Moments ago, Congressman John Mica (R-FL) announced the introduction of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. The proposed bill eliminates dedicated funding for bicycling and walking as we feared, and it goes much further and systematically removes bicycling from the Federal transportation program. It basically eliminates our status and standing in the planning and design of our transportation system—a massive step backwards for individuals, communities and our nation. It’s a step back to a 1950s highway- and auto-only program that makes no sense in the 21st century.
• destroying Transportation Enhancements by making it optional;
• repealing the Safe Routes to School program, reversing years of progress in creating safe ways for kids to walk and ride bicycles to school;
• allowing states to build bridges without safe access for pedestrians and bicycles;
• eliminating bicycle and pedestrian coordinators in state DOTs; and
• eliminating language that insures that rumble strips “do not adversely affect the safety or mobility of bicyclists, pedestrians or the disabled.”
On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee will mark-up the bill and Representatives Petri (R-WI) and Johnson (R-IL) will sponsor an amendment that restores dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Representatives Petri and Johnson can only be successful if everyone with a stake in safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways contacts their representative today.
Because of these urgent new developments, and the vital importance of a HUGE turnout on Capitol Hill in March, the National Bike Summit early bird registration deadline has been extended to Feb 20. We need every single cyclist in Washington, D.C. that the city can hold (and that’s thousands …). Register today!
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.
By Mary Lauran Hall, Communications Coordinator, America Bikes
For the past 20 years, the federal Transportation program has included dedicated funding for biking and walking. Over the course of twenty years and three federal transportation laws, federal support for bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure projects has slowly ticked upwards. As a result, more and more communities feature safe roads for people who travel on foot or by bicycle and more people are bicycling — there has been a 40% increase in bicycling from 2000 to 2009 and a surge in Bicycle Friendly Communities.
In 1992, Congress passed ISTEA, the first federal transportation bill to include funding for transit, biking, and walking. As each consecutive transportation bill passed and continued dedicated funding for biking and walking, funding increased from $23 million for 50 new projects in 1992 to $297 million dollars and 971 projects in 2000, to a record $1.2 billion dollars and 3010 projects in 2009.
However, recently there has been a drop in funding and projects — since 2009 — as a result of the decline in stimulus spending that was available for a limited period and uncertainty over the future of the programs. A similar phenomenon occurred between 1997 and 2005. Now, however, a new transportation bill threatens to eliminate federal support for biking and walking infrastructure all together.
Next Thursday, the House Transportation Committee will vote (see timeline) on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funds for biking and walking. Representatives on the Transportation Committee are key positions to save dedicated funding for biking and walking.
The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, the long awaited multi-year Transportation bill, eliminates the two largest programs that fund biking and walking infrastructure — Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Without these programs, communities all over the country will lose resources to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make biking and walking safe and accessible in communities across the country.
We can’t let that happen – take action now and ask your elected officials to preserve biking and walking.
Biking and walking are essential parts of everyday transportation in the U.S., and turning off federal funding for projects that keep Americans safe would represent a significant step backwards.
Federal funding for biking and walking keeps people safe. Two out of three pedestrian deaths take place on roads built with federal funding, and new sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways help end preventable deaths and make roads safer for everyone. Moreover, biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips, but only 1.5 percent of all federal transportation funding.
America Bikes is working in conjunction with their partners to introduce an amendment that will preserve funding for biking and walking. During Thursday’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee vote in the House, Representatives will have the opportunity to pass this amendment to save biking and walking.
To learn more about this issue and keep up-to-date as the bill moves forward, visit americabikes.org. And please, don’t forget to take action and share the action alert to your fellow bicyclists.
Everyone at the League would like to wish our members, bicycle advocates, Bike League Blog readers and all the cyclists out there a happy holiday and New Year! We have enjoyed working diligently for bicycling and bringing you the latest in bicycling news this year. Andy Clarke, president of the League, would also like to personally thank you and wish you a happy holiday.
Thank you for all your continued support, especially when we needed you the most. We survived repeated attacks on bicycle funding due to all of you responding to our alerts and e-mails. You wrote your state and national politicians, and we have held on to bicycle funding — for now. We even are faced with the possibility of losing our rights to the road on federal lands. We have a lot of work ahead of us but we will be raring to go in 2012. We’re looking forward to the National Bike Summit, National Bike Month, educating new and returning bicyclists nationwide and well, saving cycling again and again.
And if you are searching for that perfect gift for your favorite cyclists this year, make a donation in their name or buy them a League membership — it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Have a wonderful holiday!
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
Today, we announced the winners of the League’s Peopleforbikes.org Pledge Contest. The goal of Peopleforbikes.org is to unite a million voices in support of a better future for bicycling in America; and so far, more than 420,000 people have signed their name to the cause. To raise awareness and signatures, the League challenged Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFBs), Bicycle Friendly Universities (BFUs) and recreation bike club members in some healthy competition to see who could gather the most PFB pledges. The result? People and organizations from across the country rallied around bicycling and signed the PFB pledge– everybody wins!
The University of Cincinnati (UC) won in both the overall and university competitions by collecting the most signatures. “UC is honored to have received recognition from the League of American Bicyclists. Participation in initiatives like this are important to enhancing the bike culture and bike infrastructure at UC and in the Cincinnati area,” said the UC President‘s Advisory Council on Environment and Sustainability. “It allows UC to connect with other like minded entities nationwide that are leading the way on bike policy and funding initiatives that will ultimately make it easier and safer for students and others to use their bikes on-campus and surrounding areas.”
The League’s affiliated clubs had an impressive showing too. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine won with the most pledges in the business/organization category as did the Mountain Top Cycling Club of Colorado in the bike club category. “All the individuals, businesses, clubs and universities who participated made a difference by both promoting and signing the Peopleforbikes.org pledge,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program. “We hope that the pledge continues to grow in momentum and surpasses the 1 million mark.”
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
They call today “Cyber Monday,” the biggest online shopping day of the year.If you’re shopping today, we’d like to suggest a few items for your list:
If you’d like to give a gift to all cyclists, consider a donation to the League of American Bicyclists. We’re working every day to build a bicycle friendly America, and keeping an eye out for threats to cycling so you can just enjoy the ride. Here are just a few recent examples:
Twice in the past few months, we’ve mobilized cyclists to save dedicated funding in the Transportation Bill, and the threat looms again.
When GM launched an ad deriding cyclists, we launched a counter-attack — the ad was withdrawn within the week, and apologies were issued to everyone who complained.
If you’d like to give a gift to an individual cyclist, please consider a gift League membership. They’ll be thanking you all year long — in addition to helping us build a bicycle friendly America, the membership includes subscriptions to Bicycling and American Bicyclist magazine.
Andy Clarke League President
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.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thinking about some of the recent work we’ve done together. Twice in the past few months, we’ve driven back attacks on dedicated bicycle funding in the Transportation Bill. Our petition to preserve the right to the road on federal lands that is well on its way to 10,000 signatures.
I am inspired by your dedication and tenacity. Cycling advocates are among the most engaged citizens in this country, and I’m so proud to be working with, and for, you.
As you know, there are serious climbs ahead. But I’ve ridden with you long enough to know that you don’t shirk at the steep inclines. You dig in and do what needs to be done, and the coast down the other side is just a time to anticipate that next climb. So watch out Congress, the cyclists are on their way.
From the League family to yours – happy Thanksgiving.
Andy Clarke
Andy Clarke League President
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.
The League of American Bicyclists annual National Bike Summit has transformed bicycling in the United States since the first Summit 11 years ago. The first Summit was small — only 100 bicycling advocates attended — but as of last year, 800 attended and the nation was listening. Though we have made an amazing amount of progress since 2001 and changed the way many Americans think about bicycling and transportation, most of our current leaders on Capitol Hill have not been touched or changed by our message.
Many of you who follow bicycling advocacy have been riding the Transportation Bill and Enhancements roller coaster with the League and our partners in the America Bikes Coalition. We have been battered this year with our current administration’s threat to change the way bicycling is funded and to simply not fund bicycling at all. Currently, there is even a proposed law to force cyclists off roads on Federal lands and onto sidepaths. This is where you come in.
The National Bike Summit is March 20-22 in Washington, D.C.; and on the third day of the event, we coordinate congressional meetings for all attendees with their representatives. You get to meet your senators and tell them what bicycling means to your state and why bicycling is an integral part of our transportation system. Furthermore, the timing couldn’t be better. The Transportation Bill is set to expire on March 31, 2012 — just a few short weeks after we are on the Hill putting the ask in for bicycling. The bill will either be re-written or extended — more than likely extended — and with your help, bicycling will not be left behind.
Please don’t let let Capitol Hill take us back 50 years to a time when bicycling was not funded and not considered transportation. Our hard fought work must not be thrown away. Register for the Summit by tomorrow, November 11 (11.11.11) to SAVE CYCLING and save $50 off the already discounted early bird registration. Use the code SUMMIT12 when you are filling out the online registration form.
Make your voice heard this March at the Bike Summit. Until then, make your voice heard on Twitter with #nbs12 (National Bike Summit 2012).
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
Last Saturday, we partnered with Bikes Belong for Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play at the White House. Nickelodeon encouraged cities across the globe to host events, and the channel shut off all programming for three hours to prove the point that kids need to go outside and play.
The D.C. event was a big success, with more than 600 kids biking through the bike course on the White House lawn. The participants were shown the proper way to fit a helmet, the parts of the bike and how to make sure they were working properly, how to obey the laws the of the street, and were encouraged to get out and ride more often. The kids all enjoyed the activities and were pumped for the bike zone on the lawn. Some kids were so excited to ride bikes that they wouldn’t listen to their parents when they were told it was time to stop riding — there were a few feet stomping episodes to convince their moms and dads to let them ride more. One little girl was so excited, she brought her own pink and white helmet adorned with glitter, just so she could ride. It was great to see the next generation so excited to ride. Hopefully, they’ll keep that up far into adulthood. To learn how to teach your child to bike, visit the League’s kids bike education info page on bikeleague.org.
Thanks to the the Washington Area Bicycling Association – we couldn’t have done it without you!
Nickelodeon, World Wide Day of Play and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
Alissa Simcox League Director of Education
Simcox joined the League in July 2011. For the 5 years prior, she worked with the Congressional Youth Leadership Council and the National Association of Home Builders. She holds a BA in Education and Recreation and Leisure Administration from Florida State University.
Moments ago, the Senate passed a clean extension on the Transportation Bill with a large margin of 92-6. This means that all current transportation funding and programs will continue to March 31, 2012 — the date the extension expires. During this time we will have much work to do to ensure that bicycling is included in either a long term transportation bill or another extension. The National Bike Summit conveniently takes place on March 20-22 — our final opportunity to tell our representatives that we need bicycling in the transportation bill.
Votes are not made public until 20 minutes after passage of bills but here is the Senate link to keep checking.
Thanks to all of you for taking part in this very important action alert; telling your senators that “I bike. I vote.”; and spreading the word in your clubs and stores, with your colleagues, and on your social media sites. All of your calls and e-mails made the difference.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
Late yesterday afternoon Senator Coburn spoke on the Senate floor demanding that Transportation Enhancements be stripped from the Extension of the Surface Transportation bill, and that he is willing to shut down transportation in order to do it. (See our previous post on this subject for background.)
Sadly, Mr. Coburn’s demands are based on a misrepresentation of the facts about the Transportation Enhancement program, and a serious misunderstanding of the role bicycling and walking play in our nation’s transportation system. Mr. Coburn described transportation enhancements as not having anything to do with safety, or true transportation.
First of all The Transportation Enhancements program is 1.5% percent of the overall transportation program, not 10% as Mr. Coburn would have us believe.
Secondly – Mr. Coburn consistently highlights museums as primary examples of the projects that are funded by TE to try and make his case that TE has nothing to do with Transportation. The reality is that roughly one half (55%) of the 1.5% is usually spent on bicycling and walking infrastructure-such as sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes. Bicycling and walking trips make up 12% of all trips in the United States; bicyclists and pedestrians comprise 14% of all fatal crash victims on our nation’s roads – and yet these two modes of transportation receive barely more than 1% of Federal transportation investment. Active transportation is growing in popularity and significance in communities throughout the nation-and this welcome trend is due in part to the investment of Federal transportation funds in bicycling and walking infrastructure.
Thirdly – TE program has very much to do with safety. As mentioned previously, fourteen percent of roadway fatalities are bike riders and pedestrians- two-thirds of which occur on Federal aid Highways. While roadway fatalities have been decreasing- the percentage of fatalities that are bicyclists and pedestrians has increased. Building biking and walking infrastructure saves lives.
The real shame is that by holding up passage of a clean extension of the transportation bill, which Congress had already agreed to pass, Senator Coburn will keep 1.8 million people from working on highway construction projects for another six months.
We understand the Senate leadership has offered Mr. Coburn a chance to offer his amendment for a vote on the floor and although Mr. Coburn has not done so yet, we expect that that will be the case.
We can only hope the Mr. Coburn either withdraws his hold on the extension or allows the Senate to vote on his amendment. The bill extending transportation funding for the next six months is not the legislative vehicle to pass long term national transportation policy. That responsibility lies with the committees of jurisdiction and they should be afforded the opportunity to work out the details on what our nation’s transportation policy will be.
The League urges Congress to pass a clean extension to the transportation bill, and support continued dedicated funding for bicycling and walking programs. If you have not had an opportunity to contact your Senator yet please visit the League’s advocacy center today to do so. This maybe our last chance to make sure we have sufficient votes to beat back the Coburn amendment.
~Walter Finch Director of Advocacy, League of American Bicyclists
Finch joined the League in 2006 and has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry. He worked as a government relations associate with G.S. Proctor & Associates, served as the chief of staff for a member of Maryland’s House of Delegates, and worked at the U.S. Department of Transportation as the Special Assistant, Office of the Secretary, Office of Intermodalism.
I’m very excited about the panel for Wednesday’s Club Leadership Webinar on Diversifying your Membership and Outreach.
The issue is getting a lot of attention here in Washington, DC, lately — the Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA) has been active east of the Anacostia River, building bridges, as it were, with the advocacy community in the more affluent areas of the city. The city government under former mayor Andrian Fenty added a lot of bike lanes across Washington, though the lack of community input in some areas caused friction, as detailed in this recent City Paper article. Meanwhile, the explosive growth of the Black Women Bike DC has demonstrated that there are plenty of people outside the stereotypical biker demographics who are looking for a comfortable way into cycling.
In my time as League membership director, I’ve spoken to plenty of other types of people who have started their own clubs because they didn’t feel welcome in existing groups — family cyclists, older riders, and a racing team for riders who have had bariatric surgery.
Why is diversity important? For clubs, it can be as simple as creating a broader base for growth, and a richer mix of people to ride with. For advocacy groups, reaching out to new demographics means bigger, broader coalitions, and connections to social justice groups. And to truly build a Bicycle Friendly America, cycling infrastructure needs to integrate the needs of all current and potential cyclists.
In the next Club Leadership Webinar, Wednesday, September 7, at 8pm Eastern, we’ll give some basic steps to start making your club more inviting and inclusive, as well as looking at LACBC’s City of Lights initiative and WABA’s East of the Anacostia outreach.
Diversifying your Membership and Outreach September 7, 2011, at 8pm Eastern
Learn ways to make your organizational outreach, membership, advocacy and events more welcoming to all. Panelists:
Veronica Davis of Black Women Bike DC will discuss how she came to start her own organization, and how they’re helping grow the number of black women biking in Washington DC.
October 5: Off the Bike – Banquets, Speaker Series, and other social events
November 10: Effective Club Websites
December 6: Club Insurance Review
Panelists to be announced.
Club Leadership Webinars are free for League member clubs.
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.
According to a new survey and report, platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) in Bloomington, Minn, has improved employee health and has helped the company save an estimated $170,000 in three years through its “Health Reward” program. The program credits employees $110 towards QBP products in addition to their generous commuter reward program, which pays out $45,000 annually. Both programs are keeping QBP employees healthy, happy and productive. According to Jason Gaikowski, QBP Marketing Director, their new report “definitely shows that QBP is healthier – and as a result more productive – than the general population. It also clearly indicates that the commuter population health care claims costs are massively lower than claim costs compared to QBP non-commuters.” If you need prove that it pays to encourage bicycling in the workplace, look no further.
By encouraging QBP employees to commute by bike through 2007-2011, the company found the following:
The company experienced a 4.4% reduction in per member per month health care costs associated with an estimated 3-year savings of $170,000
Approximately 100 commuters incurred an estimated 3-year savings of $600,000
The business benefitted with an annual savings of $301,136 in employee productivity.
More people are commuting by bicycle every year, thanks to Bicycle Friendly Communities and other motivators like high gas prices. To ensure that motorists and bicyclists are sharing the road safely and learning about the Rules of the Road, AAA and the League of American Bicyclists have partnered to promote safe cycling. We hope to make the roads safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Andy Clarke, president of the League, joins Rhonda Markos, AAA traffic safety specialist, on AAA Talk Radio to chat about our partnership, bike safety facts and tips for motorists and cyclists alike, and why bicycling is moving up the ranks as one of the most popular modes of transportation. Listen to Clarke and Markos’ interview below.
Yesterday, the Federal Highway Administration informed state Departments of Transportation of another rescission of funds, this time totaling $2.5 billion. A “rescission”, you may recall, is a mechanism by which states return to Washington various unspent amounts of money that they could have spent but haven’t yet done so. The action is taken under the 2011 Full-year Continuing Appropriations Act. This is the FHWA notice, which includes the total amount of funds each state is to send back to Washington. Not the most entertaining piece of prose you’ll ever read, but hidden within the language is another significant threat to the funds that are available to spend on bicycling improvements.
States are given maximum flexibility about the source of the funds that are rescinded – from among a variety of transportation programs. Most critically for bicycling, the transportation enhancements, congestion mitigation, and recreational trails programs are included in the list of programs. Fortunately, the Safe Routes to School program is not included, so those funds are safe.
States have been given a whole week to respond – that’s right, they got the notice yesterday and have to decide what funds to send back by Friday July 8. The memo recommends that “Division Administrators should encourage their State department of transportation officials to reach out to stakeholders in considering how to implement the rescission,” but our experience has been this really doesn’t happen. Or at least, the bicycle community either isn’t considered a stakeholder worth reaching out to or once reached out to, our views are simply ignored.
We say that because Transportation Enhancement and Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds have consistently been inequitably targeted for rescissions in most states – and this will likely continue unless State DOT’s hear from their customers. In August, 2010 almost $1 billion of CMAQ, TE and Recreational Trails funds were returned to Washington, out of a $2.2 billion rescission. That means that State Departments of Transportation didn’t spend these funds in the first place – even though they could have been using the funds to build better bicycling infrastructure, provide bicyclist education, install bike parking – and now are choosing instead to send the money back to Washington.
Given the complexity of issue, the short turn-around time, and the fact that there’s a Federal holiday of some note on Monday, it’s a challenge to know how to effectively respond and try to influence the outcome of this rescissions process – however, we have set up an action alert here that you can use. Governors often seem to have little influence over their Departments of Transportation and State DOT directors certainly need to know your concerns but will rarely be the person making the actual decision. If you have a statewide advocacy group in your state, they will be a good place to go for any targeted action or inside information on who to contact and how.
Sorry to rain on your July 4th parades…
Andy Clarke League President
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.
The third annual Ontario Bike Summit — Moving Ontario Forward – Building Bicycle Friendly Communities — has been taking place the past two days in Ottawa. The theme is right-on too. Ontario’s Share the Road organization has been working to incorporate the Bicycle Friendly Community program into their region, and the summit is a means to get more cities and advocates in Ontario involved. Because the Bicycle Friendly Community program is new to Canada, the summit’s purpose was to teach advocates how to:
Develop a community cycling master plan
Work more effectively with local governments to advance cycling
Use data and research that will help “make the case” for enhanced cycling investments and programs
Learn about the infrastructure, education and awareness and legislative policies in Ontario to encourage cycling
Learn from example what other communities are doing in the areas of law enforcement initiatives – education and awareness – public health ideas, bicycle tourism?
Also in theme with the Summit, several Ontario Bicycle Friendly Communities were announced: Ottawa – Silver; Waterloo – Silver; Ajax – Bronze; Windsor – Bronze.
Find out more by following the live content from Ontario’s Cycle Citizen.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
For those of you who have been waiting for the Back to the Future DeLorean or Hoverboard — or even The Jetson’s flying car — the bike beat them all in the floating personal vehicle race (I’m not including planes or helicopters). And, of course, the bike won! The bicycle was invented before the automobile after all.
To give you some background, many advances were made in internal combustion engine technology during the time the bicycle was being developed but the bike was patented before the car. Karl (von) Drais, from Germany, patented a two-wheeled contraption in 1818. It was known as the running machine. Later in the 1860s, two Frenchman advanced the bicycle by adding cranks to the front wheel. The first practical automobile was built in 1885 by Karl Benz, and he patented the gasoline-fueled car in 1886.
But back to the flying bike! The Hoverbike was invented over the last two and half years by Australian mechanical designer Chris Malloy in his garage. It’s made of carbon fiber and, yes, has a small engine and propellers — but it flies and is a bike! You, too, can pedal around the skies, if you can even pedal this contraption, for a cool $40,000. Though, I recommend you wait till it’s tested a bit more. For now, Malloy tests the Hoverbike while it is tied to the ground.
(photo: device.com)
I’m sharing this invention in the spirit of the “flying car dream” we all had as children and the high school semester we all read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. However, in contrast to my seven-year-old flying car dream and Huxley’s imagination, I’m happy the Hoverbike is the first vehicle that hovers. I’m glad because, really, E.T.‘s flying bike is much cooler than any flying car any day of the week.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
Today is Bike to Work Day (always the third Friday in Bike Month), and the League celebrated at Washington, D.C.’s event on Freedom Plaza. The event, hosted by WABA, reportedly had more than 8,000 registered for D.C. Metro festivities, while 10,000 in D.C. were expected to ride to work. Freedom Plaza was packed — and packed with a solid representation of the American bike rider. We had people of all ages, backgrounds and clothing styles hanging out, talking about bikes, and having fun.
The speakers at the event were just as impressive as the turnout, and they made all of us bicyclists feel warm and fuzzy. The D.C. politicians get why bikes are important and raved about Capital Bike Share. Even Mayor Vincent Gray was on hand to accept Washington, D.C.’s Bicycle Friendly Community award from League president Andy Clarke — D.C. recently upgraded to a Silver-level BFC. Gray, though, said he wasn’t happy with just Silver and riled the crowd with promises of reaching Gold and one day Platinum.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood couldn’t make it to this year’s Bike to Work Day but he did blog about it on Fast Lane and send FTA Administrator Rogoff and Undersecretary Roy Kienitz to the D.C. event. Rogoff and Kienitz cemented that the Obama administration is behind bicycling. Rogoff said bicycling helps in so many of the Obama Administration’s goals: lowering greenhouse gasses, lowering our dependency on oil, and making better and efficient use of the infrastructure we already have.
If you’re feeling lucky, the League and Seal Line are giving away Seal Ling bags. You can win with the best Bike to Work tweet today, told in 140 characters or less. We’re taking submissions all day that use the #B2WD hashtag. You may get bonus points if you include our names @SealLine and @BikeLeague!
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
One million people in cities across the country will ride their bikes to work on National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 20th, saving themselves more than $4 per gallon in gas costs while simultaneously reducing congestion, energy consumption and air pollution.
“We’ve been celebrating bike to work day for more than 50 years,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, “and there’s never been a better time for people to try this commuting option. More and more cities are putting in bike lanes, trails and parking for bikes, and as gas prices go up and congestion gets worse, biking looks like an increasingly attractive choice.”
National bike commuter data, provided by the American Community Survey, supports that more Americans are biking to work – there has been a nationwide 44 percent increase over the past 10 years. Communities that have actively encouraged bicycling have seen even bigger increases, including those designated by the League as Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFCs). Platinum-level BFC Portland, Ore. has seen a 230 percent increase in bicycle commuters since 2000, their percentage holding steady at 5.8 percent of work trips, while 12.3 percent of citizens in Platinum BFC Boulder, Colo. ride every day. Other stand out BFC commuting cities include: Silver-level Gainesville, Fla. with 6.3 percent, and Gold-level Minneapolis, Minn.’s number of 3.9 percent commuting by bike daily. Statistics for more than 200 U.S. cities are available here.
The Majority of the League’s BFCs and Bicycle Friendly Universities (BFUs) are hosting city and campus Bike to Work Day events. “The encouragement to bike in these BFCs and BFUs on Bike to Work Day is just a start to get more people riding but it is the tipping point that influences many non-riders to bike to work or shcool for the first time,” says Clarke.
Notable 2011 Bike to Work Day events include:
Recently upgraded to a Silver-level BFC designation, Washington, D.C. is hosting a huge Bike to Work Day celebration across the DC Metro area, complete with 49 pit stops and a festival at D.C.’s Freedom Plaza. Currently, 8,900 are registered and 10,000 are expected to participate. “This one-day show of force allows us to highlight for area leaders and the public at-large the prevalence of cycling as a core component of the region’s transportation system,” says Shane Farthing, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. The US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Federal Transit Administration Peter Rogoff are both speaking and riding their bikes to the event. Visit www.waba.org for event details.
New York City also recently upgraded to become a Silver-Level BFC and has been celebrating Bike Month for all of May with more than 200 rides, workshops, races and events. NYC’s Bike to Work Day is the city’s focal point with Transportation Alternatives hosting eight rest stop locations, including on the Brooklyn Bridge and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Check www.bikemonthnyc.org for a list of events.
Boise Idaho, has a 4.1% of bicycle commuters and has hosted a popular and successful Bike Month and Bike to Work Day since 2003. The city is home to Bronze-leve BFU Boise State University, which homes the Bicycle Community Congress. Boise Bike Week has been packed with events, including: a kickoff celebration, rides, fairs, picnics, a ride of silence, and mountain bike intros. Bike to Work Day is expected to attract hundreds of riders and includes after work events, such as a recumbent rally and a bike-in movie. For full Boise Bike to Work details visit: www.boisebikeweek.org.
Bronze-level BFC Auburn, Ala. is having several events to celebrate Bike to Work Day, with several encouraging school children to bike. The citywide Bike to School Competition will have each homeroom class in grades 1-5 riding their bicycles to school on May 20. The homeroom with the most riders will receive an ice cream social courtesy of the Auburn Bicycle Committee. The day after Bike to Work Day will be celebrated with a Mountain Bike the Acorn Trail ride – a 3.1 mile loop, single track with a ride through beautiful woods and creek crossings at the Acorn Trail in Alex City, AL. All events are listed here.
The League provides national support for Bike Month and Bike to Work Week and Day activities. We offer organizational and promotional tools such as the Bike Month Planning guide and free Bike Month logos, signs and web banners. The League also hosts the national database for Bike to Work Week and Day events. Most importantly, the League has tips to ride better, safer and more confidently in traffic. All resources can be found at bikeleague.org/bikemonth.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The capture and subsequent killing of Osama bin Laden late Sunday was news that shook many in America. Hundreds of D.C. citizens and visitors converged on the White House. However, with the hour being so late, it was hard to get there — buses are few to come by late at night and the metro closes around midnight on Sundays. However, the people in D.C. had a new transportation choice — Capital Bike Share. Capital Bikeshare tweeted, “There were 558 bike rentals between 10pm – 2am last night. During the same time frame last weekend: 105.”
According to the Washington Post, people who were at the gathering were also surprised by how many red Capital Bike Share bikes they saw in front of the White House. They wrote, “Stephen Miller joined the spontaneous celebration at the White House. Although he rode his own bike, he was struck by the number of red Capital Bikeshare bikes he saw as he headed downtown from his home in Mount Pleasant. Miller shot a Twitpic of more than a dozen parked near the celebration.”
Nothing about the evening was predictable, but it certainly was interesting to see this unexpected role for public bikes unfold – and if you look carefully at news footage of the crowds gathering outside the White House, you can see the tell-tale blinky lights in the background!
Andy Clarke League President
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.
Reston, Va. residents battle traffic just like the rest of the D.C. metro area but they decided to actually find out which method of transportation is quicker during rush hour — bike, bus or car.
It turns out that the fastest way to get to the Reston Town Center from the neighborhood near South Lakes High School, about 3 miles away, is to ride a bicycle. Bruce Wright of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) made the trip in just over 13 minutes.
The winner Bruce Wright (left) took 13 minutes on a bike. He is congratulated by Kathleen Driscoll McKee who took 52 minutes taking a bus. Photos by Mike McKee.
Another bicyclist who took the same route but rode at an easier pace, Kerie Hitt, also of FABB, arrived next 3 and a half minutes later. Delegate Ken Plum’s trip in his hybrid car took him 19 minutes. Taking the long route with a ride through Hunter’s Woods Village Center on the RIBS 2 bus on her way to the Town Center was Reston Association President and School Board candidate Kathleen Driscoll McKee. She had a leisurely trip of 50 minutes.
“This was a good simulation that demonstrates real alternatives to the automobile for short trips in Reston and the rest of our community” noted Delegate Plum. He also said that short car trips are the least efficient, even for his hybrid car, which only averaged 30 mpg on the 3 mile trip.
The group was met at the Pavilion by Supervisor Cathy Hudgins who is a long-time supporter of transportation alternatives for Hunter Mill District residents. She has supported Bike to Work Day in Reston from the beginning in 2002. The last several years she has appeared at the event on her folding bike. Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20. The Reston event will be held at the Town Center Pavilion. Susan Stillman, who is a member of the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee and a FABB member, rode from Vienna to greet the group at the Pavilion and to congratulate Bruce.
According to Bruce, “Riding a bike for transportation is a viable option for many people. What we showed today is that bicycling and driving travel times are very comparable for short trips, and bicycling costs much less and is better for the environment. I didn’t use any foreign oil on the trip.”
While RA President Driscoll McKee had the longest trip, she noted that the RIBS 2 bus was nearly full during the trip. The fare was $1.50. As a bus rider she could read, check her email, or otherwise make productive use of her time. To schedule her trip we used WMATA’s Trip Planner, entering an origin, destination, and either arrival or departure time and selecting from the options. When Metrorail arrives in Reston local bus routes will be modified to provide more frequent service for accessing the Wiehle and Reston Parkway stations, making them a much more attractive alternative to driving and paying to park.
See coverage of the event on the Reston Patch, including a video segment.
Reston will be one of many cities and areas participating in the D.C. metro area’s Bike to Work Day celebration on Friday, May 20 that is hosted by WABA.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
We have another club leadership webinar coming up on May 10, at 8pm Eastern — Club Leadership 101. Aimed at new and growing clubs, we’ll cover some of the basics of getting established. Paul Rubin of the Memphis Hightailers will join us to share some lessons learned from revitalizing that club. Register now.
And while you’re thinking about Club Leadership Training, please take our survey on Club Leadership Training, to help us improve the program. You don’t need to have attended an in-person or web event to take the survey, as long as you’re a club leader.
I’ve also created a new resource library of sample club documents, from safety tip sheets to newsletter guidelines. I’m looking for more — if your club has created resources that you’re particularly proud of, please send them to scott@bikeleague.org
Last, but not least, I’d like to announce a new email list for club leaders — if even a fraction of our members clubs and advocacy organizations have their leaders join, we’ll have hundreds of savvy cycling leaders sharing their knowledge with one another.
In other news, the League is now offering a free year of membership to clubs or advocacy organizations in their first year of operation. Contact membership@bikeleague.org to apply.
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.
The League is bringing its Club Leadership Training roadshow to Memphis, Tennessee on May 6-7, 2011.
Club leadership weekends are a great opportunity to discuss the common issues that face club leaders across the county. We’re bringing in some seasoned club leaders to lead the discussion, but are also allowing plenty of time for sharing amongst the participants.
League President Andy Clarke and Jeff Peel, our State and Local Advocacy Coordinator, will be speaking on behalf of the League. They’ll be joined by Mary Derks, past President of the Twin Cities Bicycling Club, Ron Puett, Treasurer of the Kansas City Bicycle Club, Paul Rubin, President of the Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club, and special guest Marla Peters, Senior Vice President, Special Programs, American Specialty Insurance.
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.
It’s been two weeks since Velo-city Seville 2011 and its concluding Ciclovida.
Seville family biking to the start of Sunday's Ciclovida
Now, conference attendees are home, avidly working off of shared best practices, inspiring success stories and valuable networking gained during this year’s Velo-city conference. With each Velo-city, we get one step closer towards global bicycle mobility and sustainability; however, we still have much work to do. For now, let us learn from the lessons of Seville’s bicycle revolution, celebrate its successes and reflect on this years Velo-city. Here are a few highlights that really put the “vida” in the conference:
1. The social marketing campaign entitled Radlhauptstadt München announced Munich as the cycling capital of Bavaria and Germany and has been instrumental in igniting a bicycle culture change. In just six years bicycle traffic has increased 40 percent in the city! The remarkable presentation given by city of Munich officials and “The Bicycle Mayor,” deputy mayor of Munich Hep Monatzeder, detailed the German campaign’s success thanks to a devoted Green Party in Munich, cycling council in the central transport ministry and grassroots mindset from residents, especially from students and young people. With the two goals of increasing cyclists and safety, Radlhauptstadt München has been highly effective in promoting cycling as an important mode of transport.
Part of the Radlhauptstadt München marketing campaign, they digitally altered a photograph of one of the city's most famous monuments to embed the bicycle deep into local culture
With the campaign ridding Munich of the common misconception that cycling is only for “sweaty blokes in lycra,” the marketing strategy has proved an effective way to invent a real bicycle culture. A final message of the presentation concluded that there are lots of ways to celebrate and attractively communicate the bicycle as a modern urban means of transportation.
Radlnacht in Munich
2. “The Cycling Girl in Copenhagen and Beyond,” presented by Ms. Marie Kastrup, explored the history of women and cycling in Danish culture. The presentation emphasized the role of women bicycle commuting as indicators of healthy societies (ie. 54 percent of all cyclists in Copenhagen are female, 46 percent are male). The concept of mixing womens fashion with bicycling culminated in an analysis of the famous Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog which has been responsible for a global womens movement in promoting gender balance with cycling.
The idea that cycling infrastructure should fit around the needs of women in high heels might seem odd to many transport planners but if everyday cycling cultures are to flourish, the findings of projects such as Beauty and the Bike in Bremen and Darlington should be taken seriously. This is a great place for women in the U.S. to take hold of promoting bicycling for safe, healthy, sustainable societies and urban mobility. If more women in U.S cities started their own Cycle Chic blog or Beauty and the Bike project, could you imagine the results?
Regarding women in developing countries, a number of presentations focused on bicycles as a powerful tool for economic self-sufficiency and a way out of poverty. SRAM, main sponsor of the conference, says ‘in the hands of a girl, a bike is an agent of change.’
3. In the exhibition area, one ambitious Spanish bicycling project stood out among the rest. ConBici, the well-known bicycle advocacy national federation in Spain since 1992, is pushing for 1 million more cyclists in Spanish cities by 2015. Currently there are 23 million bicycles in Spanish homes, but only 2 million people cycle on a daily basis. ConBici hopes to facilitate an increase in daily usage of bicycles by 50% in five years, reaching 3 million cycling individuals that commute daily.
4. Since Velo-city Seville has come to a close, here are two ways to stay connected on the most innovative, up to date international bicycle conversations:
-subscribe to Cyclingmobility and read visions from the European Cycling Federation on what the future of urban mobility will look like
-follow www.velo-city2012blog.com and then attend Velo-city Global 2012 in Vancouver, Canada from June 26-29. The conference is on our landmass next year; save the date!
This concludes my guest blogging for the League. From a student intern at Pro Walk/ Pro Bike back in the fall to now, I hope my blogs will encourage young professionals in the field, the next generation of bicycle advocates, to redesign our cities to achieve sustainable urban mobility. Velo-city Seville 2011 was an incredible experience, and I leave inspired.
Adios Seville! Your tapas were tasty and your bike culture rich and remarkable.
– Lyndsay McKeever
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
The application for the Bicycle Friendly University program — covering all aspects of bicycling on campus including Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement and Evaluation — is sparking the curiosity of students all over the country. Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina is catering to this interest by offering a class during their “May Experience” on how to create a bicycle-friendly university. This optional May term is described by the university as “courses unique in content and class activities, including an assortment of engaging academic experiences that allow faculty and students to explore topics of mutual interest.” As a testament to the value and interest in improving bicycling on their campus, this class was one of the first to fill up, and the waiting list continues to grow.
The course description portrays the class as an opportunity to expose students first-hand to the holistic process of analyzing and implementing bicycle-friendliness: Working together, participants in this program will explore what Furman is currently doing to encourage and promote cycling on campus and beyond. Emphasizing the benefits of cycling, students will gather support from the administration, faculty, staff, and students for making Furman more bicycle-friendly.
Incorporating planning for bicycles into the curriculum is a great way to promote and educate students on the importance of the economic, environmental, social and health benefits that they can influence right on their own campus. Caroline Mills, who will be teaching the class this spring says, “Primarily I want to create a class full of cycling advocates to send forth into the world!”
Students at other colleges and universities around the country are also excited to play a part in improving bicycling on their campus. Students have gotten involved in a number of ways, including:
• Creating a new model for bike-shares incorporating web and mobile technologies, like We Bike Do You started at the University of Maryland
• Founding bike rental programs, such as UT Austin’s highly successful Orange Bike Project • Establishing bike reclamation projects, like this one at NYU • Student-run bike shops, like the Bike Barn at UC Davis
• Working on their institution’s Bicycle Friendly University application
Carly Sieff League Bicycle Friendly America Program Assistant
Sieff joined the League in April 2010 with a Bachelors in Urban Studies and Science & Society from Brown University.
A few updates to campaigns and legislation that the League has been assisting with:
New Mexico legislators recently passed the nation’s first 5 foot passing bill, however Governor Martinez must sign this by Friday for the bill to become law. Cyclists in New Mexico are urged totake action and let the Governor know how important it is for her to sign this into law. For those who have already sent an email, please follow-up with a phone call by calling her office at (505)476-2200.
Maryland HB 363 “Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel“ seeks to provide a misdemeanor option for those who cause fatalities by driving in a criminally negligent manner. After Bike Maryland’s 7 years of work on this legislation, the bill passed the Maryland state House only to be caught up in committee. The League helped generate hundreds of emails in support of the bill. Despite support from all area bicycling organizations, area media editorial boards, environmental groups and AAA Mid-Atlantic, the fate of the bill lies with Judicial Proceedings Chair (and Bike/Ped Caucus member) Senator Brian Frosh who has not been supportive. The Committee is meeting on the bill at this very second.
Georgia’s HB101 “The Better Bicycling Bill” has progressed through the Georgia House, Senate Public Safety Committee and is expected to pass the Senate Rules Committee early next week. The bill will clean up and clarify outdated Georgia laws related to bicycling safety. This legislation specifies that cyclists have the right-of-way in bike lanes and establishes minimum guidelines for safe bicycle facilities. It will also modernize Georgia’s code to better accommodate current bicycling equipment. Georgia cyclists can help with the last minute push by taking action here.
Recently we alerted you to a campaign to protect critical funding in the Houston-Galveston region. While falling short of the full amount that active transportation advocates had sought, $12.8 million was preserved to fund biking, walking and transit improvements for the next three years. Our friends at Streetsblog Capitol Hill have a full write-up. Congratulations to Bike Houston, Houston Tomorrow and all other groups and individuals who waged a smart and energized campaign.
Offroad cycling advocates in Boulder, CO took a bit of a hit last week in mountain bike access in the West TSA. The long sought after connection would provide better access to trails currently open to offroad cyclists. Despite insufficient mountain bike access called out in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Plan and after a long campaign of the Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance (supported by IMBA, Bikes Belong and the League of American Bicyclists), Boulder City Council still failed to provide the access advocates were after. Read a write-up of the City Council vote, as well as the long history of the fight for access in the West TSA here.
Do you have a state or local campaign you need assistance with or want to share your story? Let us know!
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Washington, D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare has become increasingly popular among D.C. residents, commuters and tourists — and now even celebrity visitors are joining in on the convenience and fun. Yesterday, April 4, Kevin Spacey took a whirl around D.C. on a Capital Bikeshare bike. He even stopped for the perfunctory photo-op in front of the White House.
Capital Bikeshare, launched September 2010, was a welcomed addition to the city’s transportation system by bike commuters and D.C. residents alike. Capital Bikeshare maintained its usage rates during the winter — ridership increased 67 percent from December 2010 to February 2011 despite some chilly D.C. temps. There were 48,215 total Bikeshare trips in February, almost exactly as many trips were taken in November (48,217). Now that it’s April and warmer, take a ride on D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare. If we can’t encourage you, maybe Kevin Spacey can.
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
A February proposal before the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC) called for cuts to bike, pedestrian and transit funding in the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2011-2014. Under the proposal, CMAQ and STP MM funds that were previously programmed for active transportation projects and livable centers would be reallocated for road expansion in the region.
Upset that the TPC would stray from language in the 2035 Transportation Plan, stating that roadway spending should make up no more than 55% of regional transportation infrastructure spending, advocates in the Houston area organized. Houston Tomorrow started an online petition and joined Bike Houston and other area cyclists at the TPC’s February 25th meeting to present the petition and insist that this funding be preserved.
Thanks to these hardworking advocates there has been a temporary reprieve. City of Houston Council member Sue Lovell motioned for a delay of 30 days so that TPC members could further investigate options and hear from their constituents. See Houston Tomorrow’s ongoing blog coverage here.
While significant progress has been made, pressure on the TPC and Houston-Galvelston Area elected leaders is still needed.League President Andy Clarke has written this letter to TPC members asking for the preservation of these funds for bicycling and other active transportation projects. Houston area cyclists can still help save this critical funding by signing on to this petition. Cyclists are also encouraged to attend the TPC’s next meeting March 25th at 9:30 am in the H-GAC building at 3555 Timmonson the 2nd floor in Conference Room A.
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Check out the new Streetfilms video on the Congressional Bike Ride:
The National Bike Summit officially wrapped this morning, March 11, with our Congressional Bike Ride in honor of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), a regular rider and member of the Congressional Bike Caucus, and in memory of those killed in the Tucson shooting. It was the largest turnout yet for our Congressional Ride, with over 100 riders.
President of the League Andy Clarke leads a moment of silence for all of the Tucson shooting victims | Photo courtesy of Chris Eichler
We followed tradition and met at Garfield Circle on our Bike and Roll rentals, tandems, hybrids, collapsible bikes, Capital Bikeshare bikes, and touring bikes (this list could go on forever). However, this year we didn’t immediately hop on our bikes and hit the streets. We gathered and took a moment of silence for all of victims affected by the Tucson shootings. We received Arizona flag bandannas and white and black ribbons — the white represents hope for a peaceful nonviolent society and the black is in remembrance of all who have died as a result of violence — to wear in solidarity.
A couple from Arizona rides in tandem to support Giffords | Photo courtesy of Carly Sieff
The route, created by WABA, toured D.C.’s recent bike infrastructure projects and gave us all a bit of excitement as onlookers on the streets gawked at how many people were using the Pennsylvania Ave. and 15th St. bike lanes. It truly was a sight and we were all honored to ride for Giffords, hoping she can get back on her bike real soon.
The Congressional Ride stops at a light on the Pennsylvania Ave. Bikes lanes | Photo courtesy of Chris Eichler
Groups of Congressional Riders on 15th St. Bike Lanes | Photo courtesy of Carly Sieff
Cyclists hold the Arizona state flag in honor of Congresswoman Giffords (Photo: Darren Flusche)
League President Andy Clarke, in grey blazer, and six-time national cyclocross champion Tim Johnson, in grew sweatshirt, in front of the Capitol. (Photo: Darren Flusche)
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
First of all — woah. It seems like almost every Summit attendee is using Twitter to communicate all the action that is taking place on the Hill today. We are wowed by your Twitter commitment. Plus, we love getting the deets from your tweets. For those that aren’t familiar with Twitter or would rather follow the Twitter Summit updates on our blog, keep the below Twitter widget in your browser to watch the live feed. For those that are tweeting with the #bikesummit11 hashtag, keep up the good work!
Meghan Cahill League Director of Communications
Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.
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
structure Jobs Act. The proposed bill eliminates dedicated funding for bicycling and walking as we feared, and it goes much further and systematically removes bicycling from the Federal transportation program. It basically eliminates our status and standing in the planning and design of our transportation system—a massive step backwards for individuals, communities and our nation. It’s a step back to a 1950s highway- and auto-only program that makes no sense in the 21st century.
Subscribe
