National Bike Summit - 2010
On March 11 I joined a dozen other Connecticut bicycle advocates to meet on Capitol Hill with members and staff of the Connecticut delegation. This day was the culmination of the three day National Bike Summit (www.bikeleague.org). Over 800 bicycle and pedestrian advocates representing organizations similar to CCBA, bike trails, store owners and bicycle manufacturers met to learn from, share with, encourage and educate ourselves and our national leaders. Over 425 meetings were held. Capitol Hill for a day became a sea of multi-colored bicycle pins seen on lapels of the advocates, Congress and staff, the security guards, and the cafeteria workers. It was clearly bicycle day on the Hill.
Our agenda was to encourage House and Senate members to support legislation such as "Complete Streets" efforts and more funding for "Safe Routes to School", and to treat bicycles and pedestrians in equal terms with cars when considering transportation bills. We met personally with Congressmen Chris Murphy and Jim Himes and with staff from the other Connecticut Congressional offices. Given the debate on health care we were blessed to receive any time or attention at all. But much credit goes to Mary Ellen Thibodeau, CCBA's Interim Director, who attended and organized the CT delegation schedule. Attendance at the Bike Summit grows every year and becomes a bigger advocacy tool. The CT delegation grew from 1 in 2009 to a dozen in 2010. The tentative 2011 date is March 8 - 11.
Why not shoot for two dozen next year!
by Frank Lord
CCBA Member