For bicycle enthusiasts, next week's National Bike Summit looms large

Today is Friday, March 4, and for the nation's bicycling enthusiasts that means only one thing: 4 days until the 2011 National Bike Summit.  And to get the bike folks geared up for this year's gathering, on Tuesday I went on BicycleRadio.com's "Escape The Peloton" show.

As you can imagine, host Sean Mellor and I talked about a range of bicycling-related topics. From the thrill of watching my grandkids get their first bikes to the way distracted driving affects the bicycling community, we covered a lot of ground.

Click here to listen to my Bicycle Radio interview!
Click here for the whole program

But I think what listeners really wanted to hear us talk about is President Obama's budget request for 2012.

We are very fortunate that, in these hard economic times, the President knows the economic importance of investing in transportation. He has proposed a 127 percent increase to fix our roads and bridges, and to build big projects that will yield economic development and jobs, like high speed rail. And don’t forget our emphasis on livable communities, so that people will have more options for getting around.

I've been to more than 100 cities in more than 40 states across this great country, and everywhere I've gone, people have said they want more ways of getting around.  Often, they want to be able to leave their cars behind.  This means improved transit like streetcars and buses.   But it also means more opportunities--whether as a form of recreation or as a way of commuting--to walk or ride a bicycle safely.  We can achieve that through off-street trails, as in the Philadelphia Area Pedestrian and Bicycle Network, or through on-street bike lanes, as along DC's own Pennsylvania Avenue.

One of the most important things to remember is this: the Department of Transportation can help set standards and support programs, but many of the best ideas have come from the grassroots.  And that's where next week's summit-goers come in.

DOT bike policy gets a big "thumbs-up"

Thanks to programs like Bicycle Radio and the Outspoken Cyclist and magazines like Spokes; thanks to the President's willingness to promote bicycling; and thanks to the cycling enthusiasts who have come together in organizations like Transportation For America, America Bikes, the League of American Bicyclists, Complete Streets, and Safe Routes to School, the stars have aligned over the last two years for greater awareness of the valuable role bicycling plays in American transportation.  But, as I said in January, if you want that momentum to continue, you'll have to continue that terrific grassroots work.

Finally, as to the burning question of how I will top my famous "tabletop speech" at the 2010 Summit, you'll just have to stay tuned.

Comments

[John Brooking]

I appreciate the Secretary's consistent and continued outspokeness against distracted driving, but regarding bicycling, I'd like to hear him mention bicyclist and motorist education about bicycling in traffic as another way to make bicycling on our streets safer. It's cheaper and more empowering for the cyclist than bike lanes and trails, and more consistent with our legal rights to all public roads, without or without special bike infrastructure. Thanks.

[Pariuri Sportive]

Thanks to your campains and our President Obama, we will have fixed our roads and bridges and high speed rail. I have faith in you. thanks

[Harvey Botzman]

I expect Secretary LaHood, Amtrak President Boardman, Amtrak Marketing & Product Development VP Fremaux, and Amtrak Principal Officer, Policy & Development Office, will want to report on and support on the progress of developing unboxed bicycle carriage facilities on every train set operating on Amtrak routes as well as other passenger train routes.

The proposed new design of conventional rail and high speed rail train cars and train sets must include at least one car per train set with hooks, racks, or space for at least 6 to 10 bicycles.

With these bicycle carriage facilities Amtrak finally will be able to fully participate in building its leisure tourism ridership.

Of course Amtrak should use low cost but very effective marketing via the various statewide and local bicycling coalitions and advocacy organizations to reach bicycle clubs (recreational, racing, bmx, cyclocross, recumbent, tandem, etc.) and individuals. Marketing Amtrak needs to be improved. (I have 15,000 Guest Reward points.)

The PRIIA2 railroad design process must actively solicit suggestions for the carriage of bicycles and other large sports equipment, e. g., kayaks & canoes of a given size, from bicyclists. The railroad car designers must include the bicycle carriage suggestions of these potential users of conventional rail as well as high speed rail services.

Amtrak must release its unboxed and boxed carriage of bicycles statistics. An example of the successful carriage of unboxed bicycles, is on the Cascades trains. Due to demand Amtrak had to include unboxed bicycle carriage facilities on all its Cascades trains.

I will not be attending the 2011 National Bicycle Summit in Washington. However, the Secretary, Mr. Boardman, Mr. Fremaux, and Mr. Hollister can contact me by email or telephone to discuss including unboxed bicycle carriage facilities on all Amtrak train routes and train sets.
Harvey Botzman

[Michael E. Bailey]

Some of these programs that help bikers, walkers and transit users are under attack by some in Congress. And under attack at others levels to. In Orange County OCTA has hired a consultant that told them itis fine to eliminate every bus route in South Orange County south of Newport Beach and Irvine which would leave 10 cities without service or access to the OCTA fixed route network. And, since paratransit is tied to what happens on the fixed route system, no paratransit service in south Orange County either. South county has a big transit deprendent population including the disabled community and many seniors. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Volunteering Africa]

Bravo to President Obama for taking the steps to finance infrastructure for a greener future.I think we should all result to cycling for distances of between 20 to 30km,it can be done on a daily basis if people commint themeselves to the cause.

[Jennifer Floresta]

Hooray for your nod to off street trails!!
I have been advocating for separated grade/ non-street routes for a long time and more vigorously after getting hit and sustaining a broken hip from a truck mirror and a wide trailer behind the truck.
My town, Santa Fe, just doesn't seem to get it.
If kids are going to be able to ride to school, or timid non-cyclists are every going to try the alternantive, it has to be more than a striped shoulder or a stenciled cyclist on the lane. Two seconds is all it takes and the cyclist always looses, be it major injuries that change one's life or death.