2008 National Bike Summit - Climbing Capitol Hill

05-07 March 2008, I took a break from my daily role of assisting folks with their cycling needs to travel to Washington, DC. There, I attended my second National Bike Summit (sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists) to learn, network, and lobby for bicycle rights and recognition.

In contrast to last year's specific issue requests (Bicycle Commuter Tax Relief Act, Virginia's Ridge and Valley Act, and Bicycle as Transportation Study Program), the goal of this year's summit was to broaden America's view of bicycling to include being a viable solution towards today's health, energy, pollution, and transportation issues. Bicycling is not just a recreational hobby; bicycling poses viable solutions to today's needs.


New friends and familiar faces gathered to meet with our governmental representatives to ask for their support with recognizing bicycling as an important issue in the public interest. The first 'ask' was to support a Congressional Resolution creating a case for developing a national strategy to increase bicycle use and safety and to substansively include bicycling in efforts to solve today's challenges of pollution, health, oil dependence, traffic congestion, and more. The Second 'ask' was to take federal action in adopting Complete Streets Polices for the recognition of all road users, not just automobiles, in future transportation and infrastructure projects. The third 'ask' was to fund and support the National Park Service Centennial Initiative, a commitment to restore and repair our national parks in time for the 100th anniversary in 2016. A main goal of supporting this initiative is to improve and expand foot and bicycle access of the parks to increase exercise and better connect visitors with the natural world.

Sometimes, meeting with our goverment representatives can be a fast paced, hectic affair. Meetings are often done, on-the-fly in hallways, and even more often with 'office staffers', the folks that really run our nation. Note: the smallest person in the pic is actually the staffer, and the blur was someone trying to squeeze by in the 'rush' of politics.

All in all, the Summit was successful. There is an increasing reception of bicycling as more than just folks in spandex on childhood toys. Bicycling is being recognized as a viable alternative presenting solutions to today's challenges... along with a way to have fun.

(Socializing and Networking over an IMBA hosted dinner)


(Thomas of Shenandoah Bicycle Company takes a break between meetings)


(quite a mix of folks... all connecting through bicycling)