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.
The first‐ever Bicycle Friendly University designations were announced today at the National Bike Summit. Among the 32 universities that applied, 20 are receiving designations, with Stanford University earning the only platinum‐level award. The program recognizes colleges and universities that create exceptional environments where bicycling can thrive and provides a roadmap and technical assistance to create great campuses for bicycling.
“Universities have long served as incubators for developing bike‐friendly cultures and practices, and that has a big impact on the expectations that students bring to the workplace and beyond,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program. “With the launch of the Bicycle Friendly Universities program, we’re able to highlight the crucial role that academic institutions play in shaping a more bike‐friendly future.”
2011 Bicycle Friendly University Winners
Also, 55 new Bicycle Friendly Businesses from restaurants to law firms will be receiving awards at this year’s summit. USAA, which is receiving the silver‐level designation, has experienced how bicycling can transform a workplace and surrounding community.
“USAA promotes safe cycling as an element of our overall sustainability and wellness strategies. The remarkable results we have seen in positive environmental impacts generated by our employees are mirrored by the positive wellness gains made.” – from their 2011 application.
To find out more about the winners and the programs, read the press release here.
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 second day of the National Bike Summit has officially kicked off with the opening plenary and inspiring words from Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The rally energized and prepared attendees for a “Capitol Hill unlike any before,” said Blumenauer in the plenary’s welcome. However, he reminded all that bicycling has many supporters in D.C. ”US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood…is an ally like we’ve never had before.”
Blumenauer makes the point that in order to make livable communities and bicycling infrastructure a reality, that we need to help people connect to the facts. “Our message is different, and people like it,” said Blumenauer. ”If we can do it on Pennsylvania Avenue, maybe we can do it with some of our national treasures.”
Blumenauer closed with reminding Summit attendees to remind their representatives to “not cut what you haven’t visited.”
Keynote speaker Sadik-khan has been busy lately in NYC creating a city that all road users can be safe using. She referenced all the great cities in America that are implementing lanes and infrastructure on their streets, including Pennsylvannia Avenue in D.C., Broadway in NYC, Market St. in San Francisco, and Spruce St. in Philidelphia. She pointed out that “none of this was there five years ago…well maybe in Portland,” but that it takes courage and the tools to make it happen. ”It’s painstaking work…there are setbacks but that is to be expected when you are in the business of change.” Luckily, NYC has a mayor that understands the importance of being a bicycle-friendly city. “We have Bloomberg and the political courage.” New York now has 250 miles of new bike lanes.
However, it was Sadik-khan’s big news that wowed the whole crowd — the release of the new NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide. ”We would like the FHWA to recognize these as national standards and for AASHTO to do the same,” said Sadik-khan. “We will make cycling safe and excessible for everyone.” And that is exactly what this guide will do. For cities that do not have the courage of Bloomberg or Sakik-khan, they will now be able to readily provide for their streets and users — backed with standard guidelines.
Secretary Salazar closed the plenary with a fundamental message for Summit attendees to remember when they visit Capitol Hill on Thursday. “I encourage all of you to put a focal point on all the economics that are involved in bicycling…bicycling is essential.”
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.
If you are looking for someone significant in the world of bicycling policy, advocacy, or industry, you will probably find them at the National Bike Summit. The halls of DC’s Grand Hyatt and other buildings around town are filled with board members and advisory committee members from many of the country’s national bicycling organizations.
Each year, leaders of national bicycling organizations get together around the Summit to meet, provide updates, discuss the direction for the future, and catch up. Yesterday, the League of American Bicyclists board met. Today is the Alliance for Biking & Walking’s board meeting; The International Mountain Biking Association is holding their Public Lands Annual Workshop. And don’t forget about the National Bicycle Dealers Association board meeting: “They’re looking forward to delivering the pro-small business message to Congress and we’re thankful to have them here,” says League President Andy Clarke, who just walked out of the meeting.
National Center for Safe Routes to School uses the week of the Summit to hold the meeting of its national review group of experts in health, transportation, and safety to share what they’ve been doing throughout the year. “We’ve always held the meeting in conjunction with the National Bike Summit, because it’s held in DC and there is such a positive environment there that’s infectious,” says Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center for Safe Routes to School, “It’s a great opportunity.”
Carly Sieff at the BFA advisory meeting at the National Bike Summit
The League uses it Summit to strategize about the future of its programs. “The Summit is a great opportunity to get together with colleagues on issues like the Bicycle Friendly America program. I’ve been coming for seven years and it’s been impressive seeing how the program has grown,” says Jim Sebastian, District of Columbia DOT Bicycle Program Manager and member of the BFA advisory group.”
Darren Flusche League Policy Analyst
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.
Blumenauer will speak to nearly 800 bicycle advocates Wednesday at the National Bike Summit’s Opening Plenary – Acting on a Simple Solution. Blumenauer has been instrumental in the Bike Summit’s 11 year history and the advancement of bicycling in our Nation’s transportation and health agenda. To learn more about the Summit’s activities, view the program here.
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’re delighted to welcome Brighid O’Keane to the Advocacy Advance team. Brighid, pictured below with Jeff Peel and Bill Nesper from the League staff, is actually a brand new employee of the Alliance for Biking and Walking and will be working alongside Jeff and Darren Flusche on our joint advocacy advance initiative that is supported by SRAM.
The team is working on an exciting series of resources and training materials for state and local advocates that will help unlock more Federal funding for biking and walking – Brighid has a ton of experience with effective communication techniques that will be a great help as the team hits the road for training courses later this year.
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.
On October 1st, fifteen cyclists left Outspokin’ bike shop in Savannah Augusta, GA on their weekly ride across the state border into rural Aiken, SC. While riding along Beech Island Ave. the cyclists heard the revving of a truck’s engine moments before it collided with the group. The crash injured four cyclists and tragically left one other, Dr. Matthew Burke, critically injured with severe head trauma. After months in a coma, Dr. Burke passed away on Sunday. The driver, Daniel Johnson, claims to have been distracted while reaching for something.
Dr. Matthew Burke
Dr. Burke is survived by his wife Bonnie and 11-month-old daughter, Anna. At the time of the crash, Dr. Burke, a U.S. Army major and orthopedic surgeon, had been home from Iraq for about a year. Dr. Burke will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary. He was 38 years old.
Thanks to the vigilance of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition and South Carolina cycling attorney Peter Wilborn, Daniel Johnson was charged with reckless homicide. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum of 10 years in jail and a mandatory five-year driver’s license revocation. The League commends the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Aiken County Solicitor’s office for the thorough investigation, and having the courage to bring appropriate charges against Johnson.
The loss of Dr. Burke is a tragedy and it is our hope that justice will be served. Far too often we hear of similar stories in which law enforcement and prosecutors claim their hands are tied, that a gap exists in the law that lets offenders off with simple traffic violations. Unfortunately cyclists and other vulnerable road users exceedingly feel the brunt of this loophole. Several states are working to change these laws.
In New Mexico, HB 68 will add another layer of punishment options for careless drivers when the result of their actions causes severe injury or death. The bill will allow for misdemeanor punishment of up to one year in county jail and fines up to $1,000. Cyclists in New Mexico can take action to move the legislation forward here.
In Maryland, HB 363, Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence, will provides a misdemeanor option for those who cause fatalities by driving in a criminally negligent manner. If convicted, drivers would be subject to imprisonment up to 3 years and/or a fine up to $5000. Cyclists in Maryland can take action here. HB 363 will be a major component of the Maryland Bicycle Symposium on February 22nd.
If your state is working on similar legislation, let us know.
Read more about Dr. Burke at the Alliance for Biking & Walking.
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.
The League of American Bicyclists is proud to announce that it received the maximum four star ranking from Charity Navigator. This ranking reflects several years of rigorous attention to our financial management from our staff and board.
In informing us of the ranking, Charity Navigator’s president and CEO Ken Berger wrote:
[The] League of American Bicyclists has earned our 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Approximately a quarter of the charities we evaluate have
received our highest rating, indicating that League of American Bicyclists executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates League of American Bicyclists from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.
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.
Like a lot of the country, D.C. weather has been miserable this winter. Cold, wet and slippery. As bitter as the weather can get, commuting by bike is still my best option. Thanks to the D.C. Department of Transportation who has been doing a much better job than ever before in clearing snow from our bike network, winter bike commuting has been much easier. The noticeable increase in the number of additional year round bike commuters is a testament to that.
Many communities still have room for improvement in their winter maintenance. As northern cities continue to work to be more bike-friendly, better snow removal practice and policies from bikeways regularly finds their way into feedback to those who apply for BFC designation. Boulder, CO- one of three Platinum designated communities- brings us an often shared best practice:
Multi-use paths in the City of Boulder are maintained to high-level transportation standards. Separate snow removal crews begin plowing the city’s multi-use paths at exactly the same time that other crews are plowing city streets.
For those still waiting on their community to adopt such policies or for maintenance budgets to increase, is there anything that can be done?
Last winter Bike Pittsburgh! could no longer wait on the city to clear snow from a popular bridge path, and organized a snow clearing party of their own. We’ve also heard of trail friends groups organizing similar shoveling parties. For those of you with the same DIY ethic who want to take on this task alone, you can build your own pedal-powered snow plow with an old bike, a trip to the hardware store and a few hours in your garage. Enjoy the video below, and if you’re inspired to create your own machine, please share your hard work with us!
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.
Caron Butler first hit the bike scene five years ago with his 3D Bike Brigade. Since then, his organization has provided more than 3,000 bikes for underprivileged children. “The Bike Brigade which I created in 2005, is a program that is all about getting kids on bikes, and keeping them active, healthy and most importantly out of trouble,“ said NBA All-Star Butler.
Butler, looking to expand the reach of his program, partnered with the League this year and participated in our June ride down the, then newly installed, bike lanes on D.C.’s Pennsylvania Ave. The League’s mission to create a bicycle-friendly America through advocacy and education clicked with Butler’s dreams of a country where all of our children get to enjoy the freedom and fun of riding a bicycle. The Crown Prince of Denmark Frederik André Henrik Christian, the Ambassador of Denmark Friis Arne Petersen, and Chairmen Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Tom Petri (R-WI) also joined the ride.
Butler on the June 7 ride down Pennsylvania Ave.'s bike lane
The League and Butler’s partnership, along with the royal ride, gave the Brigade a national platform. Now, six months later, Butler has teamed with President Obama’s Million PALA Challenge — Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (reported in USA Today). The PALA will be given to youth who complete 60 minutes of physical activity a day, at least five days a week, for six weeks and log their activity online at PresidentsChallenge.org.
“I am excited to use … (the Bike Brigade) … to promote the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. Together, we will be able to reach even more kids with the powerful message of leading healthy lifestyles and staying fit through cycling and regular activity,” said Butler.
The League is extremely proud of Butler’s initiative and commitment to get more children on bicycles. We look forward to future efforts.
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.
Here in Washington, DC, we are well into the second year of public bike sharing, on our second major system, and have several other bike fleets or limited access systems throughout the region. I thought that some of the initial excitement would wear off, but the fact that is I can’t help but smile every time I see a CaBi in use — which is to say every time I walk outside or look out my window. This past weekend I got a peek into the inner working of the system and realized we haven’t said as much as we should about how incredible bike sharing is.
With a global recession, you might think that the brakes would be put on bike share systems – but a quick glance at the Bike Sharing Blog tells a different tale. New systems continue to pop-up and existing one’s are thriving. Perhaps the biggest advance in bike sharing in recent weeks is New York City’s Request for Proposals for a 10,000 bike system. 10,000 bikes! We’re fans of the progress and pace of NYC DOT’s work in accommodating and promoting bicycling, though we recognize the city still has a long way to go outside of the lower-half of Manhattan and Northwest Brooklyn. However, even the most hardened skeptics of the lasting impact of Janette Sadik-Khan’s efforts to improve transportation options and expand public space will have to concede that 10,000 bikes will forever change the landscape of the country’s largest city.
Bicycling makes good economic sense. Innovative improvements don’t come free, but all things considered, bicycling is a cheap date. Capital Bikeshare has been so popular that it is likely to break even in three years. Few entrepreneurial start-ups and even fewer transit systems can make that claim. Still, cities that are not willing to sign advertising contracts or that have concerns about their system’s ability to pay for itself have been seeking new ways to generate revenue.
Philadelphia bike sharing consultants CityRyde may have come up with an answer. The company has submitted tracking software for approval by the Voluntary Carbon Standard program. If approved, the software will “offer additional revenue streams to bicycle-sharing programs through the use of carbon offset credits.”CityRyde goes on to say through the program, “bike shares can track, certify and monetize carbon offset credits gained through the use of shared bicycles, adding a crucial new revenue stream to a budding industry.”
We know bicycling can and should be a part of any plan or strategy in reducing carbon emissions. With the economic downturn and current political climate, these efforts can be a tough sell. Using bike share miles pedaled as offsets may be a win-win, leading to fewer carbon emissions and a fiscally sound way to improve urban bicycling. “It’s time we stop talking about reducing car equivalents,” says League President Andy Clarke. “This is a way we can start reducing the need for cars by offering a viable alternative for many people.”
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.
Congratulations to our Essential Tools Giveaway #2 winners — Mike Gionta, Hokan, Martin Guttenplan, Rick Butzberger, Catrine Machi, and Ricky Rodriguez! They’re getting High Visibility Mud Flaps generously donated by Rainy Day Biking.
Essential Tools giveaway #3 is in full swing! We’re giving away two prize packages of seven pairs of Coolmax (r) / Ecomade socks — more or less a week’s supply, depending on how you live your life. These socks are made from 97% recycled materials. The prize package will include Injinji, Dansko, and DeFeet socks.
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.
As you may have heard, our nation had some elections on November 2th. And they resulted in dramatic changes in Congress. There’s been a lot of talk about what this will mean for bicycling. It’s too early to know for sure, but we know what we are going to do. We are going to get back to basics as we work with the 112th Congress and support local advocacy. It’s not going to be easy, but it has never been easy before, and as cyclists, we know that what is easiest is not necessarily what is best in the long run.
At the national level, the League of American Bicyclists is working with our partners in the America BikesCoalition to build new relationships in Congress and strengthen old ones. We are honing our message to explain the importance of bicycling to help meet our nation’s goals, such as economic development, health, the environment, and transportation. We will be looking for partners in the 112th Congress to champion these benefits.
One of the first opportunities will be the 11th annual National Bike Summit in March. Eight hundred bicycling advocates from across the country will meet with their members of Congress to educate them on the issue, introduce them to important legislation, and find ways to work together in the future. We look forward to new members from both parties joining the Congressional Bike Caucus. Bicycling is for everyone; it is not a partisan issue. What’s better than bi-partisanship? Bike-partisanship.
We are also focusing on state and local advocacy. Advocates need to be prepared to look for funding from the sources that have traditionally been used to fund bike projects and to make the case for other sources from which funds are available. With our friends at the Alliance for Biking & Walking, we are training advocates on how to access federal funding for bicycling and walking projects to complete Bicycle Master Plans, fund Complete Streets, improve safety, and meet other goals.
Investments in bicycling are cost effective and facilitate low-cost transportation, and they deserve their fair share, especially in a time of budget cuts and fiscal restraint. Therefore, we will also help advocates respond to threats to bicycling and pedestrian funding. Federal investments in biking and walking have steadily increased, as have bikinglevels. Bicycle projects and programs have been met with enthusiasm and support across the country and across party lines. With our coordinated effort, we will make sure that Members of Congress know how important biking and walking investments are to their constituents, so that they won’t abandon this progress.
The changes in Congress are real and come with a degree of uncertainty as to what to expect. But they are also a good opportunity to get re-energized, make some new friends, and prepare to defend our recent gains. Bicycling advocates have learned a lot since the first National Bike Summit in 2000. With this return to the fundamentals of organizing, the bicycling movement will become stronger and savvier still.
To get involved:
Sign up to receive League of American Bicyclists Advocacy Alerts
Write your Member of Congress to let them know you support initiatives that promote bicycling, and invite them to join you and your local advocacy organization or bike club for a ride, event, ribbon cutting, or ground breaking
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.
“Just to let you know how good a day this has been I saw and eventually used a new bike lane that must have popped up overnight in Hicksville, NY underneath the Long Island RR. A new tool and a new bike lane, it doesn’t get any better than this!” — League Member and Essential Tools winner Howie Mann.
Howie was one of five winners of the Eleven81 Flat 8 pocket tool in our first Essential Tools giveaway. The other winners were ML Szivos, Melanie Williams, Michael Bowers, and Willard Rahn. The tools are in the mail, folks! Thanks again to Hawley for donating the prizes.
At the end of this week, we’ll be drawing the winners of the second Essential Tools giveway — six folks who will win a set of High Visibility Mud Flaps from Rainy Day Biking.
Enter with your valid League of American Bicyclists’ membership number to double your chances of winning. If you’re not a member, join now, because the League membership card is another essential tool you should have in your saddle bag.
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.
Janette Sadik-Khan, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, is the keynote speaker at the National Bike Summit’s opening plenary, Wednesday March 9. Since her appointment in 2007, the New York City has completed more than 250 miles of bike lanes and 20 miles of cycle track; passed innovative bicycle parking legislation and delivered extensive education and safety programs. Bicycle use has doubled since 2006, while fatalities have fallen to their lowest level in decades. Learn more about Sadik-Khan.
The first 100 people to register for the Summit (at any level) will receive a $36 discount and special recognition at the Summit, March 8-10. To take advantage of this offer, register for the Summit – remember to login if you are a League member – and on the payment page type in OBERSTAR in the Promotion Code box and your registration will be automatically reduced by $36!
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.
Watching the Today Show this morning, I was appalled – as were the hosts of the show, as far as one could tell – by the story of the Connecticut driver who is suing the parents of child he killed in a traffic crash. I had to stick around and see what the story was about, and sure enough the kid was on a bike. The story goes something like this: the driver is going 80mph in a 40mph or 45mph area (two-lane road fairly rural road, narrow paved shoulder), overtakes another car and hits and kills the 14-year old cyclist. The driver, with four prior convictions for drunk driving, is sent to jail for ten years for manslaughter and is now suing the parents of the kid for allowing him to ride without a helmet.
Yes, Connecticut has a helmet law (under 16). Yes, the DMV screwed up in letting this guy behind the wheel of a car in the first place. Of course a helmet would have had zero impact at that kind of speed. So the idea that a publicly-funded lawsuit could be brought against the child’s parents seeking $15,000 in damages for the emotional harm done to the driver is truly the stuff of fantasy – or certainly should be. And yet there it is.
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.
Multi-tool? Check.
Patch kit? Check.
League membership card?
We want to help you reach your destinations, wherever they may be. With a fully equipped seat pack, your bicycle is ready for any trouble that may come your way. The League membership is an essential part of this seat pack; it is your tool for creating a bicycle friendly America.
The League is helping you gear up and get ready to ride with our new “Essential Tools” giveaway. We’ll have a new tool to give away every two week from now through early 2011.
First up: Multi tools!
Enter before November 19, 2010, and you could be one of 5 lucky winners of the nifty Eleven81 Flat 8 pocket tool!
League members get two chances to win when they enter with their League membership number. If you’re not a member yet, join now, then enter. You get one essential tool for sure — your League membership card — and double your chances of winning another, the Eleven81 Flat 8 pocket tool. And you’ll double your chances of winning each subsequent tool giveaway that you enter.
Here’s the fine print: Must enter before November 19, 2010.Contest open to residents of the United States age 18 and older, whether a League member or not. Add your League membership number to your entry form to double your chances of winning! One entry per individual, please, and limit 1 prize per contest per household.
Thanks to Hawley for the prizes for this first giveaway.
The League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking are pleased to announce a new, three-year campaign to double federal funding for bicycling and walking by 2013. The Advocacy Advance initiative is backed by renewed support from SRAM, an innovative maker of bicycle components.
The League and Alliance have been awarded up to $1.2 million from SRAM over the next three years to unite active transportation advocates across the nation and give them tools and resources to secure increased funding from existing federal transportation programs for critical bicycle and pedestrian projects.
“At SRAM we believe that bicycles improve the environment, ease congestion, reduce the cost of transportation and create healthier communities,” says Stan Day, SRAM CEO. “The biggest barrier to increased bicycle use in daily lives is the lack of appropriate infrastructure, and local bicycle advocates are working to break down those barriers across the country. The Advocacy Advance campaign will empower those advocates to dramatically improve conditions for bicyclists.”
The Advocacy Advance partnership was created two years ago, with major funding from SRAM. Under that banner, League and Alliance staff research issues vital to the bicycling community and create reports that give advocates the data and knowledge they need to effectively promote bicycling. The partnership has also awarded more than $500,000 in direct grants, technical assistance and scholarships to build the capacity of local and state bicycle advocacy organizations and jumpstart innovative campaigns.
Building on these successes and stepping up to a new challenge, the Advocacy Advance Team is now strategically targeting federal funding. While bicycling and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the U.S., those modes receive less than two percent of federal transportation dollars. By 2013, that will change.
“Our initiative to double the federal investment in bicycling and walking projects in three years is both bold and essential to creating more livable communities,” says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “SRAM’s commitment to Advocacy Advance demonstrates its leadership in the industry, and its faith in the powerful partnership between the League and Alliance to accomplish this goal.”
“We know local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy leaders have both a remarkable passion and the community connections to make real change on the ground,” says Jeffrey Miller, Alliance President/CEO. “The Alliance and the League are committing to work even more closely with those leaders to deliver strategic training, assistance and grants so they can make communities better places to bike and walk.”
More details about Advocacy Advance will be released in coming months.
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 November 2010 elections are fast approaching, with much at stake for many of the policies and initiatives important to the League and the wider bicycling community. That’s why it is important to make sure your voice is heard. Please check out our election center to research election information for your state.
In the two years of the 111th Congress, an unprecedented level of activity has been generated around bicycling and active transportation issues. As the 111th Congress draws to a close, we provide an overview of that activity here.
Also, before the elections check out the three topics below. These issues are important for cyclists to consider before they hit the election booths. If you still have the opportunity to attend a candidate forum or talk to your candidate, ask them about one or more of these.
Photo courtesy of inhabitat.com
1. In March 2010, at the National Bike Summit, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a bold new policy statement that this is the “end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized transportation”.
Question: How would you work in Congress to improve conditions and opportunities for walking and bicycling and to integrate walking and bicycling into our national transportation system?
2. Communities around the country have built many miles of streets and roads that are unsafe for people traveling by foot, bicycle or taking transit. These roadways often lack sidewalks, crosswalks, space for bicyclists, and make no provision for transit riders or people with disabilities.
Question: If elected to Congress, would you support inclusion of a Complete Streets policy in the next transportation bill? Such a policy would require transportation agencies to routinely design and operate the entire right of way with safe access for drivers, transit users and vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as older people, children, and people with disabilities.
3. A 2007 national transportation poll (page 18) found that Americans would like to see 22% of federal transportation funds—about 15 times current levels—invested in walking and bicycling. Currently, this figure is just 1.5% (primarily from the Transportation Enhancements program), despite the fact that bicycling and walking make up more than 10 of all trips and 13% of fatal crash victims.
Question: Walking and biking deliver substantial benefits to economic development, public health, energy, security, mobility and the environment, making active transportation one of the most strategic and cost-effective Federal transportation investments available. If elected to Congress would you support concentrated, focused federal investments to build active transportation systems?
Make sure you get to the polls this November and bike the vote!
~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.
The League has a proud and rich history of working for better bicycling. Founded in 1880 as the League of American Wheelmen, the organization launched the Good Roads Movement that helped get quality paved roads around the country. We continue this work 130 years later still fighting for better roads and conditions for cycling.
We were delighted to see our colleagues at San Francisco Bicycle Coalition use the same simple message that launched the bicycling movement in our country for one of their latest campaigns. Their Good Roads Campaign seeks to enlist members and other SF cyclists to help them report potholes and other street defects through the city’s 311 campaign. The SFBC has conducted an audit of some of the worst pavement conditions in the city and monitors the pavement resurfacing schedule to ensure key bicycling corridors are prioritized.
We support these efforts. In fact, one of the many questions in our Bicycle Friendly Community application asks about the existence of a reporting mechanism for roads in need of repair. Lack of one is a regular part of feedback to applying communities. The Website SeeClickFix.com uses social media and new technology for this type of reporting. Citizens in cities like Omaha, NE and Milwaukee, WI are using this to capture maintenance issues. The site even allows communities to compete against others. On a national level the Complete Streets Coalition’s, Transportation for America’s and even the Sierra Club’s philosophy of ‘fix-it-first’ are extensions of the spirit of the original movement.
As winter approaches with its cycle of freezing and thawing moisture that leads to deterioration of pavement, now is the time for advocates, bike clubs and every day cyclists to learn how to report problems in their community in preparation for springtime’s pothole repair and road resurfacing. We all have to work to help make sure the good roads that have been created remain that way.
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.
Just last week I was treated to a bike tour from the city’s Acting Bicycle Program Coordinator Hayes Lord. Though I’m a frequent visitor of the city, and there seems to be new pathway or separated lane each time I go. On this particular tour, Hayes showed me the 1st and 2nd Avenue separated lanes that were still being installed as we rode by. There is no doubting the impact these types of facilities are having in drawing out new cyclists. That draw is part of the reason for new political support in addressing safety and throughout the city.
While the separated facilities in Manhattan often receive the most attention, NYC DOT has been busy installing and mapping a variety of infrastructure treatments. Using all the tools in their toolbox they’ve helped make it possible to safely bike in all 5 boroughs via low trafficked streets, a system of sharrows and routes, access across bridges, cycletracks, and other separated facilities as well as standard bike lanes. Clarence Eckerson Jr. of Street Films has a great new video showing how his commute uses a mixture of these facilities and how they work.
How does this compare to your commute where you live? Are there examples in the video that could translate into your community?
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.
This isn’t how I wanted to spend International Walk and Bike to School Day. True, I was able to ride with my daughter to school this morning, but then had to finish up this statement to Tampa, Fla., area officials in response to a really depressing rash of fatal bike crashes. Obviously Tampa isn’t the first place to have to deal with this. Three years ago, Portland dealt with two back-to-back right-hook fatals in dramatic fashion; this year Mayors Menino (Boston) and Villaraigosa (Los Angeles) have hosted safety summits in response to specific incidents. But, the response to tragic events like these really do end up defining communities that care about creating safe and livable streets and neighborhoods.
Other big cities are tackling these issues with some powerful programs that Tampa could look at:
Chicago is doing crash analysis and working with bicycling advocates to improve traffic safety. In addition to the bicycling education being offered throughout the city to youth and adults, the Active Transportation Alliance has a Drive with Care campaign with the goal “to stigmatize and curb reckless driving”, and the Alliance also recently beefed-up their crash response tools with a hotline.
Closer to home in the Tampa area, St Petersburg has been making some progress of late – although still has a ways to go and suffers from some alarmingly high crash numbers as well – and has made it to a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community. They have seen a 15% reduction in car/bike crashes in the last couple of years thanks to infrastructure improvements and education programs. So there is hope and there are local examples of ways for Tampa and Hillsborough County to improve.
There is also hope because of the efforts of local advocates, the outpouring of support for the families of the victims, and because some local leaders are ready to act. County Commissioner Mark Sharp already replied to my e-mail this morning and there is a hearing this afternoon on bicyclist safety. Tomorrow, attention shifts to the City.
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 is offering its second club leadership webinar this evening, focusing on all aspects of running your club’s membership campaign.
Our panel includes Dan Ehrmann of ClubExpress, Mary Derks, past president of the Twin Cities Bicycling Club, and Ron Puett, Kansas City Bicycle Club. They’ll discuss getting and retaining members, as well as managing your data with an online system. The panelists in this session offer knowledge of three of the most prominent online systems in use by bike clubs — Dan represents ClubExpress, Twin Cities Bicycling Club uses the Z2 Neon association management system, and Kansas City Bicycling Club uses Wild Apricot.
If you can’t make tonight’s session, the recording will be available later this week on the Club Leadership Resources page. This page already offers the recording of our September webinar, on Leadership Development and Succession, as well as the presentation slides from our in-person Club Leadership Trainings, held earlier this year in Milwaukee and Boca Raton.
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.
The League is moving to a preferential voting system for the upcoming board election. In order to test our systems, we ran a survey for our members on our website. We asked you to rank a list of 10 cyclists from 1 to 10, and then used the principles of instant runoff voting (IRV) to determine the all-time best cyclist, and the four runners up, in a trial run of how we’ll elect our five board members. Here’s how the vote was calculated.
In the first ballot, Eddie Merckx had a simple majority of the first place votes, with 68 votes of 133 cast. He’s our best cyclist of all time, and was elected to the five member “best cyclist” board.
First ballot, number of first-place votes
Eddie Merckx 68
Fausto Coppi 1
Gino Bartali 1
Jacques Anquetil 2
Jeannie Longo 16
Lance Armstrong 18
Marshall “Major” Taylor 26
None of the Above 1
Bernard Hinault, Francesco Moser, and Graeme Obree received no first-place votes.
With Merckx already elected to the board, we turned our attention to the second slot. Merckx’s name was removed from all the ballots, redistributing those 68 first place votes to the second name on each of those ballots. While Lance Armstrong had fewer votes than Major Taylor before Merckx’s votes were redistributed, he had the lead when the second ballot began, and he would never look back. Here’s how the vote looked at the beginning of the second round.
First place votes at the beginning of the polling for the second slot
Fausto Coppi 13
Jacques Anquetil 4
Jeannie Longo 30
Lance Armstrong 38
Marshall “Major” Taylor 35
Gino Bartali 5
Bernard Hinault 7
There was no candidate with a majority, so we began removing the cyclists with the fewest first-place votes from the ballots, and redistributing their first place votes to the next cyclists on those ballots. First Obree and Moser, who got no first place votes, were removed, then Anquetil, Bartali and Hinault. Armstrong, Taylor, Longo, and Coppi all gained votes as the runoffs were calculated, but their relative order never changed. Coppi was eliminated in the fifth runoff, leaving three candidates:
First place votes for the second slot, after the elimination of Fausto Coppi
Jeannie Longo 36
Lance Armstrong 50
Marshall “Major” Taylor 46
There were more than enough votes in play when Jeannie Longo was eliminated to put Major Taylor over the top, but her ballots were split equally between Armstrong and Taylor, and Armstrong won the second slot by 4 votes over Major Taylor, almost exactly the difference between the two men at the beginning of the ballot.
Armstrong was then eliminated from all of the ballots to conduct the runoffs for the third slot. The third election was very similar to the second — cyclists were eliminated in the same order, and Major Taylor led from the first ballot to the last.
The instant runoff system played a more interesting role in the election of the fourth candidate to our “board,” following the election of Merckx, Armstrong, and Taylor (and their elimination from the ballots for the remaining two slots.
Vote distribution at the beginning of the fourth runoff election:
Bernard Hinault 22
Fausto Coppi 32
Gino Bartali 6
Graeme Obree 6
Jacques Anquetil 18
Jeannie Longo 46
Bartali and Obree were eliminated first, with the order of elimination being unimportant, since six additional votes would not have saved either man from being the next to be eliminated.
Fourth “board” slot election after the elimination of Bartali and Obree
Bernard Hinault 25
Fausto Coppi 35
Jacques Anquetil 20
Jeannie Longo 50
Jacques Anquetil gained only two votes in the redistribution process, and was the next to be eliminated. Jeannie Longo’s commanding lead suddenly evaporated, as 17 of the redistributed votes went to Fausto Coppi, with only 1 to Longo, and 2 to Hinault. (You’ll note at this point in the process that the total number of votes is shrinking a little, as some ballots are “exhausted” as a result voters who did not rank any of the remaining cyclists.)
Fourth “board” slot election after the elimination of Bartali, Obree, and Anquetil
Bernard Hinault 27
Fausto Coppi 52
Jeannie Longo 51
Hinault’s 27 votes could have cast the result in either direction, but at this point you had to suspect where things were headed: a voting block of fans of European men’s road racing was now setting the pace. And indeed, Coppi received 2/3rds of the reallocated ballots, to win the fourth slot by a 10 vote margin.
Vote counts at the beginning of the runoff for the fifth slot
Bernard Hinault 31
Francesco Moser 1
Gino Bartali 11
Graeme Obree 8
Jacques Anquetil 28
Jeannie Longo 50
Jeannie Longo began the balloting for the fifth board slot with a commanding lead. As her competition were dropped, one by one, she slowly added to her vote total, but Hinault was gaining ground, buoyed by the same voting block that had pushed Coppi into the fourth slot. She did attain the required majority in the final ballot, winning 67 votes to 62 after the elimination of Jacques Anquetil.
Top five cyclists of all time, as voted by League of American Bicyclists members:
Eddie Merckx
Lance Armstrong
Marshall”Major” Taylor
Fausto Coppi
Jeannie Longo
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.
Big news on the proposed St. Charles County bike ban.
County Councilmember Jerry Daugherty has removed his support for Bill 3620, which would ban bicycling on key routes through St. Charles County, MO. With that, the threat of a bicycle ban is essentially over. Thanks to everyone who took action to help stop this ban including St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, Missouri Bicycle& Pedestrian Federation and TrailNet. Extra special thanks to local cyclists and bike shop owners who spoke out in public meetings against the proposed bans. Your hard work not only benefits other local cyclists, but the cycling community as a whole.
Though the proposed ban may be behind us, the fight for fair treatment in St. Charles still remains. Since the introduction of the bike ban bill, other bills have been put forth calling for items such as flags, mirrors and other non-standard equipment for bikes; a requirement to ride 20 inches from the fog line; and a low cap on organized rides unless a special permit is acquired. Like the proposed ban, these requirements would only be along specific state-owned roadways within the county, are inconsistent with current state codes and have been proposed with little to no input from the bicycling community. Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation has put forth its own set of changes to St. Charles County law. Action is still needed from local St. Charles County cyclists! Please attend the next County Council meeting Monday, Sept. 27 at Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.
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.
The League announced 18 new Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) and eight renewing BFCs at the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference yesterday, September 15. See the complete list of BFCs here.
“The most exciting thing about this round of awards was seeing communities that had implemented past feedback, improved their communities, and achieved a Bicycle Friendly Community designation,” said Andy Clarke, League president.
The third time was the charm for the Charm City, Baltimore, Md. and Knoxville, Tenn. Both received the bronze designation after previously receiving the Honorable Mention the past two times they applied. Other communities climbing the BFC ranks this round include Bloomington, Ind. and Carrboro, N.C., all of which moved from Bronze to Silver designations. Denver, Colo. is another thrilling success story – they rejoined the ranks of silver communities after having been downgraded to bronze for the past five years.
A ten-day traffic jam stretching more than 60 miles outside of Beijing, China is a nightmare – a nightmare for those in their cars, for the Chinese government, and for its citizens. The jam, noted as the longest in history, formed on August 14 and has caused some drivers to be stuck on the road for six days.
The number of vehicles in Beijing has increased by 1,900 a day on average in the first six months of this year, officials said at a recent transportation seminar. Beijing, like many of China’s big cities, has invested heavily on widening roads, building towering flyovers and expanding its subway system. It is, however, still struggling to keep pace with the surge of new vehicles. China, with its fast-expanding middle-class, this year, overtook the United States to become the world’s biggest car market. In Beijing alone, a city of 20 million, the total number of vehicles is expected to hit 7 million by 2015. The city’s roads can accommodate 6.7 million vehicles…To ease the burden on the roads, the government is planning to invest 331.2 billion Yuan ($ 49.4 billion) in the next five years to expand its subway system by 850 km and increase the usage of public transport to 40 per cent.
Hopefully, China’s efforts include bike infrastructure and increasing the bike-mode share, in addition to expanding its public transportation system. Similar problems are popping up in countries near and far. Click here for a slide show of 12 of the world’s most high traffic areas.
Similar recurring nightmares (albeit not as long as Beijing’s) are clogging our own backyards. Next time, instead of sitting idle in your car for two hours on you way to work and for two hours on the way back, ride your bike. Worst case scenario, it will take you the same amount of time as when you sat in traffic. However, when you bike commute you don’t subject yourself to the frustration of going nowhere and annoying radio morning shows. You feel refreshed and not the least bit irritated from the time you wasted sitting in traffic – because you didn’t!
In addition to biking your work commute and errands, take action and protect vital bicycle funding in your community. The more citizens on bikes, the less traffic and the happier we will all be.
The League is proud to be a Gold Level sponsor of this year’s Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference taking place September 13-17. Bronze Level BFC Chattanooga, TN will be hosting the biennial conference. Along with sharing information on the League’s programs to participants from our booth, we’ll be taking part in several plenaries, panel discussions and workshops on connecting offroad riding opportunities to traditional bicycle networks, creating bicycle friendly work places, Bicycle Friendly Communities, state DOT bicycle programs, distracted driving and federal transportation policy. You can see the full list of program items here.
Though the conference is quickly approaching, it’s not too late to sign up. As added incentive, all panel presentations are now qualified for AICP continuing education credit. This not only speaks to the importance and timing of our work in the planning field, but offers added incentive for your community’s planning staff to participate.
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.
As bicycling continues to grow across the country, so does the need for increased understanding of how to safely ride a bike. There’s much more to learn beyond the basic balance, braking and shifting. Luckily, with proper training and a bit of practice, it’s not that hard. With our terrific Smart Cycling series of courses, and our hardworking League Cycling Instructors (LCIs), we offer courses for cyclists of all skill levels – beginner to expert.
With this growth of bicycling, comes the need for more instructors. The League relies on our wonderful LCIs to help deliver our Smart Cycling message across the country, and we welcome more cycling enthusiasts to join us in this effort. What would have made for a full year of instructor seminars a few years back, now makes for a full month! We have 16 seminars remaining this year [2 are apparently already full!]. See the schedule below, and consider signing up for one:
South Portland, ME
Fri-Sun, September 10-12, 2010
Contact: Jim Tasse, 207-318-0386 Seminar signup
Sep 16 Seminar
Chattanooga, TN
Thu-Sat Sep 16-18, 2010
Contact: Philip Pugliese, 423.643.6887 Seminar signup
This seminar is directly after the ProWalk/ProBike Conference in Chattanooga
Houston, TX
Fri-Sun, Oct 01-03, 2010
Contact: Brian Hatt Seminar signup
Oct 1 Seminar
New Britain, CT
Fri-Sun, Oct 1-3, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth Emery, 860-522-2217 ext 227 Seminar signup
Registration for this seminar is open to CT residents. We will maintain a wait list of out of state candidates and notify you by Sept if space becomes available.
Asheville, NC
Fri-Sun, Oct 15, 2010
Contact: Gwen Wisler, (828) 333-1767 Registration for this seminar is closed
This seminar is not really closed but you must contact Gwen to register.
Corpus Christi, TX
Fri-Sun, Oct 22-24, 2010
Contact: Tom Neagli, 361-993-7000 Registration for this seminar is closed
You must contact the site coordinator to register for this seminar
Washington, DC
Fri-Sun, Nov 19-21, 2010
Contact: Glen Harrison Seminar signup
This will be at the WABA office on Ontario Street
Having active LCIs in your state, community or business earns you credit in their respective award recognition applications. If you’re working on any of these, it’s a great way to bolster your responses to the Education section. Also, we strongly encourage law enforcement, Safe Routes to School practitioners, planners and engineers to participate. As professionals working on behalf of cyclists, you already understand the needs, rights and responsibilities of bicyclists. You’ll learn the necessary skills to better share this with others.
To learn more about becoming a LCI, visit the Instructor FAQ’s , contact Education Program Director Preston Tyree or call the League office at 202.822.1333.
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.
There’s been a lot said and written about the decline of Detroit, Mich after its deindustrialization. Long ago dubbed the Motor City, locals tell us that many streets are void of auto-traffic making them great for bikes. There’s lots of people and organizations trying to turn the city around. Folks like the League of Michigan Bicyclists and Todd Scott at Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance are working to re-energize the city through bicycles and greenways. Now they may have some help from the Mower Gang.
Walking through a maze of shrubbery, trees, tires, paint cans and logs the size of wheelbarrows, it was hard to imagine that people raced bicycles there.
“I cannot believe that this has been abandoned in time,” said Tom Nardone, founder of the Mower Gang. The small group of volunteers was standing on the Dorais Velodrome in northeast Detroit on Friday. The motto on their shirts said it all, “Winning Detroit’s Other Turf War.”
Though the concrete velodrome needs quite a bit more maintenance to be race worthy, the group of volunteer armed with mowers and weedwackers did succeed in making it rideable again.
“It’s really not about getting some 45-year-old guy a better place to ride his bike,” said [Tom] Nardone, reflecting on the Mower Gang’s mission. “It’s more about getting 10-, 12-, 13-year-old kids a better place to spend an afternoon.”
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.
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In informing us of the ranking, Charity Navigator’s president and CEO Ken Berger wrote:
of seven pairs of 
At the end of this week, we’ll be drawing the winners of the second Essential Tools giveway — six folks who will win a set of 
Our panel includes Dan Ehrmann of ClubExpress, Mary Derks, past president of the Twin Cities Bicycling Club, and Ron Puett, Kansas City Bicycle Club. They’ll discuss getting and retaining members, as well as managing your data with an online system. The panelists in this session offer knowledge of three of the most prominent online systems in use by bike clubs — Dan represents 
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