april 22, 2013
(From left) Amy Schiebel, Bike Arlington and Leonard Wright took 
the 2012 National Bike Challenge; will you join us in 2013
Greetings! 

The last few issues of American Bicyclist e-news have been laden with policy issues, especially around the Summit. Well, now it's time to get out and celebrate the simple pleasure of a bike ride -- yes, National Bike Month is just around the corner! As always, we've got some great posters, an updated Bike Month Guide, a growing schedule of events, and a new round of Bicycle Friendly University and Business award winners to acknowledge. And, if you haven't yet already, it's time to sign up for the 2013 National Bike Challenge.

  

Sincerely,  

 


Andy Clarke
League President
 
 league news 
Calling 50,000 Bicyclists: Are you up to the challenge?

National Bike Challenge In 2012, more than 30,000 Americans joined the National Bike Challenge and rode more 12 million miles between May 1 and August 31. Now, the Challenge is back - and this year we're raising the bar. Our goal: 50,000 riders logging 20 million miles! The Challenge is a great opportunity for people who have been cycling for years to increase their riding and also a great place to start for folks just dusting off their bike seats for the first time in years. Read more here, and sign up for the Challenge today!

Gear up your bike month with promotional resources

We're just a week away from National Bike Month and we're excited to debut our full suite of promotional items, including our redesigned Bike Month guide, Social Media Toolkit, a fun Bike Month Bingo card, a Spanish-language poster -- and more. Whether you need the Bike Month logo or a Facebook header for you or your organization, click here to make your Bike Month better!  

Redesigned magazine Celebrates 10 years of the Bicycle Friendly America program
Hot off the presses, the latest issue of our American Bicyclist magazine is fully redesigned with a more sophisticated look and engaging content. Plus, we're celebrating the 
10th Anniversary of the Bicycle Friendly America program. In this issue, we give you an in-depth looks at the program's history, the next generation of our signature initiative, engaging infographics, the longest list of bicycle-friendly award winners ever -- and more! Read the issue online, and, if you're not a member yet, join the League to make sure you get American Bicyclist delivered to your mailbox!  
New Bicycle Friendly Businesses, universities announced
Today the League announced 63  new Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB), boosting the number of BFBs to more than 500 nationwide. And that's not the only good news this Earth Day: Last week, the League welcomed 14 new Bicycle Friendly Universities, as well, expanding the program to 58 colleges and universities in 30 states across the United States. Read more about the latest award winners and see the full lists on our blog
league jersey now available from primal!
They're here! Our new League jerseys -- featuring our new logo and branding --  from Primal Wear! When you buy one you're not just riding in style; you're benefiting the League, too! Primal is generously donating 50% of all jersey sales back to the League. Buy your jersey today!
 
 advocacy
share your stories in our women & equity survey
With the launch of our Women Bike initiative and the formation of our Equity Advisory Council, the League is committed to changing the face of bicycle advocacy. To inform this effort, we welcome your input in our Women & Equity survey to gather insight on how to further this goal. Please consider taking our survey today! (Photo: EAC member Eboni Hawkins of Red, Bike & Green - Chicago. Credit Brian Palmer)
Florida safety summit reinforces need for education

Secretary Ray LaHood and the U.S. Department of Transportation hosted its first Bike Safety Summit in Tampa, Fla., last week. No. 1 takeaway? Education is a must. Read more on our insights from Florida here.

women bike showcasing leaders and programs
To share stories, ideas and success, each week Women Bike is profiling some of the most innovative and engaging programs that are getting more women on bikes. This month, we've checked in with the leader of Ohio's first Women's Bicycling Summit and with the Women Bike PHLStay tuned every Wednesday on the blog for more!
defining equity: shared language for shared goals

The League's recently formed Equity Advisory Council is working to create some working definitions in which to frame the complicated conversation around making biking accessible to all. Recently the group developed some shared definitions around some key terms that kept popping up in our conversations on this topic. We wanted to ensure that, when these terms are used, everyone has a clear sense of their implications, usage and meaning. Read more and provide your feedback here.

upcoming local and state bike summits

Things are about to heat up in the state legislature and advocates are gearing up to ensure that bicyclists have a voice in policy-making at all levels. Don't miss a state or local bike summit in your area:   

Are you attending or organizing a bike summit in your city or state? Email [email protected] so we can include your event in upcoming E-news! 

 
 resources
webinar Tomorrow: federal performance measures

The future of federal transportation policy may be summarized in two words: Performance Measures. The details of these goals will very likely determine transportation priorities well into the future. Join our next Advocacy Advance webinar tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. EDT for the first our series on Understanding and Shaping Transportation Performance Measures. Register today!

webinar: social media as an advocacy tool
It was a full house at this year's social media session at the National Bike Summit, so we've partnered with the Alliance for Biking & Walking to host another panel of social media experts to keep the conversation going! Join us Wednesday, April 24, at 2 p.m. EDT for "Social Media as an Advocacy Tool." Register here!
Bike Law university: Distracted driving

New laws to combat distracted driving are proposed frequently, including laws against new technologies that are not even on sale yetSharing the road is much harder when people are not looking at the road. Effective distracted driving laws and enforcement are key to discouraging this dangerous behavior. We took a look at these types of laws and how they effect safe cycling on our streets. Learn more here.

getting more moms & families on bikes webinar wrap up
Two weeks ago we hosted a webinar aimed at "Getting more Moms and Families on Bikes." If you missed it, click here to watch the full recording and access additional resources like the results of the National Family Biking Survey and the Family Biking Guide from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.
 
 partner news
More than 850 events registered for bike to school day!

With National Bike to School Day on May 8, there are already more than 850 events registered from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Be sure to check out the "Who's Biking?" Map  to see who's planning to ride to school in this nationwide event. Learn more about this Bike Month event here, and register your event today!

 

 


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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