Hey Bikies - Here is an update of what the Bike Fed folks were doing last week while in Washington, DC. In case anyone feels like contacting his/her representastive or senator, you find more details on what we asked for farther into this message.
Or, go to the America Bikes web site and look for the Endorse Our Agenda link. You will find the main points in the agenda and a link for more details on each point. www.americabikes.org We really need your help to get the message across that we want the new federal transportation bill - TEA-3 - to do great things for biking and walking. This bill will control allocation of and guidelines for federal transportation funds for the next 5 years. It is up for reauthorization this year. >Highlights from the 2003 National Bike Summit(r), March 5-7, 2003 > >The League's 2003 National Bike Summit(r), March 5-7 in Washington, DC, was >a resounding success, showcasing the strength of the bicycling community and >its ability to unite for positive change on the reauthorization of TEA-21 >and other critical education and advocacy issues. As Representative Earl >Blumenauer (D-OR) said, "I don't think a national movement with more >trajectory and momentum with a more diverse group has ever come together >this quickly." > >Participants met with 90 Senators and over 300 Representatives or their >staffs to urge Congress to ensure that the reauthorization of the federal >transportation bill focuses on supporting a balanced transportation system >that embraces bicycling. The Summit brought together nearly 400 bicyclists >from 47 states and abroad, representing the worlds of advocacy, industry, >transportation and public health to share important concerns and best >practices and educate Congress. Overall participation in the 2003 Summit >grew by 45% from the 2002 Summit; bike industry participation more than >doubled. > >Among the Summit participants was three-time Tour de France champion Greg >LeMond, who also took part in the Congressional Bike Caucus Ride that toured >major sites on March 7, and Linda Armstrong Kelly, mother of four-time Tour >de France champion Lance Armstrong. Mrs. Armstrong Kelly was also among the >featured speakers, who included Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Congressman >Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), Dr. Jeffrey W. >Runge, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, >and John Burke, President of Trek Bicycle Corporation, President of Bikes >Belong Coalition, and a member of the President's Council on Physical >Fitness and Sports. >Summit participants urged their Members of Congress to ensure that the >reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century >(TEA-21), which authorizes over $200 billion in support for transportation, >including bicycling projects, provides for a balanced transportation system >that embraces bicycling by: > >* Strengthening Transportation Enhancements, Congestion Mitigation and Air >Quality, Recreational Trails, and other TEA-21 programs >* Creating a bicycle-friendly transportation system >* Providing a Safe Routes to School program to promote bicycling and walking >to school > >In addition, Members were also encouraged to: > >* Support the Bicycle Commuter Act, introduced by Representatives Earl >Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mark Foley (R-FL), to give people who bike to work the >same financial incentives as those who use transit or participate in a >qualified parking plan under the Transportation Fringe Benefit >* Support the Conserve By Bike Act, introduced by Senators Richard Durbin >(D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME), to promote energy conservation and improve >public health >* Join the Congressional Bike Caucus or the Senate Bike Caucus > >The League is still tallying the Congressional successes, but some key >achievements of the 2003 Summit include: > >* The America Bikes message was hand-delivered to almost every single member >of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and all but one Senator >on the Environment and Public Works Committee. These Committees have most of >the jurisdiction for the reauthorization of TEA-21. > >* Greg LeMond and Linda Armstrong Kelly helped carry bicycling's message to >key meetings, raising the profile of bicycling on the Hill. > >* Five new cosponsors were added to H.R. 1052, the Bike Commuter Act. > >* Fourteen new members "officially" joined the House Bike Caucus as a direct >result of Summit meetings. Numerous others indicated that they would also >join. > >* Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 542, the >Conserve by Bike Act. Members in the Senate and the House expressed >considerable interest in this measure. Co-sponsorship in the Senate is >expected to grow rapidly over the next few days and weeks. The League is >working for companion legislation to be introduced in the House. > >* A tremendous amount of interest was generated for the Senate Bike Caucus. >Senator Durbin's staff is following up with more than a dozen Senators who >expressed an interest. > >* Summit attendees generated overwhelming support in Congress for Safe >Routes to Schools programs, designed to make bicycling and walking to school >a safe and valued activity for children. > >* The League honored Senator Durbin by presenting him with its National >Bicycle Leadership Award, in recognition of his leadership and support for >bicycling. > >* The Northern Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association received the League's >State Bicycle Leadership Award. All but two of the organization's members >participated in the Summit, and as a result, Georgia brought one of the >largest delegations to the event. > >Summit attendees presented and attended a wide range of educational panels >on important elements for bicycling, including: America Bikes' policy goals >for TEA-3, the role of the bicycle industry in TEA-3, several different >sessions on bicycle friendly communities (www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org), >and the public health benefits of bicycling, bicycle networks, using >statistics, the agenda for national mountain bike access, educating >professionals (planners, engineers, and teachers), issue and advocacy >training, working with state agencies, state and local advocacy success >stories, safety and education initiatives, livable communities, implementing >routine accommodation, state and local trail and path initiatives, and >innovative state and local programs. > >The League's Summit Sponsors were Federal Highway Administration, National >Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and Bikes Belong Coalition. >The League's Summit Partners included: Adventure Cycling Association, >Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, America Bikes, Bikes >Belong Coalition, International Mountain Bicycling Association, National >Center for Bicycling and Walking, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, >Rails to Trails Conservancy, Surface Transportation Policy Project, and >Thunderhead Alliance. National Bicycle Dealers Association and Bicycling >Magazine were Programming Sponsors. > >A great deal of follow-up work continues on legislative initiatives and >policy topics introduced at the National Bike Summit (r). To keep abreast of >our ongoing work, subscribe to the League's e-newsletter at >www.bikeleague.org. > _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
