November 07, 2011  

Celestron
Greetings!

Registration for the National Bike Summit is now officially open -- and if you register before November 11 with the code SUMMIT12, you will receive an additional $50 off your already discounted early bird registration (savings will total $150 if you are a League member).   

Why $50? We will have a lot of work to do at  year's Summit. We are in danger of losing 50 years of hard work and could go back to the days when no money from the Federal Government funded bicycling. Our timing couldn't be any more perfect-- the Summit is a few days before the expiration of the current law. We all need to be on Capitol Hill to ensure bicycling is included in the Transportation Bill. Register for the National Bike Summit, and help save cycling.  

 

Andy Clarke,

 


League President

National News
Senate Releases Transportation Proposal    
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee published its proposal for the next Federal transportation program late on Friday evening, November 4. The 600-page bill will be marked-up in Committee on Wednesday, November 9. The proposed legislation makes significant changes to the core, dedicated funding programs for bicycling and walking activities, as this side-by-side analysis shows. America Bikes coalition members and staff are analyzing the bill, working with Committee staff and members to address specific issues, and preparing to brief the media and stakeholders on all aspects of the proposed legislation. Please visit the America Bikes and individual coalition member Web sites for updates in the days ahead; look for an official statement tomorrow (Tuesday, November 8).
Study Reports that Biking Saves Lives and Dollars 
University of Wisconsin researchers found that bicycling could answer many of their environmental and health problems. According to the report published in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives, if Mid-westerners replaced half of their short trips with bicycle trips during the warmest six months of the year, they would save about $3.8 billion per year from avoided mortality and reduced health care costs for conditions like obesity and heart disease. The report calculated that these measures would save an estimated $7 billion, including 1,100 lives each year from improved air quality and increased physical fitness.The length of trips in the study were 2.5 miles one way and less than 25-minutes by bike.
Big Bike Questions You Want Answered?    
The Federal Highway Administration is seeking input into which critical areas of research they should invest their limited Surface Transportation Environment and Planning (STEP) Cooperative Research Program funds - and one of the focus areas is bicycle and pedestrian research. The comment period closes November 10, so get your comment in quickly using this FHWA website. The level of interest in bike-related topics is important to the final allocation of research funds, so even if you don't have a fully-formed research problem statement to submit, please throw your ideas into the hopper.
Share Your Trail Training Knowledge    
The National Trails Training Partnership (NTTP) is conducting research on training needs and satisfaction to improve the quality and availability of trail-related skills. American Trails is conducting the online survey, and anyone involved in trails as an employee, volunteer or supporter may take the survey. The survey closes November 30.
State & Local News
Salt Lake City's Bike Count Shows Big Jump
Salt Lake City, Utah's second annual bike count showed a 27 percent increase in cycling. The count surveyed 16 locations during the second week of September 2011. The 27 percent increase was calculated by comparing the 12 locations that were included in both the 2010 and 2011 counts. Find out more about bicycling in Salt Lake City.
West Virginian Cyclists Aim to Keep Bridge Open   
West Virginia's Morgantown area bicyclists are petitioning the state to provide a means for bicyclists to cross Cheat Lake at Iceany during construction of a new bridge. West Virginian cyclists, contact your State Department of Transportation Secretary and Senator Joe Manchin to keep the Ice's Ferry Bridge open to bicyclists and pedestrians. Use our Advocacy Center to contact your officials.
Upcoming Bicycle Summits  
Make sure you attend your local and state bicycle summits -- they are your local resource to make your communities and states bicycle-friendly. The following Summits are happening this November:

Third annual New Mexico Bicycle and Education Summit --  November 11, 12 & 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. Registration closes today, November 7. Details are available here.

CT Bike Walk Summit -- November 12 at Yale University, New Haven. Despite the bad weather and the power outages, this bike summit is still on! Andy Clarke will lead the morning with an overview of the League's Bike Friendly America program. Find out more.
League News 
Effective Club Websites Webinar -- Tomorrow! 
We'll discuss various ways to mount an effective web presence. Panelists to be announced. November 8, 2011, at 8pm Eastern

Register now! 

See our Club Leadership Training page for recordings and materials from past webinars, including recent presentations on Social Events (October 2011) and Diversifying your Membership and Outreach (September 2011).

Action 2020 Workshops 
Advocacy Advance's -- a partnership between the League and the Alliance for Biking and Walking -- Action 2020 Workshops are designed for bicycle and pedestrian advocates, government agency staff, and elected officials to learn how to access untapped or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs.

Upcoming Events

Hartford, Conn. Workshop
-- the Nov. 4th workshop was scheduled for December 15. E-mail Darren Flusche with questions.

Houston, Texas Workshop -- The December 2 workshop is hosted by BikeHouston and the Houston Galveston Area Council. Register here.

Learn more about Advocacy Advance's Action 2020 Workshops. Thanks to SRAM, the workshops are free.
League End of Year Survey   
Please take our League surveys for Members, Clubs and Advocacy Organizations so that we know how we can help you best. The results will shape our programming and benefits for the 2012 year. Thanks in advance for participating!
Tour Guide and Ride Finder 
If you are a League-affiliated club, advocacy organization or ride, we invite you to submit details of your primary or signature event or ride. Space is limited so please send us the ONE event you'd like others to know about. Here are the details we need: state and city that the ride takes place in, ride name, the club or organization that is hosting it, date, Web site, terrain and a 15 word description.

If you are a tour company, please provide the following details: tour company name, phone number, Web site, e-mail and a 30 words or less description of your unique attributes.

Please send your ride or tour to Meghan.

Share this American Bicyclist Update with your cycling friends and fellow bike commuters. The generous support from the League's members make publications like this possible. Join the League today.
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.
In This Issue
Transportation Proposal
Biking Saves Lives
Big Bike Questions
Share Your Trail Knowledge
SLC Bike Count
W.V. Bridge Petition
Bike Summits
Effective Club Web Sites
Action 2020 Workshops
League Surveys
Tour Guide Ride Finder
team 7-eleven
team 7-eleven
alaskabike
backroads
bike virginia
new zealand pedaltours
rbr newsletter
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