When Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced his retirement last month, we quickly went from gratitude for his work promoting biking and walking, to wondering who President Obama will tap as his replacement.
Here in Washington the rumor mill is swirling with names and questions:
Will it be the National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Debbie Hersman? She’s already been meeting with Senate Commerce Committee members. (The Commerce Committee holds nomination hearings for the position of Transportation Secretary)
What about Mayor Villaraigosa of Los Angeles? He seemed like a favorite until he announced he wanted to complete is full term as Mayor — which runs until June 30th. Would President Obama wait that long to nominate a cabinet member?
What about former Governors Christine Gregoire of Washington, or Jennifer Granholm of Michigan? Their names are being tossed around for many different cabinet positions.
Speculating on cabinet nominations is a common pastime in Washington, but not necessarily a productive one. As the selection of the next Transportation Secretary gets closer, the America Bikes coalition sent a letter to the President weighing in on the characteristics and qualities we most hope to see in the next Secretary of Transportation.
… We sincerely hope [LaHood's] tenure — and his legacy — is just the start of a new era of transportation policy that embraces all modes of transportation equally and ensures that transportation is more than just an end in itself. We hope your next appointment to this critical position: continues the extraordinary collaboration between DOT, EPA, and HUD, and even extends this multi-disciplinary approach to include health and energy agencies; builds on the remarkable success of the TIGER program in getting more funds directly into the hands of local government entities, where smarter, more equitable and inclusive community development projects emerge, and responds to the clear need for real transportation choices and options to be available to all in our communities…
Caron Whitaker Vice President of Government Relations
Prior to joining the League of American Bicyclists in 2012, Ms. Whitaker served as the Campaign Director for America Bikes where she coordinated and implemented America Bikes federal policy agenda. Before that, she worked for the National Wildlife Federation on smart growth, international policy, and community engagement. In addition, Caron served as a Community Land Use Planner for the State of North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, providing technical assistance to local governments and staffing a stakeholders’ council responsible for revising state planning regulations. She has a Masters in Environmental Management for Duke University, Nicolas School of the Environment and a Bachelors of Arts from Williams College.
After the Nobel Peace Prize, the League’s Bicycle Friendly Business designation is one of world’s most sought-after commendations.
Clearly, allowing all staff to ride to work if they want to is an important step. Last week, President Barack Obama said his new Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, “probably isn’t allowed” to continue commuting to work on his bike. With your help, we’ve collected dozens of great reasons to #letdenisride. But with a health-conscious Commander in Chief in the Oval Office, we couldn’t help but dream of the day that President Obama adds a BFB award next to that Nobel Peace prize.
Here are a few more ideas to help the White House join the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency as a League Bicycle Friendly Business.
1) Secure bike parking is great way to encourage riding. BFBs often find that bike racks in prominent locations are a great way to start a conversation about their commitment to bicycling.
2) Convenient shower access is a great way to make bike commuting easier on both commuters and their co-workers.
3) We consider the ways businesses encourage cycling when deciding on BFB awards. We’re always impressed when workplaces print up custom cycling jerseys for their key staff.
4) While biking isn’t always going to be the best choice for a particular trip, the top BFBs make it possible to combine biking with other forms of transport.
5) Even with everything they do to promote cycling throughout the year, Bicycle Friendly Businesses always find a way to step it up on Bike to Work Day.
The first step is easy, Mr. President. Click here to download the BFB scorecard. #letdenisride and build a bike lane to the 21st century!
Thanks to my Photoshop genius colleague Katie Omberg and Primal for their help envisioning a Bicycle Friendly White House.
Scott Williams League Director of Membership
Williams joined the League in April 2010. For the four years prior, he worked providing technology consulting and solutions to nonprofit organizations with Community IT Innovators.
Jacquie Phelan calls it like she sees it. And, as one of the most important trailblazers for women in mountain biking, she’s seen a lot.
A commuter turned racer, Phelan took the male-dominated mountain world by storm in the 1980s. “For more than five years, she went unbeaten, and easily bested 90 percent of the men, as the pack was unsegregated in those early years,” the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame raves. Phelan was also the founder of National Off Road Bicycling Association in 1982, keynote speaker of the inaugural IMBA meeting in 1987, created the Women’s Mountain Bike & Tea Society (WOMBATS) in 1987, and raced on four world championship teams from 1990-1993 during her “second wind.”
In just a couple of months, the mountain bike legend and outspoken advocate for gender equity and industry reform will join us at the National Women’s Bicycling Forum. To learn a little bit more about Jacquie, I interviewed her Esquire-style (ironic, right?), asking her to finish the bolded sentences below. As always, Phelan didn’t disappoint…
My love affair with bikes started late. I learned at nine, under harsh conditions. For me it was a sentence: Mom refused to drive any of the six Phelans. In Los Angeles, that’s child abuse. Or at least we thought so. We were obliged to ride.
What got me interested in riding competitively was two movies, and one sentence from a fellow commuter in San Francisco in 1980. Breaking Away and Chariots of Fire got me all dreamy and some guy said he’d taken a half-hour to catch me on the hilly San Francisco streets.
For me, mountain biking is an industry that has lost its way. It was supposed to be about sustainable fun, repairable machines, durable equipment. I mean…really durable. Thanks to most other mainstream bike companies, things must be thrown away regularly, under the guise of newer and better.
I created WOMBATs because the bicycle world is a patriarchal world. Sports is a surprisingly conformist, gender-role rigid milieu, and athletes are rewarded for ability to conform and not question. To something as huge and impossible to battle as ‘patriarchy’ my only response was: make a funny retort, and doll it up with tea and pearls, because it would remind me of my truly radical ‘moms’ in the 1860s, 70s, 80s, 90s — the ones chaining themselves to 1600 Penn Ave. and getting beaten by cops, etc. They were rich white women, by the way. But not considered ‘persons’ in a legal sense.
Some of my proudest moments were when I was included in a museum display at the San Francisco International airport. Joe Breeze curated the exhibit, entitled “Repack to Rwanda.” My bike’s in it, and Charlie’s first bike is in it, and in the context of those late-70s bikes — all modelled after the 30′s Schwinn boy’s bike — Charlie’s aluminum slope-tube, superlightweight, drop-bar, correct-frame geometry (now industry standard) looks absolutely visionary. Here’s a story I wrote about it. That’s a vicarious buzz. For me, my proud moments are when someone includes me in an event. Once, the promoter of TransPortugal flew me over to de-segregate his race (only men had raced this most rigorous of ultra-endurance races). Another time, the organizers of the reunion of the first-ever world championship — it happened in France three years before the Americans had their mis-named first ever world championship in Durango — had me over this past June for the 25th reunion. As a genuine old Bat, I enjoyed swanning around Villard de Lans and even ‘racing’ the old course. Beat a very jet lagged Joe Breeze, until I got off course and finished a bit early. See? Racers —always competing.
I’ll never forget Brian Stickel yanking me off the start line at Mt Snow, or Tom Spiegle booing me on the podium at the race the day before. Or Charlie Cunningham [my husband] momentarily forgetting his party-phobia, and pedaling up Mount Tamalpais on a full-moon night, to meet me at the top (I’d come up from the other side) and escort me down the moonlit dirt roads. Or my first speaking gig down at UC Riverside: An avid rider in the local club flew me down, because he thought the locals would enjoy a wild storyteller. It was the first time I got to travel without having to race also. It was magic.
I almost gave up when… I never almost gave up! Even when I can’t find sponsors for my activities (I’m paid directly by my victims, er, students), I can still ride, have opinions, have small impact, say the truth as I see it. Oh wait, both Charlie [my husband] and I almost gave up when the company he founded, Wilderness Trail Bikes, was taken from him after 25 years of giving his life and creativity to it. Which was also timed with my breast cancer diagnosis.
What sets me apart from the crowd is I am more of a social animal, with a super well-developed Play Ethic. So it’s natural I never really got with the Sponsor Is The Boss program. Especially, especially, when SUV companies used mountain biking as a platform for their uniquely planet-destroying vehicles! And ALL the teams had an SUV company. That’s when I really think the sustainability aim of bicycles, biking, commuting, and advocacy went off the rails. The bicycle had been shoved into the background of the story.
Some of my strongest allies and inspirations are Frances Willard, Kay Ryan, Anais Nin, Charlie Cunningham, Major Taylor, Talia Lempert, Wilma Subra, John Stilgoe and the great Sheldon Brown.
My biggest challenge as a woman in the sport is being taken seriously about stuff like race course safety (hello Bill Cockcroft!) and equal prize lists. This still hasn’t been worked out. Women don’t get to compete equally in the Olympics on bikes, the field is always half the men’s field.
I always tell women in my workshops that it’s ok to be afraid. I’m always a little scared.
If women are to gain equal footing with men in the bike movement we have to have our own magazines, our own companies, our own rich sponsors.
The most exciting thing I’m working on right now is learning to write, and maybe getting my first real job.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Raising money can be a tough gig. To build a bicycle-friendly America, we need the financial resources, but making the ask isn’t always easy — or successful. Over the past few weeks, though, I’ve been inspired by two women who turned their passion and dedication for cycling into significant funding for local bike projects.
The Hains Point 100
First, here in the nation’s capital, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association is launching a new Women & Bicycles program. (The League’s Women Bike program is working closely with WABA, so, don’t worry — you’ll hear plenty more about this innovative pilot project in coming weeks and months!) Of course, to implement the program the organization needed to raise some cash. Inspired by the effort and wanting to help in some way, Megan Jones — a WABA member, bike commuter and triathlete — came up with a self-professed “crazy” idea: The Hains Point 100. While everyone else was kicking back, spending a cozy pre-holiday weekend eating cookies and wrapping present, Jones would ride 100 miles to raise money and awareness for the Women & Bicycles initiative.
Now, I’m privileged to live just a few blocks from Hains Point — a three-mile, low-traffic, paved loop that hugs the Potomac river. It’s an absolutely divine place to ride, but 100 miles? 33 times around? Even the glittering water and glimpses of the Washington Monument get old on that many go-rounds — especially when the temperature is barely inching into the upper 30s.
But, in literally a matter of days, word of the effort rippled across the metro region. Dozens of people committed to come and ride all 100 miles — or just a few laps — with Jones. Shortly after the fundraising needle passed $1,000, a private donor came forward with a $4,000 match challenge. By the end of 2012, the Women & Bicycles campaign had far exceeded that, banking more than $10K for the new effort. I only made it 10 laps before my frozen toes cried mercy (that’s me being swallowed by my ginormous blue scarf in the picture above), but Jones did all 100 miles with a smile on her face (and a Women Bike button on her jersey!).
Then, a few days later, Frank Peters of cdmCyclist, shared the story of April Morris. In September, the deaths of two women bicyclists on two consecutive days in Newport Beach, Calif., reverberated across the country. Both local residents and bicyclists from across the region came together in grief, concern and an impassioned desire to make their streets safer. April Morris led the charge to turn that outpouring into action.
Morris, who lives in nearby Anaheim but bikes Newport Beach streets, worked with the city council to set up a memorial ride for the two women who died. When she started organizing, her definition of a successful ride was 250 people. On the day of the event, the police stopped counting when they hit 1,200 riders.
Memorial Ride
But beyond riding, residents and area bicyclists wanted to do more to ensure safer streets. Again, working with the city, Morris helped to spearhead a groundbreaking fundraising campaign that combined municipal and individual donations to shore up the Newport Beach Bicycle Safety Improvement Fund. For every $1 contributed by a private donor, the city matched it 3-to-1. With dollars coming in from surrounding communities and even other states, the fund has swelled to more than $300,000.
Did Morris (pictured right) get some push back? Sure. Did she let it stop her? Heck no. “If I could do anything to prevent another death from happening on the streets of Newport Beach, that was my goal,” she told Peters on his radio show. “I do know [the two victims] would have been proud of what we’re doing and what’s happening with the money.”
Peters dubbed Morris his Advocate of the Year and, I gotta say, her interview — the energy and authority in her voice — got me all fired up. Click here to listen.
Speaking of getting fired up (you knew it was coming…), show your passion to get more women riding by registering for the National Women’s Bicycling Forum, coming up on March 4, here in Washington, D.C.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
On Tuesday, I sat down with more than 20 active-transportation professionals and allies at the Moving Millennials workshop hosted by Transportation for America. The aim of the full-day session: Learn about trends in transportation for 18-35 year-olds — and figure out how to turn the decreased interest in driving into an increased energy around bicycling.
For those of you who attended the 2012 National Bike Summit, the subject may sound a bit familiar. We had a compelling keynote by Jason Ryan Dorsey, The Gen Y guy, who highlighted the distinguishing factors of this generation; many of which point to increased interest in active transportation.
The conversation was kicked-off by Phineas Baxandall, Senior Analyst at U.S. PIRG, who gave a great run-down of transportation trends across the board. A recent report from his organization, Transportation and the New Generation, put some compelling data behind what we already know: Millennials are driving less than the generations before them.
The chart Baxandall returned to again and again showed a 6 percent downturn in vehicle miles traveled since 2007 (below). “This is not a blip” he said.
So what’s the cause of the decline in driving? A lot of it stems from the millennials.
The under-35 age group is 25 percent of the transport population, and there was a 23 percent decline in VMT in that age group between 2001 and 2009. During that same span, biking rates shot up 25 percent, and walking rates rose 16 percent.
David Metz, a partner at the public policy research group Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3), shared some helpful insights into millennials’ values. Instead of donating time or effort, he said, millennials are more likely to support causes through monetary contributions. FM3′s research demonstrated that millennials value social ties and interconnectedness. They rated “success” not by how much money or material possessions they own, but by personal relationships such as a happy marriage, supportive friends, and strong family ties.
Between data, inspiring speakers, and insightful discussions, a question emerged: How do we get millennials engaged in bike advocacy? Of course, a question this big couldn’t be answered during a one-day workshop — but the conversation was energizing. Here at the League, we’re trying to get more youth involved through a consistent Facebook and attentive Twitter presence, as well as youth-rate memberships and a reduced registration fee for the National Bike Summit. We’re also planning a Club Leadership webinar focused on getting millenials involved in bike clubs.
But we also know there are miles to go before we sleep, and there’s a lot of work to be done to get millennials involved in making biking better. But the future is certainly bright. As Marc Gorton, founder of OpenPlans said in his speech: If millennials keep decreasing their VMT, “we’ll need to change the way we think about transportation.”
Do you have any insights or stories to share?
Katie Omberg Events and Outreach Manager
Katie joined the League in April of 2010. For the two years prior, she worked at the Corcoran College of Art + Design as a programs coordinator. Katie has a BA in Religion from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass. She enjoys biking to work.
Watch the three-minute video, featuring clips of the event and interviews with leaders like Maga Miranda of the Ovarian Psycos, Caroline Samponaro of Transportation Alternatives and Lisa Rodriguez from Recycle-A-Bicycle.
In addition, Streetfilms put together a collage of insight from the Pro Walk Pro Bike conference, which also touches on women’s issues.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
There’s probably no better place to assess the representation of women in bicycle marketing than here in Las Vegas at Interbike.
More than 20,000 retailers, manufacturers and advocates are packed into the Sands conference center this week for the biggest industry event of the year — displaying countless marketing messages highlighting new products and campaigns.
Thanks to Elly Blue — and her presentation at the National Women’s Bicycling Summit last week — I’ve got a new lens to take it all in.
Panelists from the Who’s Selling Cycling to Women session (clockwise from left): Elly Blue, Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, Susi Wunsch, Maira Boustead, Mia Kohout (Photo by Bicycle Times)
As part of the “Who’s Selling Cycling to Women” panel, Blue came up with a simple analytical tool to assess women’s representation in bike-related media. Inspired by the Bechdel criteria for women in movies, Blue created a three-point test “to evaluate images of women in bicycling.”
Are women present or represented at all?
Are the women presented as active subjects rather than passive objects?
If the gender were reversed, would the meaning stay more or less unchanged? (Or would the image become hilarious?)
“As the influence of women grows across all types of bicycling, there has been quite a bit of debate about the representation of gender in everything from ads to advocacy campaigns, race tracks to board meetings,” Blue explains. “Is that photo of a sexy woman on a bike sexist, or is it empowering? Objectifying, or compelling? Tokenizing, or inclusive? Is it different if the photo was taken by a woman? What if the woman depicted is an avowed feminist? Does this mean we are never allowed to depict women wearing skirts and heels? These discussions tend to get frustrating, in part, I think, because we don’t always have a shared idea of what these terms mean. ”
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
I had barely gotten the words “Welcome to the National Women’s Bicycling Summit” out of my mouth when a woman in the crowd yelled “It’s about time!” — and a massive cheer erupted from the packed room.
I could say the energy and enthusiasm were off the charts for the sold-out (well, more than sold-out) event on Thursday, but a) I’m still speechless and b) even that would be an understatement. With more than 275 women from across the country in attendance, we saw — and, more importantly, felt — our diverse collective power to lead and advance the bicycle movement.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to take in any of the presentations in their entirety, but I did catch glimpses of the insight and inspiration shared in the six sessions. (And we’ll be posting video, presentations and other resources in coming days…)
In Women in Bicycle Sports, I saw folks taking pictures with Dotsie Bausch, inspired by the chance to hold the track cyclist’s silver medal from the 2012 Olympics.
In the Young Women Who Ride panel, I heard Lisa Rodriguez, from Recycle-A-Bicycle, describe how she’s trained dozens of fellow female bike mechanics — and deals with customers who see a woman behind the wrench and insist on a second (male) opinion.
In the Selling Cycling to Women panel, we all laughed as Maria Boustead from Po Campo described bike shop owners’ confused response to her chic bicycle bags and Elly Blue’s three-point test about women cyclists’ representation in the media.
In the Women in the Political Process session, the conversation was going strong with folks like Robbie Webber from Wisconsin and Sam Ollinger from San Diego sharing their experiences in elected office and local committees — and firing up other women to speak up and get involved even if they don’t think they have all the answers or expertise (after all, men don’t either!).
In the Beyond Spandex, Toward Social Justice panel, the Ovarian Psycos — a predominantly Latina all womyn cycling brigade — set the room (and Twitter) on fire with their proud, assertive feminist organizing around cycling in East LA.
Beyond Spandex panel — four leaders from the Ovarian Psycos on left
I was halfway down the long hallway when I heard shouting and applause coming from the Family Biking and Car-Light Living session. When I made it into the room, an advocate who had been at the Pro Walk Pro Bike conference since Monday leaned in and whispered: “I just saw the best presentation I’ve seen all week.” The stunning speaker? Emily Finch, car-free mother of six, who put together a video with equal parts humor and inspiration. (More from her later today!)
But the Women’s Summit wasn’t just powerful because of the information sharing. It was about making connections. It was about seeing women at the podiums — seeing ourselves as the experts and leaders we are. As one reporter pointed out to me, the energy and diversity at the Women’s Summit foreshadowed a strong future for the bicycle movement.
So THANK YOU to everyone who attended; it was an honor to meet so many incredible leaders. And remember this is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more videos and presentations from the Summit — and information about Women Bike.
Couldn’t agree with Elly more!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
There’s a reason hundreds of bicycle advocates flock to Washington, D.C., each year for the National Bike Summit. Regardless of political persuasion, we all recognize that we need bicycle-friendly leaders to build a bicycle-friendly America.
Still, there’s often the misconception that, as members or leaders of bicycle clubs and nonprofits, advocates are limited in how they can get engaged in local, state and federal elections. Yes, there are rules to follow, but there are many effective ways bicyclists can educate and engage candidates on important transportation issues.
The latest report from Advocacy Advance — a partnership of the League and Alliance for Biking & Walking — uses clear explanations and real-world examples to highlight best practices for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, 501(c)4 organizations and even individual bicyclists.
“Elections matter,” Flusche writes. “During the election cycle, campaigns give bicycling and walking advocacy organizations the opportunity to educate candidates on bicycling issues, increase the focus on bicycling and walking issues in campaigns, and ultimately build a more bicycle‐friendly America.”
“These activities make a difference,” he continues. “For instance, Bike Delaware used a candidate survey to gauge support for a funding initiative that resulted in $20 million in state funds for a statewide bicycling and walking network. This guide includes insight and examples from Bike Delaware’s survey — and much more.”
To provide clarity and inspiration for bicycle advocates, the report provides:
Guidelines for what 501(c)(3) nonprofits can and cannot do
Explanation of 501(c)(4)s and their activities
Bike/ped examples of
Candidate surveys
Candidate forums
Legislative scorecards
Show Me Events, and more
Making cycling safe and comfortable in your community starts with educating and engaging candidates running for office at all levels of government. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader or individual cyclist read this report and get involved during this important election season.
Questions about the election guide? Contact Darren at darren@bikeleague.org.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
It’s a common frustration among cyclists: Elected officials and agency staff often give short shrift to cyclists and more priority to motorists when making decisions about transportation.
In many communities, funding choices are made without public input or scrutiny; streets are repaved without a thought of adding bicycle lanes; and school properties are purchased miles and miles away from the neighborhood children they serve.
What can we do to make cyclists and pedestrians an integral, normal part of the transportation conversation? A new report from Advocacy Advance — a partnership of the League and Alliance for Biking & Walking — highlights the benefits of establishing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) to make sure active transportation has a dedicated seat at the decision-making table.
Click here to downloadMaking Bicycling and Walking a Norm in Transportation Agencies: Best Practices in Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committees.
Written by Matt Wempe, the League’s State and Local Advocacy Coordinator, the report includes:
The definition and structure of a BPAC
Benefits and challenges of a BPAC
Making the case for a BPAC
Establishing a BPAC
Recommendations for an effective BPAC
And more…
Just one example showcased in the report comes from Nashville, Tenn. In 2008, the city invited 23 individuals — including bike/ped advocates, public works staff, police, and private citizens — to assist the Metropolitan Planning Organization with a regional bike/ped study. That “working group” quickly evolved into a strong, standing BPAC and has gone on to boost bicycling across the region.
For instance, the BPAC helped develop scoring criteria that boosted the number of funded road projects that include bicycle and pedestrian elements by an impressive 70 percent. The BPAC also advocated for policies to establish a 15 percent set aside for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the MPO’s transportation improvement program. Talk about changing the conversation!
Learn more about establishing and improving your local BPAC; read the entire report at www.advocacyadvance.org/resources.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Yesterday, the D.C. engineer and advocate was honored as a Transportation Innovator and Champion of Change by the nation’s top brass. Davis was among just 14 individuals who were applauded by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood as visionaries for the future of American mobility.
“We’re not talking about the past,” Lahood said at yesterday’s ceremony. “We’re not talking about building more roads and bridges. We’re talking about building new and creative communities with innovative and creative ways of getting people around those communities.”
That’s certainly what Davis is talking about.
Veronica Davis speaking at the National Women Cycling Forum (Credit: Chris Eichler)
Many people do not recognize the role that equitable and accessible multi-modal transportation options play in their everyday lives. Transportation planning and choices have the ability to impact socioeconomic conditions, personal health and overall quality of life. I seek to help others understand that the role of transportation cannot be underestimated.
As a result of many casual discussions with others about transportation options in my community, Black Women Bike DC was founded. Although it started as a twitter hash tag (BlackWomenBike), it grew into a movement within the District of Columbia. I have always been an advocate of sustainable transportation but after noticing the absence of black women on two wheels Nse Ufot, Najeema Washington and I founded Black Women Bike in May 2011. The organization has grown to over 550 African American women in Washington, DC ranging in age from late 20’s to late 60’s. The news spread to women via word of mouth and social media. Although the group takes a monthly group recreation ride to help novice riders get prepared for riding on the road, we encourage the women to use biking as an alternative form of transportation for running small errands and getting to work… Black Women Bike is building a community of women who bike in the District.
Davis wasn’t the only bike/ped visionary honored as a Champion of Change. Jason Roberts, creative director for Team Better Block, was recognized for his innovative approach to urban redevelopment. What started as a guerilla project in a struggling area of Dallas quickly turned into a national model. As Roberts wrote in his blog post:
My whole life I was waiting for someone to create the kind of community I always dreamed of. The real change in me occurred when I saw many of my friends moving away from our city. I looked at that and thought I could leave as well, or we could all start working to make it the kind of place we always wished we lived in. The change for me personally was to say, “Wait a second, who am I waiting for to fix these problems?”
In 2006, I started the Oak Cliff Transit Authority which brought together civil engineers, residents and property owners to return the streetcar as a means to revitalize our community…. A team of artists, residents, and property owners helped begin our first Better Block project, an effort to temporarily revitalize a single blighted block with any means at our disposal. What we lacked in funds we made up for in community! We set forth in building our dream walkable environment. We took our wide streets and thinned them by creating bike lanes and outdoor café seating so children and families could more easily access the area and seniors could have a comfortable place to sit. We brought in historic lighting and shade trees, and began converting the vacant buildings into pop-up business such as local cafes, markets, flower shops and art studios for kids. We filled the sidewalks with fruit stands and life!
Prior to the project we were told Dallas was too hot and lacked the culture to support a pedestrian environment. What we found was that we were no different than any other great city in the world. We just needed the chance to create an irresistible place that embraced people and promoted walking, bicycling and lingering with friends and family.
Congratulations to Davis and Roberts for recognition well-earned!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Leah Missbach Day, co-founder of World Bicycle Relief, will keynote the first-ever National Women’s Bicycling Summit on September 13, 2012 in Long Beach, California. Speaking about how the bicycle can inspire both personal and cultural revolutions, Day will set the stage for an event aimed at increasing the number of women who ride bikes and empowering female leadership at all levels of the bicycle movement.
Leah Missbach Day
In 2009, women accounted for just 24 percent of all U.S. bike trips. Hosted by the League and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, the National Women’s Bicycling Summit will provide a unique opportunity to network, share best practices and develop action steps to close the gender gap in American bicycling. This event will be a powerful opportunity to learn from each other, build a network of female leaders from coast to coast, and work toward a bike future where women don’t account for just 24 percent of bike trips, but are equally represented on the streets and in the movement.
The Summit will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center, immediately following the Pro Walk Pro Bike conference, from 2 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on September 13. In addition to the keynote address, the Summit will feature six break-out sessions, including media, diversity and car-free families. Speakers will include:
The Women’s Summit will also include the “Cycle Chic: Past, Present & Future” urban bike fashion show, hosted by Women On Bikes SoCal and inspired by Mikael Colville-Andersen, founder of Copenhaganize.com and the world-wide Cycle Chic movement. Colville-Andersen will be a special guest at show. “We’re so delighted to pay homage to Mikael, and the influential place the bike holds right now as a design and fashion darling,” says Melissa Balmer, Editor/Initiative Director for Women On Bikes SoCal. “We hope both the Summit and the fashion show will inspire more women to become active participants in the crucial movement of bicycle advocacy.”
Tickets for the Summit are $35 and registration (open to women and men) is now open. Scholarships are available for women with financial need: For more information, contact Carolyn Szczepanski at carolyn@bikeleague.org.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
We’re all waiting with bated breath as the members of a Congressional conference committee race to beat the clock on the June 30th expiration of the current extension of the federal transportation bill. Unfortunately, the fate of critical funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs hangs in the balance — despite an overwhelming show of support over the past several months.
First, a survey from Princeton Survey Research Associates showed a staggering 83 percent of the American public wants Congress to maintain or increase federal funding for sidewalks and bikeways.
Then, more than 70 national organizations — from the AARP to the Sierra Club — urged the conferees to preserve local control and access to funding for biking and walking.
Next, the U.S. Conference of Mayors — representing more than 1,300 of the nation’s largest cities — passed a resolution asking Congress to “protect and increase funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs in the next transportation reauthorization law.”
have sent a letter to the two main players in the negotiations — Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative John Mica (R-FL) — urging “the reinstatement of funding for transportation enhancements, providing opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians to have safe and accessible facilities. We support the inclusion of all provisions that encourage a multi-modal approach to our nation’s transportation system.”
C’mon, Congress — Democrats, Republicans, mayors, governors and major organizations representing the interests of millions of Americans all agree: Save local control! Preserve funding for biking and walking!
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
For the past 20 years, local elected officials have been given rare access to state transportation funds through a handful of programs administered by state Departments of Transportation as grant programs. These also happen to be the primary sources of funding for bicycling and walking initiatives: Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails. They account for just 1.5 percent of the overall federal transportation bill and have all been heavily over-subscribed since their creation.
Despite the overwhelming success and popularity of these programs, House Republican leadership and a handful of influential Senators have waged an unexplained and inexplicable vendetta against these programs — not to save the government any money, just to prevent state or local governments spending their money on these specific programs and activities, removing any vestige of local control over transportation investments into the bargain.
The threat of elimination provoked a rare display of bipartisanship in both the House and Senate — a bi-partisan effort to preserve these programs was narrowly defeated in a heavily-whipped House committee vote by just two votes (29-27) and the equally bi-partisan Cardin-Cochran amendment to the Senate transportation bill was successfully adopted.
Remarkably, the single-minded attacks on even the bi-partisan Cardin-Cochran compromise continue. House leadership entered the conference committee process to hammer out a transportation bill (something they couldn’t even get passed in the House itself) with the elimination of funding for bicycling and walking as a top priority. Senate conferees are struggling to hold the line against these attacks, desperate as they are to get a transportation bill — a jobs bill — completed before the summer.
Here are our top ten reasons why Senator Boxer must hang tough, keep her word, and lead the transportation committee conferees to reject these small-minded and vindictive attacks:
There is overwhelming bi-partisan support among the American public for continued or increased federal funding for bicycling and walking programs. At least, we think 83 percent is overwhelming, across party lines, and all geographic, demographic, and ethnic divides.
This is so much more than just a bicycling and walking issue. Transportation stakeholders in support of Cardin-Cochran include mayors, AARP, the American Heart Association, Transportation for America, Sierra Club, The National Council of La Raza, NAACP are just a handful of the dozens of groups from the health, environmental, equity, local government and transportation sectors that signed a letter of support to conferees.
If this is about jobs, we’ve made the jobs case. Transportation investment in bicycling, pedestrian and trail projects are more effective in creating jobs, per million dollars spent, than traditional road projects.
Reducing congestion and easing the morning commute: We’re doing it. Even small reductions in vehicle miles of travel in recent years have resulted in 30%-plus reductions in congestion in our major metro areas. We can do even more with a very small investment.
Replacing short car trips with bike or walk trips improves air quality and saves energy: It’s self evident. A 77% increase in bicycle commuting since 2000 in cities that have invested in bicycling programs shows that these voluntary behavior changes are actually happening.
Worried about efficient project delivery? Small-scale projects to improve the safety, functionality and operation of highway system for all users — those projects funded by the TE, SRTS and RT programs — are popular, successful, and get done quickly. Unpopular, 1950′s-era mega-highway projects with dubious actual benefits will still take years to get built even through a streamlined process… because they are still unpopular, ineffective, and unnecessary.
There are so many benefits beyond transportation to investing in more walkable, bike-friendly communities. Highway agencies may not care about health or livability but the American public does.
Military readiness? Yes, we can even play that card. The U.S. military is so concerned about the general lack of physical fitness among kids that they are big supporters of the Safe Routes to School program as one way to get our children moving again. Really, who wouldn’t be in favor of Safe Routes to School?
Last but not least, there is still an underlying fairness and equity argument underpinning this whole issue. Bicycling and walking make up 12% of all the trips that are made by Americans; 14% of traffic fatalities are bicyclists or pedestrians; but only 1.5% of federal transportation funds address these issues.
Now even that tiny investment is under serious threat. I really don’t get it: What else do we have to do or say to make the case for continued investment in bicycling and walking; for preserving some minimal level of local involvement and control in major investment decisions? Senator Boxer, Chairman Mica…what do we have to do?
(Photo by Allan Crawford)
Andy Clarke League President
Andy Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director. Before joining the League in February 2003, Clarke was on contract to provide technical assistance to the highly regarded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center on site at the Federal Highway Administration. He is on the Board of Directors for America Bikes, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals.
Depending on who you listen to the effort to get a new long term transportation bill is either stalling out or discussions are on-going and deals are being made on some issues — including local control over bicycle and pedestrian spending.
In fact, both of these things could be true. Even if the negotiations stall for now, whatever deals are made will most likely carry over to when Congress picks up negotiations again. That’s why it’s critical that we make sure that the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran agreement, which ensures local control over bicycling and walking funds, remains in the bill.
Both our supporters and our critics need to hear from us that bicycling funding and the Cardin-Cochran must be preserved. But here’s where it gets tricky — the key players have been narrowed. The fate of bicycling funds and Cardin-Cochran comes down to just a handful of well-positioned legislators. They need to hear from their constituents today.
We need you in California!
Biking and walking programs will be on the line in today’s meeting between Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative John Mica (R-FL). California residents, please call — yes, CALL — Senator Barbara Boxer today to urge her to preserve the Cardin-Cochran agreement. We are targeting home offices today (not DC offices). You can follow this link to enter your zip code and find the number for the district office. Please share the link with your friends.
If you are a Twitter user, you can also Tweet her at @SenatorBoxer. Here is a sample tweet you can use: “.@SenatorBoxer, please don’t let states opt out of local control over biking & walking funds #keepbikefunding!” Please note that that period at the beginning is not a typo. That keeps the message from being a direct message, so that everyone on Twitter can see it.
We need you in these Congressional Districts!
Rep. Don Young (R-AK-AL)
Rep. Steve Southerland (R-FL-2)
Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8)
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY-24)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH-12)
Rep. James Lankford (R-OK-5)
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA-9)
Rep. John Duncan (R-TN-2)
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX-4)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3)
Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI-8)
Rep. Shelley Capito (R-WV-2)
The representatives listed above are the ones in a position to attack or preserve the careful Cardin-Cochran compromise. They might think no one cares about bicycling in their district. Let’s prove them wrong! Please call today.
Thank you all for your continued support. We have only made it this far because of the sustained chorus of support from people like you who care about bicycling. This is a key moment to keep it going.
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
We are close to a milestone. Eight days from now will mark the 1,000th day since the federal transportation authorization bill, SAFETEA-LU expired. You can track the progress at Transportation for America‘s website. That means it’s been three years since we’ve had long-term stability for sound, comprehensive, multi-modal transportation planning. It also means it’s been three years that we’ve been asking you to take action and tell Congress how important bicycling is to your community.
You may well have responded to our calls to action more than once. Your Congressional delegation may well already know your position on cycling issues. And, for that, we thank you.
But, by now we know that this campaign isn’t about a single day or a single vote. This is the fight about the future of transportation in America and we have to counter each threat or bicycling will be swept off the negotiating table — maybe for good. There are folks in Congress who want to cut bicycling all together — despite the fact that 83 percent of Americans want funding preserved!
Make no mistake, YOUR action has kept biking in the bill thus far. Please take action today or the hard-fought progress of the past 20 years could be lost!
The process has been long, complicated, and, yes, frustrating. The last transportation bill expired in 2009 and, since then, has continued only thanks to a series of short-term extensions. RIGHT NOW, the House and Senate are negotiating a longer-term bill. The Senate’s bill includes the Cardin-Cochran agreement, which preserves the 20-year history of funding for locally-directed bike and pedestrian projects. The House wants to make our programs entirely optional, leave all the decisions up to state departments of transportation, and strip away the last vestige of local control.
The League is committed to building a Bicycle Friendly America — and we’ve made great progress in that direction. We could NOT have done it without crucial federal transportation funds that are NOW AT RISK. If communities lose access to these funds, it will be a dramatic major setback.
Yet again, cycling is on the brink. You can save it — just like you have in the past. Please take action today in support of the Senate bill, and the Cardin-Cochran agreement.
Please share this alert with everyone you know who cares about safe, healthy, livable communities. Thank you!
Darren Flusche League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
More than 70 national organizations united today to urge members of Congress to preserve control over biking and walking projects in the federal transportation bill.
In a new sign-on letter to transportation bill conferees, the League and dozens of other groups asked members of Congress to support the Cardin-Cochran agreement, a bipartisan compromise that would give local governments and school systems access to a small amount of federal transportation funds for projects like sidewalks and bikeways.
While members of Congress may be debating the issue, most Americans overwhelming support these popular projects. A Princeton survey recently found that 83 percent of Americans want Congress to increase or maintain federal funding for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways, including 80 percent of surveyed Republicans and 88 percent of Democrats.
Here’s what the League, AARP, National Council of La Raza, American Heart Association, and others urged the transportation conferees today:
Dear Members of the Conference Committee on Surface Transportation Reauthorization:
As you move forward conferring on the transportation bill, the 70 undersigned national organizations respectfully urge you to maintain the Cardin-Cochran agreement from MAP-21 in the conference report.
Our organizations care about a diverse range of issues—transportation, safety, accessibility, economic competitiveness, historic preservation, health and obesity. And we are united in asking you to ensure that local governments have flexibility and funding certainty to address these issues by making available to them a small portion of federal transportation dollars.
MAP-21 directs a percentage of funds under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program for “Additional Activities.” This program includes Transportation Enhancements with expanded eligibility for environmental mitigation, Safe Routes to School, and some road and other uses. These programs have traditionally been invested in a variety of smaller-scale, local transportation projects such as building sidewalks, bikeways and other improvements that make downtowns economically competitive and safe for families and pedestrians of all ages.
The Cardin-Cochran agreement is a bipartisan compromise that gives local governments a voice in transportation planning through sub-allocation and grant competitions. It gives local governments—those closest to the needs of their constituents and communities—an opportunity to weigh in on how states spend their Additional Activities federal transportation dollars. The compromise does not change the underlying Additional Activities program or the new eligibilities.
Americans want more biking and walking projects in their communities—rural, suburban, and urban—to provide healthy and safe transportation choices, improve air quality, create jobs and stimulate economic competitiveness in their downtowns. A national poll conducted in March 2012 by the Princeton Survey Research Associates showed that 83 percent of all Americans, including 88 percent of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans, support maintaining or increasing federal investments in biking and walking.
Maintaining local access to this small portion of the transportation bill by retaining the Cardin-Cochran agreement is critical to ensuring that cities and counties of all sizes have a voice in addressing the needs of their constituents. We appreciate your consideration and urge your support for the Cardin-Cochran agreement.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Zac Totten wanted to go out with bang. Little did he know that his senior bike ride idea would make national news headlines.
The senior at Kenowa Hills High School in a suburb of Grand Rapids, Mich., wanted to put on a show, but he didn’t want to end his run with something silly. “In years past, seniors did stupid stuff, like painting the school and camping at the school — dumb things that got them in trouble,” he told me this morning. “I wanted to do something that wouldn’t harm the school and would be good for the community.”
So he came up with a great idea that fit that bill. He got on the (private) Facebook group for his senior class and proposed a bike ride. The idea took off and, with more than 80 kids expected to participate, Zac realized they needed back-up. His friend Steve called the police, who arranged an escort. Zac’s mom invited her friend, the city’s Mayor Rob VerHeulen, who showed up for the event with donuts for the riders.
And, then, smiling and singing the school fight song, the band of merry seniors pedaled to school.
Seniors biking to school (Credit: MLive.com)
“It was a lot of fun,” Zac says. “It was a great experience.”
But then something unexpected happened. After hanging out and taking some pictures, the students started to go inside — but they were redirected to the performing arts center by a school official. “We got chewed out a little bit by our principal who said we were suspended and weren’t able to participate in the traditional senior walk, where we walk through the high school and say goodbye to our teachers and underclassmen,” Zac says. “She said they were going to investigate the prank more and some people might not walk at graduation. My heart kind of dropped, because it was my idea and I had a speech to give [at graduation]. It was really scary at first.”
Joshua Duggan, a board member of the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition (GGRBC), was lobbying at the Michigan state capitol when he heard the news. Even before the local advocacy organization could respond, the community rallied behind Zac and his fellow students. In fact, the response backing biking was so strong that the principal quickly reversed course — and even apologized publicly.
“As evidenced by the overwhelming support for the students in the comments on the news articles, the huge attendance at the board meeting, and the written statement with an apology of sorts by the principal, most people in West Michigan seem to support what the students did,” Duggan says. “And I personally was impressed that the Walker Mayor stood by the students and did not waver in his support of their event.”
In hindsight, Zac says, keeping the ride a secret wasn’t the best tactic. “I felt bad for blindsiding the principal and superintendent, and looking back now, I would have told them we were doing it,” he says. “[At the board meeting], I apologized to them, but I told them I hope what we did this year becomes a tradition: that seniors, on their last day, ride their bikes to their high school.”
Aside from the controversy, though, the Kenowa Hills ride taps into another topic that’s receiving national buzz: the challenges — and in some cases, administrative prohibitions — that many students face in trying to ride to school. If you haven’t seen it yet, David Darlington’s recent article in Bicycling magazine is a must-read. For Duggan in Grand Rapids, Zac and his friends underlined the issues raised in Darlington’s piece and the need for safer routes to school.
“When it’s not safe for the kids to ride to school without a police escort, and when the principal states in her public response to one of the TV stations that she feared for the seniors because ‘I have two kids of my own. I’ve seen car accidents, even this school year right outside our student parking lot,’ it indicates there is a problem with the location of the school and its surrounding roads, because they were designed solely for motor vehicles,” Duggan says.
Zac agrees. He, for one, lives just one mile away but didn’t bike to high school because it didn’t seem safe on the fast-moving, high-volume streets. “We definitely have quite a big population around the school, so we could ride a bike if we wanted to, but it’s kind of dangerous,” he says. “That’s something I’d like to see changed.”
The good folks at GGRBC are still formulating their response and contemplating how to capitalize on the students’ energy and community support — and we’re putting on our thinking caps, too. In the meantime, though, Zac’s ride already inspired his fellow students. “I went back the next day and there were quite a lot of bikes,” he says. “A lot of underclassmen rode to school.”
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
With the release of the 2012 Bicycle Friendly State rankings, it’s great to see states and advocates continuing to improve conditions for bicyclists.
With that in mind, here’s this week’s advocacy roundup:
West Virginia is updating its 1997 State Bicycle Connectivity Plan. WVDOT held a series of public meetings in May to gather input from bicyclists throughout the state. “The meetings have been well attended and folks are providing good comments and input into the process,” says Perry Keller, WVDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator. This input will be used to create draft plan recommendations on necessary bicycle connections. Residents can review the recommendations during another series of public meetings in August/September.
Credit: NYBC
New York Senator Charles Schumer has come out in favor of building the new Livingston Avenue Railroad bridge (connecting Albany and Rensselaer) with bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. “Senator Schumer’s involvement at this early point in the project design is very timely,” said Brian Kehoe, executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition. “The [Livingston Avenue RR Bridge] Coalition anticipates productive engagement with all projects stakeholders as this critical project moves forward. We deeply appreciate the Senator’s support for bicycling.” NYBC received an Advocacy Advance Rapid Response grant to help ensure this opportunity results in a multi-modal connection between the two cities.
California’s three-foot passing bill, SB 1464, faces a vote by the full state Senate soon. The bill will require drivers give bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when overtaking them from behind in the same lane. This bill is a response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto last October of SB 910, the previous attempt to enact a three-foot passing law in California. In his veto message, Brown expressed support for the concept but objected to an exception to the three-foot requirement meant to accommodate drivers in dense urban traffic. SB 1464 contains largely the same language as SB 910, but the exception is slightly less restrictive. We’re confident this version of the bill is one that Gov. Brown will sign. Check out the California Bicycle Coalition’s website for more info.
Massachusetts advocates are pushing for a series of bills, including a vulnerable road user law, to address bicycling and walking safety in the Bay State. The vulnerable road user bill provides law enforcement with more flexible tools to encourage motorists to exercise caution when operating around vulnerable road users, including increased fines, traffic safety classes, and community service.
Georgia Bikes! and the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety have awarded their 2012 seed grants for local advocacy organizations across the state. Several projects are already off the ground as a result of the grants.
Matt Wempe League State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Mr. Wempe joined the League in September 2011. For the three years prior, he worked as a transportation planner and Safe Routes to School Coordinator in Fort Collins, Colo. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
By Mary Lauran Hall, Communications Coordinator, America Bikes
Just two months ago, the Senate passed a transportation bill that included the Cardin-Cochran agreement. This bipartisan compromise would ensure that local governments and school systems are able to access much-needed funds to make bicycling and walking safer and more accessible.
Mississippi advocates with Sen. Thad Cochran at the 2012 National Bike Summit (Credit: Chris Eichler)
Now, poll results show that an overwhelming majority of Americans support federal funding for biking and walking. In a Princeton survey, 83 percent of Americans said that they support maintaining or increasing funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths.
If most Americans support federal biking and walking funding, Congress should, too.
The Cardin-Cochran agreement ensures local control over a small portion of funds for biking and walking. The provision devolves decision-making on a small portion of funds from the states to local governments, whose leaders know the transportation needs of their communities best.
We’ve heard again and again from local elected officials across the country that local governments want and need federal funding to build sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths.
Without the Cardin-Cochran agreement, states could choose to direct these limited funds towards building more roads and highway lanes.
Will you help us get the message to Congress that the transportation bill conferees should preserve the Cardin-Cochran agreement?
Earlier today, America Bikes unveiled a new survey that shows overwhelming support to increase or maintain federal funding for biking and walking. Are you part of that 83 percent? Share this infographic with your friends — and elected officials!
Credit: America Bikes
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Just in time for National Bike to School Day, new survey results reveal overwhelming support for biking and walking, with more than 80 percent of Americans favoring increased or maintained federal funding for sidewalks and bike lanes.
The national survey, performed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, asked 1,003 adults in the United States about their opinions on federal funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths. The results were astounding — and bipartisan:
83 percent of all respondents support maintaining or growing the federal funding streams that pay for sidewalks, bikeways, and bike paths.
80 percent of Republican respondents and 88 percent of Democrat respondents think Congress should maintain or increase federal funds for biking and walking.
91 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 support continuing or increasing biking and walking funds.
These results add critical perspective to a pressing national debate about transportation, as members of Congress conference to develop a consensus transportation bill — and some propose eliminating dedicated funding for biking and walking.
“Americans overwhelmingly support federal funding for sidewalks and bikeways, and any controversy over this is an inside-the-Beltway issue,” said Caron Whitaker, campaign director of America Bikes. “As more people choose to bike and walk for transportation, Americans want their communities to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that keep everyone safe. Cutting programs such as Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails doesn’t save money; it just makes it harder for local governments to make their streets safer and more accessible for children and adults.”
Members of Congress added their support , as well.
Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS): “It is important that communities continue to have access to federal resources to implement transportation improvements such as biking and pedestrian infrastructure that are meaningful to public safety, economic development and quality of life at the local level.”
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD): “Americans support federal investments that make biking and walking safer. These are essential investments in the quality and safety of our national transportation infrastructure. I was proud of the work I did with Senator Cochran to ensure that local governments’ access to bike, pedestrian, and trail funding was maintained in the transportation bill that passed the Senate. This bill is so critical to putting millions of Americans to work on infrastructure projects that will improve U.S. economic competitiveness, travel safety, and energy independence.”
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR): “This polling data clearly shows Americans want transportation options. Especially as gas prices increase, Americans want options that help them save money, spend time with their families, and burn calories instead of carbon. I hope that this new data will remind my colleagues that communities large and small support fully funding sidewalks, bike lanes, and other improvements to make biking and walking safer and more convenient.”
Representative Tom Petri (R-WI): “As we continue work on transportation legislation in the House, we should be careful to produce a balanced program which includes sidewalks, bike lanes and bike paths. The transportation and health benefits of biking and walking are important, and it would be a mistake to reverse the progress we have already made there.”
Visit America Bikes for survey data and the full report. Stay tuned for pictures from the press conference this afternoon!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
One good thing to come out of the federal transportation bill is the incredible impact grassroots advocacy has had on our federal legislators. The National Bike Summit was the culmination of months of hard work, and it paid off big time (notice how the House didn’t even try to eliminate bike programs in their recent extension vote).
State advocates are now holding similar events in capitols across the country (Georgia and Colorado are two recent examples). Each of these events has been tailored to the needs of each state as they keep bicycling on the forefront of legislator’s thoughts.
Credit: Bike Delaware
Bike Delaware recently hosted the Walkable, Bikeable Delaware event focusing on the Governor’s proposal to spend $13 million on bicycle and pedestrian projects in 2013 (here are some of his ideas). Governor Markell has proposed this funding as part of his 2013 budget to make Delaware the “most walkable and bikeable state in the nation.” But Bike Delaware and Gov. Markell are quick to note that democracy requires participation.
After becoming governor in 2009, the Governor found out that he doesn’t automatically get everything that he wants in the budget. The Governor appealed to attendees, if $13 million in state walking and biking funding is important , go speak to your state legislator. It sounds simple, but as James Wilson, executive director of Bike Delaware notes, “it’s very powerful to have the chief executive make the pitch.”
Credit: Bike Delaware
Over 120 attendees, including several cabinet members and state senators and representatives, learned about the state’s efforts to support walking and biking and spoke with constituents. Representative Michael Mulrooney even took to the House floor and urged colleagues to attend. Meetings between legislators and advocates were done informally throughout the day in between sessions.
Credit: Bike Delaware
The main lesson learned for Bike Delaware: these events take plenty of time to plan, but they are definitely worth the effort. “It was very beneficial to have an event focused on advocacy, to give people time to make the case with their elected officials for more funding for walking and biking,” notes Wilson. To all the Delaware readers, there’s still time to give your input before the end of the 2012 legislative session.
Elsewhere in cycling advocacy…
The West Virginia Department of Transportation is currently preparing a statewide bicycle connectivity plan. This would update the current bike plan last adopted in 1997! WVDOT is hosting a series of meetings across the state in May to gather input from cyclist. For anyone who wants to see cycling improve in West Virginia, now’s the time.
Georgia Bikes! and the GA Governor’s Office of Highway Safety are providing seed grants for 10 local advocacy groups across the state. The funding comes from sales of the “share the road” license plates. A whole host of programs and activities will be funded to get more Georgians riding safely.
The inaugural Tennessee Bike Summit starts today in Chattanooga. I’ll be speaking on Friday morning at 9am about the Bicycle Friendly States program and the national bike sharing scene. Get ready for a summer full of Tennessee-related blog posts!
Matt Wempe League State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Mr. Wempe joined the League in September 2011. For the three years prior, he worked as a transportation planner and Safe Routes to School Coordinator in Fort Collins, Colo. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In late February, we announced a “New National Plan to Transform Bicycling” — the potential unification of the League, Bikes Belong and the Alliance for Biking & Walking into one, powerful national organization.
With more than 40 comments on that blog post, we know you want to share your ideas and feedback — and we want to hear it.
“There is a lot of work ahead,” Hans van Naerssen, Chair of the League’s board and a member of the transition team, said in the announcement. “We must determine how to combine the diverse strengths of a powerful alliance of state and local organizations, a storied national user group, and a vibrant industry association in a way that preserves their unique attributes and realizes the game-changing potential of a single entity.”
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
No doubt the past year has been tough for bicycle advocates at the federal level. Time and again a small but vocal cadre of Congress members have pushed to eliminate important and popular programs, like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. But, every time funding for biking and walking have come under fire the push back has been so intense that policymakers have backed off.
And that signals an exciting political shift.
Congress now recognizes cyclists as an influential transportation lobby
As journalist (and bike advocate) Jay Walljasper writes in his latest piece that promises to viral across the internet: “The Bicycling Community Is Becoming a Political Force to Be Reckoned With — And That’s Great News”
“The political forces that want to steer policies back to the 1950s — when cars and highways were seen as the only way to go — have consistently failed to muster enough votes to shift federal transportation funding into reverse,” Jay writes. “There are several reason for this, but one of the most surprising is the emergence of bicycle advocates — and to a lesser extent pedestrian advocates — as a persuasive political lobby.”
League President Andy Clarke made that precise point in our release about the National Bike Summit last month. “Two months ago, the Senate bill would have gutted critical funding for local bicycle projects, eliminated programs like Safe Routes to School and eroded the rights of all American cyclists,” Andy said. “But tens of thousands of people called and wrote their members of Congress and their voices were heard. Now more than ever, cyclists have become a powerful, organized constituency that is redefining our streets as safe, public spaces for people, not just speeding automobiles.”
And, as Jay points out, that’s not just good for cyclists — it’s good for everyone.
Even if you will never ride a bike in your life, you still see benefits from increased levels of biking. More bicyclists mean less congestion in the streets and less need for expensive road projects that divert government money from other important problems. Off-road paths, bike lanes, sidwalks and other bike and ped improvements cost a fraction of what it takes to widen streets and highways. It’s proven that bicycling and walking increases people’s health and reduces obesity, which will translate into huge cost savings for government and a boost for our economy.
Policies that are good for bicyclists actually benefit everyone on the streets. Good conditions for bicycling also create good conditions for pedestrians. And what makes the streets safer for bikes, also makes them safer for motorists.
Higher gas prices (which have topped four bucks for the third time in four years) means more Americans are looking for other ways to get around. Bikes offer people more choices in transportation. This is especially true for people whose communities are not well served by mass transportation or where distances are too far to walk to work or shopping.
Bike advocates are also working hard to dispel the stereotype that all bicyclists are young, white, urban, male ultra athletes in lycra racing jerseys. Increased investment in safer, more comfortable bike facilities means that more women, children, families, middle-aged and senior citizens, minorities, immigrants, low-income, suburban and rural people will ride bikes.
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Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Cyclocross champ Tim Johnson takes the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane to the US Capitol Building. (Photo: Bikes Belong)
Tim Johnson is starting a conversation.
When the cyclecross racing superstar rode 538 miles from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC, in time for the kick off of the National Bike Summit, he wasn’t just pumping his legs; he was pumping up the racing community to become more involved in advocacy. It appears to be working.
In the days since his ride and his participation in the Finally, the Racing and Advocacy World Collide panel session last Wednesday, the internet has been taking up his call to action.
Johnson started his Ride on Washington after attending the Summit for the first time in 2010 and realizing the disconnect between the advocacy and racing communities. His ride, which benefits the Bikes Belong Foundation, raises awareness for advocacy by engaging racers, race fans, and the general public — not to mention John Hancock Funds CEO Keith Hartstein.
The Bike Summit panel session saw a lively conversation about how to encourage racers and advocates to work together better. Gary Fisher, the race legend and sartorial standout, stood up to say: ”Advocates are the ones working hard the ground, the pros are whooosh, just flying overhead. We racers need to RESPECT the advocates.” He went on to say, “I used to be a pro; now I just ride my bike so I can still fit into my suits!”
Johnson’s message appears to be resonating beyond the advocacy community. Here are several of the articles, editorials, and blog posts we’ve seen on the topic:
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
How could they not, after more than 1,500 cyclists rallied on the steps of the capitol building on Tuesday!
The Georgia Rides to the Capitol event hosted by Georgia Bikes! is an annual demonstration of the widespread support for better bicycling conditions and opportunities. Last year’s ride resulted in state legislators passing a three-foot safe passing law. This year, Georgia advocates are looking to:
Implement a statewide Complete Streets policy (working with state Sen. Butch Miller)
Secure a fair share of dedicated funding for bicycle facilities and
Continue to protect the legal rights of cyclists
“Between the sea of smiling bicycle advocates and the enthusiastic crowd of local and state elected officials, it’s clear that the time is right for Georgia to become a more bicycle-friendly state,” said Brent Buice, Executive Director of Georgia Bikes!
Brent Buice, Executive Director of Georgia Bikes!
Cyclists were joined by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, a prominent supporter of the safe passing law, as well as Gerald Ross, GDOT’s Chief Engineer and Harris Blackwood, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
More than 30 mayors and city council members from 25 municipalities across the state also participated in the ride. “[Tuesday's event] was an experience I will never forget in my life and I hope to be able to join again next year,” said Hoschton Mayor Erma Denney.
The Metro Atlanta Mayor’s Association was one of many sponsors that showed their support for bicycling. “For our members, bicycling is a quality of life, health, and public safety issue,” said Aileen Harris, Communications Associate.
Events like Georgia Rides to the Capitol are an excellent way to show elected officials just who they’re talking about when they debate bicycling issues. They give cyclists and legislators (not mutually exclusive terms!) something to look forward to all year. Check out the League’s State Bike Summit Guide for step-by-step instructions and ideas for hosting conferences, rallies, and lobbying days in your state.
vimeo Direkt Cyclists making the trek from Roswell (Georgia’s first Bicycle Friendly Community) to Atlanta. Video by Mike Harmon
Elsewhere in cycling advocacy this week…
The League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) delivered their bicycles on passenger rail petition to Amtrak Chairman Thomas Carper at the Michigan Transportation Odyssey. More than 2,500 Michiganders signed the petition calling for Amtrak to implement roll-on bike service on passenger trains in the state. Carper noted Amtrak’s commitment to such service, but only as new rail cars are purchased in the next two to five years across the Midwest (sounds to me like Mr. Carper is asking for a Midwest-wide petition!).
Rhode Island legislators are reviewing a vulnerable road user law, known as “Frank’s law,” in the Ocean State. The House Committee on Judiciary voted Tuesday to hold the bill for “further study.” Similar bills are under consideration in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Matt Wempe League State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Mr. Wempe joined the League in September 2011. For the three years prior, he worked as a transportation planner and Safe Routes to School Coordinator in Fort Collins, Colo. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
UPDATE: Due to anticipated high turnout, the SCCRTC Bicycle Committee is looking for an alternative meeting location. Please contact the RTC at info@sccrtc.org for the meeting location.
Nothing can quite compare to rumble strips when it comes to ruining a beautiful bicycle ride. Adventure Cycling and the League have previously written about rumble strips and the difficulties they pose to cyclists. We were very happy to see the Federal Highway Administration revise their May 2011 guidance that would have promoted rumble strip installation on many rural roads and even some urban roads across America.
Touring Cyclists on Highway 1
So, it was a bit of a shock when we heard from Adventure Cycling and League members that the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) is planning to install rumble strips on a portion of the Highway 1 between Davenport and Santa Cruz. Highway 1 – also known as the Pacific Coast Highway – is part of one of the most active bicycle touring routes in the country and a major draw for international tourism.
To its credit, CalTrans has one of the best rumble strip policies when it comes to accommodating bicyclists. So we did some research and found out the following:
This 11-mile section has been identified as a high collision area, including at least one bicycle fatality. Rumble strips are the proposed safety improvement to address run-off-the-road and head-on crash incidents.
CalTrans policy only allows rumble strips where there will be more than five feet of shoulder clearance for cyclists. CalTrans data indicate that the shoulder width in this area is approximately eight feet, though this has been disputed by local cyclists and regional transportation planners.
This is a “candidate project” that will not go to construction for another 18-24 months and includes both center-line and shoulder rumbles. CalTrans has committed to working with local cyclists, and presumably following their policy, as project planning progresses.
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has received over 70 contacts on this issue. The SCCRTC is working with CalTrans to ensure accurate shoulder width data and has requested the collision data justifying the need for rumble strips. The SCCRTC Bicycle Committee will be discussing the project at their April 9 meeting.
While we recognize the safety benefits for motorists under certain conditions, we are concerned about their use on Highway 1. The League and Adventure Cycling will be submitting letters to CalTrans respectfully requesting that:
CalTrans not install rumble strips on Highway 1 at this time.
CalTrans work to provide a five-foot wide road shoulder on Highway 1 clear of sand and other debris while still accommodating parked vehicles and ocean access for residents and visitors.
CalTrans continue to work with cyclists to ensure that Highway 1 remains one of the country’s premier bicycling routes.
We encourage local cyclists to speak out on this issue (reference the three points above as a start). Here are some ways you can make sure CalTrans hears your voice:
Contact CalTrans District 5
Jim Shivers
District 5 Public Information Officer
Phone: 805.549.3237
Email: Jim.Shivers@dot.ca.gov
Monday, April 9 at 6:30pm
Regional Transportation Commission Conference Room
1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (above Chef Works)
As we learn more, look for updates to this blog.
Matt Wempe League State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Mr. Wempe joined the League in September 2011. For the three years prior, he worked as a transportation planner and Safe Routes to School Coordinator in Fort Collins, Colo. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Thank you for responding to another round of attacks on bicycling and walking. Your voices are being heard on Capitol Hill: House and Senate offices are hearing loud and clear that the current proposals for a new highway bill just aren’t acceptable. Both bills threaten to end 20 years of progress in promoting more walkable and bikeable communities.
Congress is about to eliminate infrastructure programs that demonstrably create jobs, improve safety, provide transportation choices, and promote the most energy-efficient of all travel modes: walking and bicycling. All of this without reducing the cost of the overall bill. The Senate bill reduces the small percentage of transportation funding currently targeted to bicycling and walking, and allows States to simply opt-out of bicycling and walking programs entirely – preventing local agencies from investing in these critical transportation safety projects.
Along with our colleagues in the America Bikes coalition, the League has issued an action alert urging Congress to reject entirely the proposed highway bill (H.R.7) in the House of Representatives, and to support the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran amendment to the Senate bill to preserve local control over transportation funds.
The Senate and House Bill are unprecedented attacks on the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Take action today, pass the action alert to your friends and family, and register for the National Bike Summit this March 20-22 in Washington, D.C. This event is critical for bicycling, and we need cyclists to speak up and let their Members of Congress know how important bicycling is to them and their community. Contact your Senators and Representatives today – tell them that we bike, and we vote. Together we can save cycling!
Andy Clarke League President
Andy Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director. Before joining the League in February 2003, Clarke was on contract to provide technical assistance to the highly regarded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center on site at the Federal Highway Administration. He is on the Board of Directors for America Bikes, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals.
We are watching this legislation carefully and are raising this issue with Congress. Right now, we want to show the Senate how important the right to the road is to cyclists – and voters. As part of our “I Bike. I Vote.” campaign, please sign our petition opposing the mandatory sidepath provision.
We will keep you updated on our progress on the mandatory sidepath clause and other critical issues in the proposed legislation. An action alert may be needed at some point. In the meantime, you can register for the National Bike Summit, where together we will make the very strong case for bicycling to Congress.
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
Blog
When Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced his retirement last month, we quickly went from gratitude for his work promoting biking and walking, to wondering who President Obama will tap as his replacement.
Jacquie Phelan
Did Morris (pictured right) get some push back? Sure. Did she let it stop her? Heck no. “If I could do anything to prevent another death from happening on the streets of Newport Beach, that was my goal,” she told Peters on his radio show. “I do know [the two victims] would have been proud of what we’re doing and what’s happening with the money.”
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