and only 14 states have banned texting and driving.
Source: New York Times

Climate Ride is this September 26-30th, 2009, with the Climate Riders pedaling 300 miles from New York City to Washington D.C. in five days. The ride leaves from Manhattan, then goes through New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, and on the fifth day, riders will arrive near the Capitol building in Washington D.C. Along the way, expert speakers will educate and inspire Climate Riders about the science, the policies and the solutions to the climate crisis.

Climate Riders must pay a $100 registration fee and raise $2400 in order to participate; all proceeds go to Focus the Nation, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and Clean Air - Cool Planet. Read more.

According to a recent poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners and Public Opinion Strategies, 65% of Democrats and 62% Republicans agree that a lot more emphasis should be placed on prevention in the health care system. Both the House and Senate health reform bills currently include prevention as a strong element. The current prevention provisions focus on promoting healthy community environments, which have been proven to lead to healthier people. Visit Prevention Institute's Health Reform Library. Learn how your community can become a Bicycle Friendly Community.