November 5, 2012
Greetings!

I've always been a big fan of Georgena Terry --- in 2005, the League named her to our Top 25 Change Agents for Cycling list --- and I'm thrilled that she is going to keynote the next Women Bike event in conjunction with the National Bike Summit. Terry uses her engineering background to bring more women into cycling, and we are using our advocacy expertise to increase the number of women bike riders and women advocates. Won't you join us?

Sincerely,  

 


Andy Clarke

League President
National Events 

Georgena Terry to Keynote Women Bike Event   

 

Georgena Terry is a pioneer and a visionary. The founder of the first company to manufacture and market bikes built specifically for women, she challenged the very structure and design of the bicycle. Both an entrepreneur and an advocate, Terry dared to follow her passion and ingenuity and grew a basement operation into an internationally known brand. And on March 4, she'll be the opening keynote at the Women Bike event at the start of the 2013 National Bike Summit. Read more

Save $50: Register for the 2013 National Bike Summit    

The theme for the 2013 National Bike Summit is Bicycling Means Business -- and the League is giving you an opportunity participate in the premiere advocacy event of the year AND benefit your bottom line. The first 100 registrants will get an extra $50 off of the early-bird rate with the promo code "50BUCKS." This year's Summit is going to be critical, as we shape an agenda and Congressional strategy for the next transportation bill. Make a good business decision: Register for the Summit -- and save! -- today!  
   
National Events  
Iconic U.S. Companies Become Bicycle Friendly Businesses

What do Facebook, Angie's List and General Mills have in common? They're all Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFBs)! Last month, the League recognized 71 new BFBs for their role in pedaling America toward greater prosperity and making their businesses welcoming to bicyclists. Headlined by iconic companies - like Facebook, Apple, Inc., and the Hewlett-Packard Company - this round of awards pushes the total number of BFBs to nearly 500 businesses in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Read more and see the full list.

Ivy League Goes Green With Bicycle Friendly Universities

Yale and Princeton are already among the nation's elite colleges. Now they're among the top universities when it comes to bicycling, too. Last month, the League announced the designation of nine new Bicycle Friendly Universities, growing the program to 44 colleges in 25 states. "Young adults want to drive less and ride more - and they're choosing schools, like Yale and Princeton, that are making bicycling a vibrant part of campus life," says League President Andy Clarke. Read more and see the full list

Guidance Released on Federal Transportation Law

Last month, the Federal Highway Administration issued guidance to state departments of transportation on the Transportation Alternatives Program (TA) -- a key piece of the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21. The guidance provides specifics for state agencies and resolves any ambiguities in the complex legislative language. Here's the good and bad news for bicyclists. Read more

 
League News  
New League Staff: Meet Ken McLeod

The League is excited to announce a new member of our staff: Ken McLeod. A lawyer and a cyclist, Ken is our new Legal Specialist, working with the Advocacy Advance team. Ken will be working to improve the legal resources provided by the League and, more specifically, to set up a tracking system for federal funding on biking and walking. But what's Ken's story? Where's he from and how did he end up at the League? Click here to read more

We Need to Hear From You: 2012 Membership Survey!

 

League Logo and Link If you're a League member, please take a few minutes to take our 2012 member survey. Your input is critical as we plan for next year AND, by taking the survey (and leaving your contact information), you'll be eligible to win $150 from the League. Questions? E-mail Scott Williams, director of membership: [email protected]. Take the survey now! 

Club Leadership Webinar: Small Group Roundtable

 

Join us for our next Club Leadership webinar -- a Small Group Roundtable -- on Tuesday, Nov 13 at 8 p.m. Eastern. We'll spend the evening with leaders of clubs of 100 or fewer members, discussing diverse approaches, common challenges and lessons learned. Learn more and register.

 

New Resources 
Research Round-Up: Cycletracks and Low-Stress Streets

   

A widely reported study by researchers from the University of British Columbia has found that bicycle infrastructure reduces the risk of injury for cyclists. According to the new study, protected cycletracks; major streets with bike lanes and no parked cars; and off-street trails significantly reduce bicyclists' risk of injury. Read more about the UBC study and additional research on bike commuting and low-stress streets in our Research Round-Up!  

Health and Transportation Infographic

Countries with lower rates of obesity tend to have higher rates of commuters who walk or bike to work. The risk of obesity increases 6 percent with every additional mile spent in the car. Nationally, the number of buses with bike racks tripled between 2000 and 2006. These are just a few of the statistics included in a compelling new infographic on the links between transportation and health, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Click here to see the full graphic.
New Model Bicycle Parking Ordinance and Fact Sheet
 
One clear barrier to bicycle use is a lack of sufficient safe and convenient bicycle parking. In communities where improved infrastructure and parking for bicycles is provided, bicycle use increases. To aid in the adoption of good bike parking, ChangeLab Solutions has released a model bicycle parking ordinance and fact sheet. Click here to read more and download the resources.

State and Local News
Fighting for Bike Lanes In Atlanta's Historic Black Neighborhood

 

RBG-Atlanta co-founder,
Zahra Alabanza
Atlanta recently broke ground on a Street Car Project that promises to increase connectivity between downtown and the King National Historic site. To address concerns that the street car would preclude tourists spending their dollars with local businesses along the route, the city agreed to install bike lanes, too. Unfortunately, the facilities on Sweet Auburn Avenue, one of the nation's most historic African American neighborhoods, are disjointed and potentially unsafe. Red, Bike and Green -- a group focused on encouraging more blacks to bike in their communities -- partnered with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to host a bicycle tour of Sweet Auburn showcasing this incredible historical gem and gathering the support of the community to complete bike lanes along the street. Read more
Rochester Workshop Rallies Powerful Allies for Federal Bike/Ped Funding

Last month in Rochester, N.Y., nearly 40 participants attended the first Advocacy Advance Action 2020 Workshop since the new transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), went into effect. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Rochester Cycling Alliance, the City of Rochester, and the Genesee Transportation Council (Rochester's Metropolitan Planning Organization) hosted the workshop, which focused on maximizing federal bicycle and pedestrian funding in New York state. Read more

North Carolina Bike Summit Success!

Last month, League President Andy Clarke was the keynote speaker at the
North Carolina Bike Summit, which drew nearly 200 people to connect, network and learn about bike advocacy in the state. "The timing for the summit couldn't have been better," said Jennifer Baldwin, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of Raleigh. "The North Carolina Department of Transportation presented its updated bike/ped master plan and had the opportunity to gain tons of feedback from advocates across the state." Read more



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.
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