My view from atop the table at the National Bike Summit

This picture © J. Maus of Bike Portland. View the Bike Portland Flickr stream here.

By now you may have heard about my "tabletop speech" at the National Bike Summit last week.

If you missed the summit or want to relive the excitement, here's some footage courtesy of Streetsblog SF; it's a bit jumpy, but that seems entirely consistent with the scene.

Somewhere in the frenzy, I managed to thank summit-goers for being such effective advocates for livable, sustainable, bike-friendly communities.

Well, that was fun, but the dust has settled and I have news. The crowd's enthusiasm was so contagious, the idea of introducing a major policy revision in that setting quickly evaporated.

Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.

We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

To set this approach in motion, we have formulated key recommendations for state DOTs and communities:

• Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
• Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
• Go beyond minimum design standards.
• Collect data on walking and biking trips.
• Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
• Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
• Improve nonmotorized facilities during maintenance projects.

Now, this is a start, but it's an important start. These initial steps forward will help us move forward even further.

Photo by Jeffrey Martin courtesy of the League of American Bicyclists.

And the Obama Administration hasn't been sitting idle on the bike front this past year either.

Just last month through our TIGER program, we funded major bicycle projects in Indianapolis and in the Philadelphia-Camden-Trenton region.

And our ongoing inter-agency DOT-EPA-HUD partnership on sustainable communities actively encourages planning for walkability and bikability. We think livability means giving folks the flexibility to choose their own mobility.

Look, bike projects are relatively fast and inexpensive to build and are environmentally sustainable; they reduce travel costs, dramatically improve safety and public health, and reconnect citizens with their communities.

So, thank you to the League of American Bicyclists and all those who gave me such a raucous welcome the other night.

Last year's summit was something; this year was something else. I can't even imagine what next year's gathering will produce, but I know I want to be part of it.

In closing, here's another angle from the League's YouTube channel:

Comments

[Stoney Bird]

Dear Secretary LaHood,

This is wonderful. This initiative will will have major positive effects on land use, the preservation of farmland, global warming emissions, pollution, public safety, public and private expense, noise, the appearance and feel of our communities, the obesity epidemic, and the U.S. propensity for war.

Part of the solution is also a strong, comprehensive public transportation system (local and regional buses, trains).

Stoney Bird
Mount Vernon, WA

[John]

Thank you, Secretary LaHood. You've provided visible leadership on this issue and have inspired people on the local level who are working to expand opportunities for bicycling.

Perhaps you could collaborate with the Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency to bring high-level collaboration on the vitality that bicycling can bring to many aspects of our national policies. People at the ground level work on collaborations like this all the time--walkers with bicyclists to get safe walking/biking paths made, architects and planners to help design livable communities, homeowners and renters to locate housing close to bicycle paths. Similarly, the national effort could be collaborative--not just the province of just one department--but a national effort benefiting people in many different ways.

Bicycling is a form of transportation and recreation that can add significantly to the health of our citizens as well as play a key role in our systems of transportation and increase the energy independence and environment of our country. It is wonderful to hear someone like you help get that message across so vividly.

Thank you!

[Emelio DiSabato]

Sec. LaHood, thank you for your strong voice. I hope your recommendations become policy very soon.

In Cleveland we're at the end of an uphill battle with OhioDOT, and we need your voice to join ours. ODOT is in the design-bid step for the state's MOST EXPENSIVE transportation project ever: rebuilding the I-90 Inner Belt Bridge in downtown Cleveland. ODOT has REFUSED to allow bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on this bridge. Cyclists and walkers have organized and spoken with a loud voice, and we have been heard: U.S. Rep Dennis Kucinich, U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown, and Gov Ted Strickland have all formally requested that ODOT reconsider and allow bike/ped access. But we still haven't heard from ODOT. You are ODOT's boss. Please intervene and make this a signature story for your proposed policy changes. Here's the info: www.gcbl.org/innerbelt

Emelio DiSabato
Community Organizer
Car-less biker and transit user
Cleveland OH

[David Ricks]

Thank you, Secretary LaHood. I started commuting by bike last September. I am lucky to live in bike-friendly Montgomery County, near Rock Creek Park and the Bethesda Trolley Trail. I look forward to safer rides and more places I can ride to.
Please let us know how we can support your efforts.

[Bronson]

Thank you, Mr. Secretary and DOT, for supporting bicycle transportation infrastructure. As a daily bike commuter, I am very grateful for the bike lanes that make it possible for me to get around town more safely in San Francisco. When gas prices go back up, cities and states that invest in and plan for these systems will be glad they did. Plus, it's a great part of a livable, fun, vibrant community.

[Leigh S.]

Bike lanes and safer conditions for bikers are so important for people like my husband, who bikes to work every day.
For those who say bikers don't help pay for roads, I would point out that my husband and I own a car and pay taxes the same as everyone else.
I am very pleased Mr. LaHood is supporting forms of transportation that are better for health and the environment.

[Mike]

Thank You Mr. LaHood! I think you're right on track with this line of thinking. We're seeing more and more people switching to bicycling in Los Angeles and while we're not waiting for infrastructure to meet up with this switch, it's encouraging to hear this talk coming from Washington. Not only does biking help ease congestion, it contributes to a healthier lifestyle. With the right funding from Washington I think you could really tip the scales in congested areas (like Los Angeles) to make them bike friendly cities. Keep up the good work and thanks for promoting bicycling as a viable solution to transportation issues.

[Michael Hartford]

Hooray! This is great news, and major step in the right direction!

[Kristin Winn]

Greg--
You've bought into the false premise that bicycle riders do not pay highway use taxes. That's a big surprise to most bike riders, who own the same number of cars, trucks and vans as the rest of the population in this country. Just because we ride for fitness or recreation does not mean we don't pay taxes. We just don't get to see our taxes used for bike facilities very often. Sounds like that's about to change. About time!

[Daniel Goodin]

I've been riding my bicycle to work for more than a year (I started when gas climbed above $3/gallon). Whenever I can, I bike or walk to stores, museums, restaurants, and anywhere else. It can be pretty scary in a place with very little bike-friendly infrastructure. I fully support any shift of policy toward better integration of walking and biking in our transportation system. Included in any policy for transportation should be some sort of public information campaign about the rights (and responsibilities) of bikers. I certainly don't think that just because I am riding a bike in a straight line down a quiet street I should have things thrown at me by people in SUVs. Anyway, don't back down, Secretary LaHood. There are a lot of politicians (we'll call them "congroons," for lack of a cooler term) who think that the only way to get from point A to point B is in a 1.5 ton machine that burns dinosaur remains. Sorry, that was a bit over the top. You get the point.

[Steve Allan]

Thanks Dana. I'm planning a trip on Amtrak from Baltimore to New Orleans. I have to find a bike box for a folding bike? It never occurred to me I would have to do that.

[C Goldsmith]

I concur with the comment regarding Amtrak. In Los Angeles if an Amtrak train comes through, particularly on a weekend, with room for bikes going north to Santa Barbara or south to San Diego (obvious destinations) we are lucky to find any bicycle accommodation (racks). When we are using our bikes why would we want to pack them in a box? This policy needs to be changed immediately. Let's make it possible for people NOT to drive!

[Nancy Baumeister]

Awesome. So much driving is simply unneeded and could easily be accomplished by bicycle. Climate change is real and is going to hurt us. Bikes are part of the solution.

[FearLess]

It's amazing that these people think all you need to do is point the finger to blame who you consider the "energy hogs" and ignore all other evidence to the contrary. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for more bikes and rights for bicyclists, but to imply that Americans just suck more energy than they need is absurd.

Let's not consider the fact that the American economy was and to much part still is, the fastest pace, and most productive, economy in the world. More production, both through GDP and entrepreneurism have come from Americans to the rest of the world. The reason most Americans don't ride bikes to work, is not because we can't but because we choose not to. Yes- it's call FREEDOM. I, for one, know I can be more efficient and productive at work, at play, or wherever I go...IF I USE A CAR. Wow, go figure.

There's a reason we don't choose to all go back to riding bikes, it's because we prefer to not become a third world economy. I can't say that's the agenda for these "One World Economy" types like Mr. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. If it were left to him and all the other stooges put in power, we'd cater to their every "lets humble the greedy Amercians, get them back to the dark ages" wishes. Haven't we had enough with the insults? America has done more for the world than any country that has been on it- it's a proven fact. So who's the real greedy hogs now...Hmmm?

-FearLess -American Patriot

[Greg A]

Hello - I live in Bloomington Indiana where the Indiana DOT plans to use federal funds to dramatically expand a core urban highway (SR 45/46 bypass) in such a way that it will strangle cross-city bicycle transportation. Local citizen's groups, our mayor, and our "metropolitan planning organization" have spoken and voted against this plan, and have repeatedly begged INDOT for any sort of public meeting to discuss the plan. The last time this plan was before the public was in 2001! At which time we made the same requests as today: more cyclist and pedestrian amenities and a smaller design. INDOT has stonewalled all attempts to involve local government or citizen input. Since 2001 we have officially passed a complete streets policy but INDOT will not reconsider these plans in a new context. Why? Because federal funds are available now and they are eager to jump on any "shovel-ready" projects.

If you could do so little as to call INDOT and suggest kindly that they hold even a single public meeting to discuss this plan, I suspect it may have a big impact.

Please forgive me for asking such a favor, but I was inspired briefly by your talking of the talk.

- Greg

[Damian]

Thank you!

[Andromeda]

Hallelujah.

[Commando Ray]

The cycling revolution is underway!

[Will]

Secretary LaHood,
Thank you very much. Having spent the last three years living in Tokyo, Japan, I realize many can live car-free, given access and safety afforded in other countries. I'm hopeful this "sea change" will result in greater access and safety for all users of non-motorized transportation.

[Robert Nickels]

Mr. LaHood,

I was thrilled and encouraged by your proactive support of cycling. However you are uniquely aware of the desperate need here in Illinois to reverse the disastrous implications of Boub vs. Wayne.

In the Boub vs. Wayne case, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that municipalities are only liable for bicyclists' safety on streets marked or signed as a bike route. Without such markings, bicyclists are "permitted" but not "intended" users of the roads. This:

(1) discriminates against those who bicycle either by choice or necessity and
(2) creates a disincentive for agencies to provide on-road safety improvements for bicyclists.

I am a fan of states rights and smaller government, but this is a case where strong federal leadership is justified and needed.

Your former colleague, U.S. Representative James Oberstar offered some encouraging words in his recent address to the League of American Bicyclists’ Bike Summit. I would urge you to work with Rep. Oberstar and others to pecific rights to bicyclists and pedestrians in the new reauthorization of the Transportation Bill, and to otherwise do whatever you can to help eliminate this burden that makes expansion of bicycling in Illinois so much more difficult than in other states.

Thank you for your efforts on our behalf.

Robert Nickels
Freeport, IL

[robert tomb]

Mr. Secretary:

Thank you. This guideline, is especially dear to me:

Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the
same way roadways are protected (for example,
snow removal)

I live in Minnesota and am a year-round bicycle commuter. In St. Paul, their plowing practice actually causes roads with bicycle lanes to become more dangerous for cyclists in the winter. While roads without bike lanes are plowed much closer to the curbs, bike-lane-equipped roads typically have the snow plowed into the bike lanes and not to the curb. It's an unfortunate irony that something meant to help cyclists puts them in harm's way.

I appreciate that the guidelines require municipalities to treat these other modes of transportation as serious alternatives to cars. The biggest thing that will help increase adoption of cycling as transportation will be to educate average automobile drivers about the right cyclists have to be on the road.

Thank you!

[Josh D]

Secretary LaHood,

Thank you so much for finally making this change! Every day I lament the inability of myself and others to fully embrace our bicycles due to the lack of infrastructure and the heavy prioritization of motorized transportation over non-motorized transportation and transit. I ride my bike where I can, but for longer trips our bike infrastructure is too incomplete to get me to my destination and it's simply too dangerous to ride with traffic. I cheer on all of those brave cyclists I see doing it on a day-to-day basis, but I long for the day when the millions of other people like myself are able to take to the streets on our bikes without fear of being run down (accidentally or on purpose) or harassed by motorists. I long for the day we can reclaim the life, health, community and quality of air our prioritization of the automobile has stolen from us as a country.

I can not thank you enough, Mr. LaHood, for making such strong statements and moving our country in the right direction!

Thank you, thank you!

[Darla Letourneau]

Here in Lee County, FL our coalition working to complete the streets of Lee County, BikeWalkLee, was so excited about the Secretary's new policy statement that we asked our MPO Board on Friday to pass a motion in support of the new USDOT policy statement and they enthusiastically endorsed it! It's really helpful to local communities that are working on complete streets, without any assistance from the state DOT, to have encouragement and support from Secretary LaHood. Thank you so much for your leadership! Below is the press release we issued this morning about the MPO's action. We're wondering if we're the first community in the country to endorse your new policy. Darla Letourneau
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 22, 2010

Contact: Darla Letourneau, 239-850-3219, dletourneau@bikewalklee.org

BikeWalkLee applauds Lee County Metropolitan Planning
Organization quick action in support of national complete streets policy

Fort Myers, FL –At the March 19 meeting of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting the board, made up of elected officials from every municipality in Lee County, embraced the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) new policy statement on bicycle and pedestrian accommodation. The MPO board unanimously passed a motion in support of the policy statement and encouraged the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to support it as well.

“BikeWalkLee is gratified by the continued leadership and commitment demonstrated by the MPO led by Chairman Judah to complete Lee County’s streets and to integrate the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists in road projects," said Darla Letourneau, a local community advocate and BikeWalkLee leader. "Not only is the MPO leading the county’s efforts, its quick endorsement of this policy statement puts Lee County in the forefront of communities around the country who recognize the significance of this bold action by the Secretary of Transportation. In fact, Lee County may be the first in the country to have officially endorsed the new policy.”

The new USDOT policy embraces a complete streets approach, calling for fully integrated active transportation networks, which are important components for livable communities. The policy states that transportation agencies should plan, fund, and implement improvements to their walking and bicycling networks, including linkages to transit. In addition USDOT encourages transportation agencies to go beyond the minimum requirements, and proactively provide convenient, safe, and context-sensitive facilities that foster increased use by bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The entire policy is available online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/policy_accom.htm.
The USDOT policy encourages state and local governments, among others, to adopt similar policy statements. “We are pleased that Lee County has already taken steps to move in this direction," Letourneau said. In 2009, Lee County ― through adoption of complete streets resolutions by both the Metropolitan Planning Organization and by the Lee County Commission ― embarked on a path to safer streets for everyone. In addition, the county has just launched the development of a countywide bicycle pedestrian master plan that will provide the blueprint for a safe, accessible, and connected bicycle/pedestrian system throughout the county.

“Having strong national leadership in support of complete streets as the county begins to implement its adopted policies provides a real boost to our local efforts. Now we need support and leadership from Gov. Charlie Crist, the Legislature, and the Florida Department of Transportation for Lee County to be successful, since policies for building roadways are directed by the state and many roadways in our county are state roads,” Letourneau said.

“This USDOT policy should convince our state officials once and for all that a complete streets approach is the path Florida needs to embrace without any further delay,” Letourneau said. "As the 'Dangerous by Design' report release late last year made clear, complete streets are safer streets and save lives of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, as well as to help promote healthy lifestyles. Bold action is needed to make Florida, the most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians and cyclists, a safer state for vulnerable users on our roadways. It makes good economic sense, as well as safety sense to become a state that fosters walkable, bikeable and livable communities."

BikeWalkLee has called upon state leaders -- the governor, the Legislature, and the Secretary of Transportation -- to adopt this new federal policy statement as Florida policy and integrate it into the state’s policies, planning processes and guidance documents, including the pending FDOT draft revisions to the “Green Book”--the manual used by local governments in designing their road projects. Florida should follow the lead of other states, such as California, in developing and implementing a statewide complete streets program and action plan, and aggressively promoting its adoption in communities throughout Florida.

BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County—streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. For more information, visit www.BikeWalkLee.org.

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[Fran in Maryland]

I have been biking to work (10 miles one way, 20 total) the past 3 years. I don't think a gov blog ever made me tingly, but this entry sure did !

[Joy Kuebler]

Thank you so much for your wonk on this. My Name is Joy Kuebler and I am the secretary for the NY Upstate Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. We are thrilled to be hosting the first ever JOINT conference with the NYS American Institute of Architects in Buffalo, NY. Complete Streets is a topic we would like to focus on for both Landscape architects and architects alike. Would you consider presenting at this Conference? "Creating the Fabric of our Culture" will be October 14-16th in Buffalo, NY. I can be reached directly at jkuebler@jklastudio.com or 716-695-1987. Please let me know if you are able to participate.
Joy