Bike Summit Report #2: Cycling Ascending?

Besides Google’s announcement of their new bike mapping service, the 10^th annual National Bike Summit was packed with a lot of other good stuff. Ginny Sullivan, our special projects director, and I must have met with at least 500 advocates, Members of Congress, agency officials, and Congressional staff over three days. On Capitol Hill Day, probably 750 to 800 bike advocates swarmed the halls of power, making an impression with our colorful bike pins and well-honed messages. Here are some highlights:

+ A packed workshop on the economic and political power of bike travel. Thanks to Adventure Cycling member Todd Copley for pulling this together. I spoke about the rising interest in bike touring -- and how it relates to grassroots advocacy -- along with Lauren Hefferon of Ciclismo Classico and Kristin Dahl of Travel Oregon. We generated some great ideas for how to grow the audience and participation rate for bike travel. Thanks also to Walt Finch at the League of American Bicyclists for making this panel possible.

+ A rousing speech from Congressman Jim Oberstar (profiled in the latest Adventure Cyclist magazine as “cycling’s best friend in Congress”), including a terrific passage of praise for the U.S. Bicycle Route System, which he and Congressman Peter DeFazio have included in pending federal transportation legislation. Other fantastic Congressional friends of cycling, especially Earl Blumenauer from Oregon, provided inspiration and direction to our troops.

+ The unveiling of a cool new public awareness and mobilization campaign, People for Bikes, launched by Bikes Belong with help from the SRAM Cycling Fund, to recruit at least a million cyclists in support of cycling in America. Add your voice -- it’s cost-free and I just signed up.

+ A fantastic pizza party with our friends at the East Coast Greenway Alliance, who are working closely with us on the U.S. Bicycle Route System. Special thanks to Adventure Cycling life member Tony Barrett, who handed me a beer the instant I walked in the door, and is doing great work in Maine.

+ The announcement -- and front page news coverage -- that cycle tracks are being installed on Pennsylvania Avenue (between Capitol Hill and the White House) and other downtown streets in Washington, DC.

+ Another rousing speech from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who jumped up on a dais in a jammed Congressional hearing room and proclaimed -- to impassioned cheers from cyclists across America -- the Administration’s strong support for cycling and livable communities.

Needless to say, a great time was had by all -- and cycling has never been more prominent in the nation’s capitol. For more information, check out Jonathan Maus’ excellent blog posts at bikeportland.org, sponsored by Planet Bike.

in the above photo: A sample of what happened at the Capitol -- Jim Sayer meeting with Oregon Congressman (and bike hero) Peter De Fazio, just before the National Bike Summit.

photo courtesy of Jim Sayer

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JIM SAYER is the executive director of Adventure Cycling Association.