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.

"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," says Stan Day, SRAM CEO. "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 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 winning 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.

"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 Jeff 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."

The Alliance is now accepting nominations for our annual, national Advocacy Awards. Established in 2009, our awards program honors those who show exceptional leadership in advancing the bicycle and pedestrian movement. Anyone can make up to six nominations - you don't have to be part of an Alliance member organization - and the online submission form makes it quick and easy.

Do you know someone who deserves national recognition for his or her efforts? Did your local advocacy organization start or win an innovative or high-impact campaign this year? What corporate or business champions have invested in better biking and walking in your community? If you're like us, a dozen people and a handful of groups just popped into your head. Show your appreciation by taking just a few moments to nominate them for an Advocacy Award.

Nominations are evaluated by Alliance staff, board and advocacy organization representatives, and the winners get some high-profile recognition. Each year, we host our Advocacy Awards reception on the first night of the National Bike Summit - and a couple hundred advocacy and industry leaders turn out for the big announcement.

In the November edition of Streetside, we highlighted a major victory in the Show-Me State. After years of targeted advocacy and partnership building, the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation helped cut the ribbon on a new bike-ped path on the Heart of America Bridge in Kansas City (pictured above).

"Advocates have been working for this day for more than two decades," Brent Hugh, MoBikeFed's executive director, told us. "The Missouri River cuts the Kansas City metro area in half, and a safe crossing point for bicyclists and pedestrians has been the biggest missing piece of the area's bike-ped network."

Kansas City is far from unique. Bridge crossings pose significant challenges - and opportunities - for bicycle and pedestrian advocates across the country. To help spur more successes like the one in Missouri, the Advocacy Advance Team will release its latest report, Bridging the Gaps in Bicycling Networks: An Advocate's Guide to Bikes-on-Bridges Campaigns, early next week.

"Bridges provide critical connections in a transportation network," writes Darren Flusche, policy analyst for the League of American Bicyclists and lead author of the report. "After a generation of building bridges exclusively for cars, it is time for a more inclusive approach. Bicyclists and pedestrians need bridges at least as much as any other road users and advocates are increasingly making progress with transportation agencies. However, because of their scale and complexity, advocates often need to undertake serious, concerted campaigns to ensure accommodations are made." 

"This report identifies some of the common objections to bridge accommodations for biking and walking and offers suggestions on how to answer them," Flusche adds. "It also contains recommendations based on the experience of several successful and on-going advocacy campaigns."
 

The report is a must-read. It brings together all the relevant statistics, policy statements and federal regulations that you need to discuss these critical issues with officials in your community. It includes key insights and engaging anecdotes from advocates across the nation. To make sure you get the report hot off the digital presses, subscribe to our People Powered Blog and we'll post the link early next week.

To make sure you get the most of the report, the Alliance is also hosting a Mutual Aid conference call on the topic: "Learn from the Bridge Access Report" on Wednesday, December 8th at 4 p.m. EST. Advocacy Advance staff will join the call to answer any questions about the report and a panel of advocates will share their experiences in waging and winning bridge campaigns in their communities. Be sure to read Bridging the Gaps and dial in to add your voice and insight to this important discussion.

Click here to register for the call.

• "We are going to win our campaign to fund a trail system in the metro area of Kansas City by incorporating a one-tenth of one percent sales tax," Eric Bunch, Bike Walk KC, added.

All the campaigns were met with big applause and, each participant left Asheville with a detailed Campaign Blueprint, mapping each step on their course to victory.
 

Now that 2010 is in the books - and dozens of new campaigns are on the streets - we'd like to once again thank the dedicated host organizations that helped plan and execute Winning Campaigns Trainings this year. And, of course, the trainings wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Planet Bike, AARP, Sram, Bikes Belong, Breezer, Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge, and VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations.
 

Didn't make it to a training in 2010? Stay tuned to the next Streetside when we'll announce our 2011 trainings.

Alas, it wasn't enough to propel us to first place. But we're excited to congratulate our friends at Trips for Kids for bringing home the victory and grateful to the nearly 2,000 participants who pedaled for the Alliance.

The 2 Mile Challenge is a national competition created by CLIF Bar to encourage people to replace short car trips with bicycle travel. To lead the charge in 2010, CLIF Bar selected three nonprofit organizations, awarded each a $25,000 grant and assigned them to represent one of three teams: Gold, Blue, or Red.

The Alliance went for the Gold and 1,825 residents across the country joined our team. In six months, our dedicated team members pedaled thousands of miles in their communities and logged their bike trips on the 2 Mile Challenge interactive website. The results were impressive.

The Gold Team traveled 166,441 miles; saved 153,126 pounds of carbon dioxide, and logged 18,106 trips on their bicycles. We may have come in second place, but we put up a first-place effort. Kudos to all our amazing Gold Team members for their efforts this summer.

While the CLIF Bar 2 Mile Challenge team competition is over for the year - slated to return in Spring 2011 - the website remains active for people who to want to continue or join, log bike miles and challenge friends to ride their bikes for short trips. Click here to take the challenge.

San Fran Advocates "Light up the Night"

Sadly, those nights of riding home from work or happy hour in the golden evening glow are behind us. For the next several months, the sun will set before quitting time and bicycle commuters will be cruising home on darkened streets. From Alaska to New York City, many bike-ped advocates are making sure their area cyclists stay safe and visible. Last month, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition kicked off its ongoing "Light up the Night" program. Teaming up with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the local police department, the Bay Area organization is giving away 2,400 front white and rear red blinky lights. Just the first night of the effort resulted in the distribution of hundreds of lights and bike safety brochures. But the SFBC isn't advertising where and when its blinky ambassadors will take to the streets. According to the SFBC: "The locations are being kept under wraps in an effort to light up riders who truly need lights." Read more here.