If you are interested in serving on the League Board of Directors, or if you know someone who would be a good representative for cyclists in your region, the Nominating Committee is now soliciting recommendations for candidates for the 2010 board appointments. The 12 Directors on the board are responsible for setting broad policy and direction for the League. Six represent specific regions and are elected by League members. One seat is an at-large position, elected by members. The board selects the remaining five seats. Four of the board-selected, at-large seats are open in 2010. Read more.

Advocacy Advance is a partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking to research issues critical to the bicycling community. The research team will produce reports on over a dozen topics covering funding, legislation, and legal and policy issues and will bring the research to the advocates in the field. Additionally, the League is publishing all of Advocacy Advance's work online. Read our first report, The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments.

There are also Advocacy Advance grants available. The Advocacy Advance Grants are one-year grants, awarded twice a year (Spring and Fall) to startup organizations and innovative campaigns to dramatically increase biking and walking. The deadline is Thursday for letters of interest. Find out more.

The League of American Bicyclists celebrated bicycle friendliness nationally and locally Monday, August 10 at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C. The League recognized National Geographic with a Bicycle Friendly Business award and celebrated the culmination of a cross-country bicycle ride by travel journalist Ryan Van Duzer. Van Duzer, who rode across the United States to raise awareness about bicycling, visited several League-designated Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) along his route. Fittingly, his journey ended in Washington, D.C., a BFC that is neighbored by two BFCs: Alexandria, Va., and Arlington, Va. View footage and pictures on the League's Facebook page. Click here for Van Duzer's documentary.

After a long hiatus, the League of American Bicyclists' blog is back. As before, the blog will feature contributions from the whole staff. Unlike before, the League now has two policy analysts to keep the blog up to date on the lasted national and notable regional bicycle news, policy and politics. Read our blog!

Every Wednesday cyclists in Tijuana ride to raise awareness for safer streets. Nearly 800 people died in 2008. In addition to poor road conditions, dogs, polluted air and tons of people, bike riders have to avoid drug traffickers and other unheard of street dangers. Read or listen to NPR's story.

Register for Brita Climate Ride, a fully supported, 5-day fundraising bike ride from New York City to Washington DC, September 26 - 30, 2009 through some of the East Coast's most beautiful countryside. Join two hundred cyclists for great food, world class biking and the chance to meet and network with leaders in climate change, renewable energy and environmental causes.  Sign up today and be part of this historic ride to Washington! Find out more.

Calling all filmmakers and videographers who would like to see their work rewarded with a $5,000 prize. All you have to do is create the best two-minute video illustrating how drivers can lower their gasoline costs by adopting one or more of the tips, one tip is to consider other transportation options like bicycing, provided by the Drive Smarter Challenge campaign. Click here for contest rules.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg has signed three new bike laws: one a pedicab registration law and the other two for bike parking regulations. The pedicab laws has created a 60 day period for licensing all pedicab vehicles for commercial use in New York City for the next 18 months. Pedicab owners will be required to carry insurance, and their vehicles will be required to pass a safety inspections. The parking laws stipulate that garages with a 100 or more parking spaces must have one bike space for every ten cars, in 2011 the ratio will apply to lots with 50 or more spaces, and office building owners to allow bicycle access for their tenants.

On August 7, another New York City protected bike lane was opened - this one on Navy and Sands Streets under the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn. The lane connects the Jay Street bike lanes with the bridge's bicycle on-ramp. Noah Budnick, Senior Policy Advisor of Transportation Alternatives, was particularly grateful. Budnick crashed on Sands Street four years ago and fractured his skull even though he was wearing his helmet. Soure New York Times

League members should look for Budnick's article "Biking Rules NYC" in the current edition of American Bicyclist to learn more about Transportation Alternatives and all of the efforts and achievements in bicycling in New York City.

Join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota at the do.walk do.bike conference to build momentum and share expertise for creating an active Minnesota. Learn from fellow community leaders working to increase physical activity through programs, planning, policy, projects and partnerships. Keynote speakers will include nationally recognized physical activity experts Gil Penalosa, executive director of Walk & Bike for Life, and Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. Read more.

September 13-20, 2009 will be reserved as the Virginia's first-ever Cycling and Pedestrian Awareness Week. DRIVE SMART Virginia and BikeWalk Virginia, have set out to create partnerships that improve understanding and create awareness of ways to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities. Visit www.sharingtheroadvirginia.org for further information.

Boycott Greater Media

The League of Michigan Bicyclists has posted an open letter boycotting Greater Media radio for their intolerable remarks against bicyclists. Sign the letter and add your personal comments here. Greater Media's radio station, WCSX, aired deplorable remarks the morning of August 6, 2009 that encouraged violence against bicyclists. Read the League's Trash Talk response.

Rail-Volution

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and its partners invite you to join them at Rail~Volution 2009 this coming fall. If you're an activist, advocate or student in the New England area interested in attending the conference, but concerned about cost, the local host committee of Rail~Volution is offering a scholarship to cover partial registration costs. Those outside the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) service area may also receive a scholarship for travel.  Scholarship applications are due September 11, 2009. 

Fayette County School Bike Safety Program

Ralph Mitchell reports that the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission awarded the Fayette County School system $9,300 in funds to begin the implementation of a bicycle safety program in about 33 middle schools in the county. KBBC grants are funded by Kentucky's Share the Road specialty plate. The program specifically guarantees that the school system will hire League LCIs to teach the hands on portion of the program.