League of American Bicyclists Newsletter - September 28, 2009

League News Take our Membership Survey & Win $130 As an incentive for members to fill out our quick membership survey, one person will be chosen at random to receive $130 (the League's age in 2010). You can spend this money on new bike accessories, a down payment on your next bike vacation, or just dinner out with friends (perhaps after a great ride?). The winner will be chosen and notified by January 22, 2010; the survey closes on January 15, 2010. Take the survey today! National News Bicycle Commuting Trends, 2000-2008 As the League has reported earlier, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey (ACS), released on September 22, 2009, 0.55 percent of Americans use a bicycle as the primary means of getting to work. This is up 14 percent since 2007, 36 percent from the first ACS in 2005, and 43 percent since the 2000 Census. Read our analysis as it pertains to bicycle commuting on the League's blog. Distracted Driving Summit The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood closed the distracted driving summit with a series of immediate actions and pledges to continue the Department's research on how to best combat distracted driving. As part of this pledge, the Department will launch a new demonstration program this year to evaluate techniques that states can use to get the most out of their efforts to end this destructive behavior. The League will continue to work closely with the USDOT to ensure that bicyclists interests are represented in these discussions. Read more. National Center for Safe Routes to School Grants The National Center for Safe Routes to School is awarding 20 mini-grants of up to $1,000 each to encourage student creativity in new or existing Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs. The goal of SRTS programs is to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school. Mini-grant applications are due October 30, and award winners will be announced by December 1. To obtain the mini-grant application, go to www.saferoutesinfo.org/minigrants. State & Local News Bikestation D.C. Opens to the Public Bikestation Washington, D.C. officially opened on October 2, 2009 at Union Station. This location houses over 100 bicycles in 1,600 square feet of free-standing ultra-modern glass and steel design. In addition to secure bike parking, the facility also provides a changing room, lockers, bike rental, bike repair and retail sales. Membership registration is now open. Memberships and 24/7 access are handled by the Bikestation Coalition, a national network of similar bike parking facilities. Interested cyclists can go to www.bikestation.com to register. NYC Vehicular Homicide Symposium Transportation Alternatives invites New York's residents to attend a symposium on October 27 addressing the prosecution of vehicular homicide in New York State. They are bringing together diverse views to examine the existing legal framework and discuss improvements and alternatives, analyzing both innovative or untried techniques and those in use in other states. Find event info here. New Tenn. Strategic Highway Safety Plan Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely signed a new Strategic Highway Safety Plan for Tennessee on Wednesday, September 30. The goal of the new plan is to reduce the number of fatalities in Tennessee by 10 percent by 2012. "Working together, we have the ability to make dramatic strides in making Tennessee's roads safer," said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. "As a major partner in this effort, TDOT is increasing its focus on implementing improvements that can make roadways safer, like cable barrier rail, high visibility pavement markings, and improved directional signs." Read more here. Downtown Long Beach Associates Recognized for Bicycle Initiative Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) will be honored with a Pinnacle Downtown Achievement Award from the International Downtown Association (IDA) for the City of Long Beach's Bicycle Master Plan (found at www.bikelongbeach.org) that was launched with the inaugural Long Beach Bicycle Festival and Race, a two-day kickoff event last April. Read more here. Other News Vote in the Drive Smarter Video Contest Watch the Drive Smarter 10 short finalist videos and tell them what you think by submitting your ratings. The ratings by you and other members of the public will determine who will win the Grand Prize of $5,000 and three other exciting prize packages! Watch, enjoy, andsubmit your ratings now before it's too late!

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visitwww.bikeleague.org.

People, not speed.