Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is confirmed as the dinner speaker at the opening of the National Bike Summit on Tuesday, March 8; we eagerly await his insight into the Administration's proposals for the next transportation bill. Leaders of the bicycle movement met with LaHood last week and heard how critical it is that we make the case for our issue with members of Congress - make sure you are at the Summit to help us get the job done. Register here before the registration rates go up on February 3.

According to a new report by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, building bike lanes and pedestrian projects, and bike boulevards, creates more job per million dollars spent than road repairs and road resurfacing. The report examines the costs of engineering, construction, and materials costs for different types of projects in the city of Baltimore, Md. concludes that, for a given amount of spending, bike lanes create about twice as many jobs as road construction. Read more.

According to a survey recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 percent of adult Americans say that their neighborhood features - like sidewalks, crosswalks, or lighting - are of high importance in determining their levels of physical activity. About two-thirds of adults said they were willing to take "civic actions" to improve neighborhood features. Read more on our blog.

The National Complete Streets Coalition celebrated a huge milestone last week -- more than 200 complete streets policies have now been adopted across the United States. This includes Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Read more about this accomplishment here.

This week sees the annual meeting of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices annual meeting in Arlington, Va., closely followed by the Transportation Research Board meeting across the river in Washington, D.C. Not only will we be actively involved in those meetings, but we'll be eagerly seeing how these august bodies are affected by exciting initiatives such as the Cities for Cyclists design guide, the proposed next edition of the AASHTO bicycle guide, and the National Endowment for the Arts Re:Streets street design project.

Recently a team of researchers from the University of California at Berkeley, writing in a recent issue of Environmental Research Letters, described a previously unknown cost in parking - energy and emissions that come from building America's vast parking infrastructure: "The environmental effects of parking are not just from encouraging the use of the automobile over public transit or walking and biking (thus favoring the often more energy-intensive and polluting mode), but also from the material and process requirements in direct, indirect, and supply chain activities related to building and maintaining the infrastructure." Read the whole article at Infrastructurist.com

The new study by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) revealed some startling news. The total economic cost of overweight people (BMI between 25.0-29.9) and obesity (BMI of more than 30) in the U.S. and Canada reaches $300 billion per year, with 90 percent of the total -- $270 billion -- attributed to the U.S. While much research has been conducted on obesity, the SOA study looked at the economic costs of overweight people and obesity, how it caused increased need for medical care and added to loss of economic productivity -- resulting from excess mortality and disability. Read the report here.

The bicycle-friendly appeal of Montana and Idaho's rural routes is in jeopardy. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to allow mega-load transports of oil industry equipment on the state's scenic highways. The Adventure Cycling Association's board voted to oppose the planned mega-load shipments of oil industry equipment on Idaho and Montana's rural routes. These highways -- including Highway 12 in Idaho and Montana and Highway 200 in Montana -- are part of Adventure Cycling's most iconic bicycle routes, including the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, the Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail, and the Great Parks North Bicycle Route. Source: Bike Radar

The League club webinar series was developed to educate club leaders and volunteers. We give you the tools for your club to succeed.

February 8: Marketing
We'll discuss website, newsletter, and other outreach, with a focus on Bike Month and Bike to Work Day, in May. Panelists TBA.

To find out more and to register visit the Club Corner or e-mail Scott@bikeleague.org.

We are now accepting nominations for our annual Club of the Year Award. For a club to be considered, e-mail your nomination to meghan@bikeleague.org by January 31, 2010. Include 1. Your name 2. The name of the club you are nominating 3. What does your club excel at? (50 words or less) 4. What has your club recently implemented that is innovative and successful? (100 words or less) 5. Why should your club be League Club of the Year? (100 words or less).

Our Board of Directors will choose a winner by mid-February. Clubs will be recognized at the National Bike Summit, in our spring Cue Sheet, and with a banner they can use on their Web sites and newsletters.

For the second year, the League is hosting a Newsletter of the Year Competition. To enter your favorite club newsletter, please send us two of the most recent issues of the newsletter by January 31, 2010. The newsletter must be a publication of a League club member organization. The League will pick a winner and two runners-up and announce the winners in the March/April issue of American Bicyclist. All three will receive a seal to put on their newsletter for the year, denoting the honor, and the winner will receive a visit from League President Andy Clarke. Good luck!

Mail entries to:
League of American Bicyclists
c/o Newsletter of the Year Contest
1612 K St, NW
Ste. 800
Washington, D.C. 20006

The Knox County Health Department is seeking a Health Planner to lead projects focused on the built environment and health. Apply now.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.