A record number of 767 people attended the 2011 National Bike Summit, and they participated in more than 400 congressional meetings on Thursday, March 10. Among the attractions this year were two Cabinet Secretaries, the Transportation Commissioner from the biggest city in the nation, a representative of the First Lady...and the incomparable Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). Energy and enthusiasm levels were high as advocacy and industry leaders brought a powerful message of economic development and simple solutions to our nation's Capital, all culminating in a Congressional Bike Ride in honor of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. See footage of the ride courtesy of Streetsblog, and the League's own coverage of the Summit. If you are wondering where Bikeportland.org was this year...check this out; congratulations Jonathon and Juli.  

The first-ever Bicycle Friendly University designations were announced last week, along with the spring Bicycle Friendly Businesses, at the National Bike Summit. Among the 32 universities that applied, 20 received designations, with Stanford University earning the only platinum-level award. The BFU program recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bicycle-friendly campus for students, staff and visitors and was modeled after our other BFA programs.

The new round of Bicycle Friendly Businesses total fifty-five new recipients. Awardees include the U.S. State Department, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield (Portland), North West Mutual (Milwaukee) and Seattle Children's Hospital - bringing the total number of BFB's to 266.

A new urban bikeway design guide was released at the National Bike Summit last week by Janette Sadik Khan, New York City's Transportation Commissioner and current President of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. The on-line guide shares state-of-the-art designs and best practices from major U.S. cities with the intent that "the Federal Highway Administration recognize these as national standards, and for AASHTO to do the same", according to Ms Sadik Khan.

Perhaps in anticipation of the new NACTO guide, the Federal Highway Administration has just developed a resource page that summarizes bicycle-related traffic control devices that are permitted by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices - and those that are currently under research or are approved for experiments. FHWA's work is complemented by the ongoing work of the Bicycle Technical Committee of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices...really...which is developing proposals for the use of bike boxes, bicycle signals and priority shared lane markings.

The third Safe Routes to School National Conference is planned for August 16-18, 2011 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. For more information on the League's Safe Routes to School Traffic Safety Program education curriculum click here.

The prosaic issue of bike lanes on New York City streets has reached previously unheard-of literary heights - with a major furore unleashed by a New Yorker columnist who made the mistake of suggesting that there were diminishing economic returns on providing bike lanes throughout the city. The argument was joined by no lesser lights than the Economist, Reuters, and the New York Times; the former having some especially pertinent and pointed economic arguments in reply. The New Yorker author may have underestimated the folly of making his case based on the difficulty of finding free parking for his Jaguar on NYC's streets!

In a related development, NYC-based Transportation Alternatives is asking members to write NYC Congressman Anthony Weiner in response to his unfortunate remarks the New York Times reported last Sunday: "When I become mayor, you know what I'm going to spend my first year doing?" Mr. Weiner said to Mr. Bloomberg, as tablemates listened. "I'm going to have a bunch of ribbon-cuttings tearing out your [expletive] bike lanes."

A proposal before next week's Houston-Galveston Area Council's Transportation Policy Council (TPC) would cut $12.8 million in committed bike and pedestrian project funding, and would all but end funding for bike related projects and programs for the foreseeable future. The funds would be used instead for highway projects. Bike Houston and Houston Tomorrow are leading the charge to oppose this proposal: over 2,000 Houston cyclists have signed the online petition already. The League's letter to the TPC is here. The presence of area cyclists at the meeting will also make a huge difference.

Congratulations to our 2011 Clubs of the Year. Each club has gone above and beyond to make their group the most innovative and successful in the country. 

  

2011 Clubs of the Year: 

Westchester Cycle Club (NY)

New York Cycle Club (NY)

San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club (CA)

Bonneville Cycling Club (UT)

Bloomington Bicycle Club (IN)

Baltimore Bicycle Club (MD)

Blue Ridge Bicycle Club(VA)

Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks (AR)

  

Read more about our winners here.  

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.