January 14, 2013
Greetings!

"There's no crying in bicycle advocacy." That was our mantra in the busy lead-up to the first ever National Bike Summit more than a decade ago. Similar truths have been added along the way, including my favorite: "There's always a good reason to bring hundreds of advocates and industry leaders up on to Capitol Hill to make the case for bicycling." After all, no one else is going to show up on our behalf. It's up to us to introduce dozens of new members of Congress and Hill staff to why they should care about our issues. We need you standing there beside us -- please join me at the National Bike Summit in 2013.

Sincerely,  

 


Andy Clarke

League President
League News 

Save Cycling From the Fiscal Cliff: Attend the Summit! 

 

Why is the National Bike Summit the premier bicycle advocacy event of the year? Why do we need YOU to tell Congress that Bicycling Mean Business? Let us count the ways! In the final week of early registration rates we're highlighting the top reasons to join hundreds of fellow advocates, industry leaders and bicycle enthusiasts as we make a powerful statement for biking on Capitol Hill. Reason #8: Save cycling from the fiscal cliff! Read more on our blog and sign up for the Summit today. Early registration rates -- $100 savings! -- end next Monday, January 21!

Workshops Announced for National Bike Summit        

 

The National Bike Summit has a long history of incredible speakers and informative sessions -- and we couldn't be more excited about the workshops for 2013. In line with our Bicycling Means Business theme, we'll have specific tracks exploring the economic benefits of bicycling and how to take advantage of federal funding through the new transportation law, MAP-21. But we want to engage YOUR ideas, too, including discussion-based sessions that will help us develop a "Bicycling Agenda for 2014 and Beyond." Read more.

Exhibit at the National Women's Bicycling Forum         

  

Across the country, a growing number of established and start-up companies -- run by women -- are creating products, services and solutions for bicyclists. With a theme of "Women Mean Business," we want to showcase some of these businesses at the National Women's Bicycling Forum on March 4! Are you a female entrepreneur with a bike-related business? We want to feature you and your product(s) in the Women Bike Pop-up Shop! Click here to learn more and apply. The deadline for consideration is January 23! Photo: Robin Bylenga, owner of Pedal Chic in Greenville, South Carolina 

League Takes the Lead on Bike Laws    


Since coming to the League in August, our new legal specialist has reviewed more than 2,000 laws related to bicycling. The first product of this research: State-specific highlights of traffic laws that affect bicyclists. These highlights focus on 11 categories of laws that most states have, but differ in ways that can have important impacts on bicyclists and other road users. Read more. Photo credit: Jeff Scher 
2013 Insurance Roll-out Webinar TODAY!

 

Join the League and Marla Peters, Vice President for Special Programs at American Specialty insurance, for our next Club Leadership webinar TODAY, January 14 from 8 - 9:30 p.m. Eastern. We'll present the 2013 insurance program, including exciting new options for advocacy organizations, in addition to our traditional club coverage. And we'll leave plenty of time to take your questions on what it is and how it works for you. Register here.  

Become a League Cycling Instructor -- at a Discount!

 

Ever wonder who trains League Cycling Instructors (LCI)? Coaches! In just a few weeks, we're hosting our first coaches training --  and those coaches need students! If you're interested in becoming a LCI, come to Houston, Texas, January 25-27. In exchange for being a trainee for our new coaches, you can become an LCI for only $200 -- a $100 discount. Register here.  

How to Start & Sustain a Women's Bike Club

 

Providing community and education, women's bike clubs are a powerful way to empower more women to discover the many benefits of riding.
Join us for our first Women Bike webinar on "How to Start and Sustain a Women's Bike Club" at 8 p.m. Eastern on January 23. We'll hear from leaders who have started and grown a women's bike club, including WE Bike NYC, Black Women Bike DC and Girl Bike Love. Click here to register! Photo: Black Women Bike DC

Federal, State & Local Advocacy
Who Are the Important Players in the New Congress? 

 

As we prepare for the National Bike Summit and the next transportation bill, it's a good opportunity to introduce the key players in transportation policy in the 113th Congress. One of the most important committees is the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, which will see new leadership in Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA) (pictured) and an influx of 20 new members. What does all this mean for bicycling? Read analysis from Caron Whitaker, the League's VP of Government Relations.   
Attend a Navigating MAP-21 Workshop in 2013 

 

In 2012, Navigating MAP-21 workshops led directly to more than $10 million in funding for biking and walking projects in local communities. These workshops, hosted by Advocacy Advance, give advocates, elected officials and agency staff the knowledge they need to maximize funding for state and local bike-ped projects under the new federal transportation law -- and the dates are set for 2013! Attend one of the 10 workshops in cities across the country this year. Click here to learn more and register.  
Upcoming Webinar: Tracking Data for Biking & Walking Investments    

To maximize funding for biking and walking in the new federal transportation law, advocates and policymakers must understand the many ways such investments are funded. Join us for our next Navigating MAP-21 webinar on January 29 at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn about funding sources outside of Transportation Alternatives and hear more about how we're tracking bike-ped investments. Register here.
2 Incredible Women, 2 Amazing Fundraising Feats 

 

Over the past several weeks, we've been inspired by two women who turned their passion and dedication for cycling into significant funding for local bike projects. Here in Washington, D.C., Megan Jones rode 100 miles to raise more than $10,000 for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's new Women & Bicycles campaign, while April Morris (pictured) helped to bank more than $300,000 for safer cycling in Newport Beach. Read more.  

Partner News   

Participate in the Bicicultures Roadshow  

 

A network of scholars who study bicycling as a social and cultural phenomenon, Bicicultures aims to shed light on the many bike cultures taking place alongside each other in our cities and towns. On April 16-17, the Bicicultures Roadshow in Davis, California will bring together diverse participants to grapple with the shifting role of bicycle research and activism as it crosses lines between policy, recreation, and radical organizing. To participate, submit your ideas by February 10 --  Learn more here.   
Call for Proposals Open for Safe Routes Conference

 

The call for proposals is now open for the the 4th Safe Routes to School National Conference, in Sacramento, Calif., August 13-15, 2013. Click here to submit your ideas for breakouts, implementation workshops, mind mixer sessions, mobile workshops, networking activities, or individual presentations. Deadline: February 15.   

One Month Until the Youth Bike Summit!  

Hosted by Recycle-A-Bicycle on February 15-17, the Youth Bike Summit is geared toward youth, bike education, and advocacy. Whether you're a student, educator, or advocate, there is much to be learned though this dynamic, inter-generational exchange. Click here to register.

Just for Fun!  
Living Life to the Fullest: A Bike Trip Through Africa

The League's Alison Dewey remembers an epic bike trip through West Africa. "It was more than a decade ago but I still remember it clearly -- over the mountains of Kedegou, Senegal, across the border into Maliville, Guinea, and into the heart of West Africa. I traveled with two of my friends, also in Peace Corps at the time, and had five awesome, grueling, bloody, and happiest days of pedaling in my life." Read more

Which College Dominates in Bicycle Friendliness?

 

Last month, the League's Bill Nesper (a die-hard Gator fan) took a timeout from the college football action and did a quick analysis of where the League's Bicycle Friendly Universities stack up by conference. It's not a headline you're likely to see in the Sports section but, when it comes to bike-friendliness, the Big West dominates. Read more.

 


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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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