It’s a Simple Solution
Eight hundred bicycling and walking advocates gathered in the nation's capital in early March for the 11th annual National Bike Summit hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. Our purpose: deliver the message that biking and walking are economical, efficient, and clean transportation options.
In every office we delivered the message that even in tough economic times, we must invest in solutions that solve multiple problems like biking and walking which improve safety, health and air quality and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The outcomes of this advocacy effort will play out over the coming weeks and months. Watch for action alerts to save these important programs.
Notable Quotes:
US Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, “It’s critically important to make communities that are cycle-friendly, and it takes all 800 of you in this room to build the political leadership to create those communities.”
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to his fellow Congressman, “Don’t cut what you haven’t visited or experienced!”
Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City Commissioner of Transportation, “In five years, New York City has transformed itself with 250 miles of bike lanes on city streets, protected bike lanes, bus rapid transit, bike parking in buildings AND a significant decrease in traffic fatalities = the lowest in 100 years!”
Big Announcement
The National Association of City Transportation Officials unveiled its guidance for cities seeking to improve bicycle transportation in places where competing demands for the use of right of way present unique circumstances. Check it out: Urban Bikeway Design Guide.
Happy Experience
Riding the Capitol Bike Share bike to the conference. It was a big red comfort ride. It was a blast and super-easy to use. I highly recommend it.
Inaugural award
University of Washington won a League of American Bicyclists inaugural bicycle friendly university silver award.
Bike friendly cities are so nice to live in. I lived in Boulder, CO for several years. There are bike paths galore, bikes have the right of way over cars, there are public bikes that you can borrow and leave outside, etc. I kept my car, but only used it a handful of times, unless the weather was too bad to bike. Boulder is an excellent model for other cities to follow. I hope Congress will consider the environmental and fuel cost benefits of such cities, and encourage more.
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