FABB Blog

Important Information from League of American Bicyclists and its I Bike, I Vote project. Please share quickly because there’s only a few more days to go. 

First, Make a Plan to Vote. Find your polling place here.

Help Others. Do you know a new voter who may be unsure of where to go or what to do? Help them get there!

Don't Forget Your ID. Acceptable forms of voter ID in Virginia: valid United States passport; valid Virginia driver's license or ID card; valid Virginia DMV issued Veteran’s ID card; valid tribal enrollment or other tribal ID issued by one of 11 tribes recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia; valid student ID card from within Virginia if it includes a photo; any other identification card issued by a government agency of the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; and employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer’s business.

Be Informed. These sites let you print out what your ballot will look like- The League of Women Voters site vote411.org, and ballotpedia.org

See You at the Polls!

The League of American Bicyclists is encouraging riders to get out and support building a bicycle friendly America this fall. Bikes can bring people together and unite us on the nonpartisan goals of safe streets, less traffic congestion, and less pollution.

The next Congress will be responsible for drafting an updated transportation bill, and over the next two years other opportunities will arise to promote bicycle friendly policies and laws.

It is not too early to think about saving funding for bicycling and walking infrastructure and for improving safety. Examine the candidates' platforms and records and let them know that you bike and you vote. 

More details on LAB plans can be found here. 

Just remember to get out and vote. 

As you may have heard, an autonomous vehicle (AV) recently hit and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, as she was walking her bicycle across the street. While the full details of the crash are not available, this tragedy marks the first time a bicyclist or pedestrian has been killed by an AV in the United States. 

FABB joins with the League of American Bicyclists in supporting efforts to require all automated driving systems to prove their ability to recognize and respond to people bicycling and walking before they are on community streets. After all, when human drivers apply for a driver’s license we have to pass a vision test.

The US Senate is currently considering S. 1885, The AV START Act, to set guidelines for automated vehicle manufacturers to test their vehicles on our streets.  Please ask your Senators to require AVs to pass a vision test proving they can see bicyclists and pedestrians.

Hey, all, if you live or just occasionally ride through the City of Alexandria, here is an opportunity to provide input about and show your support for bicycling in our region. 

Alexandria has applied to the League of American Bicyclists to be recognized as a Gold Level Bike Friendly Community. This is really important and FABB encourages everyone (you DON'T have to be a resident) to help the city and the League gain a better understanding of local bicyclists' experiences in and around Alexandria by taking this survey. 

Alexandria has made significant strides to improve bicycling, including new bike lanes on King Street, Van Dorn Street, Prince Street and Cameron Street. Other recent improvements include:

Over 31,000 riders logged over 31 million miles in the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Challenge. Between May and the end of September 210 of those riders represented FABB. Our members logged enough miles to rank 11^th in the nation. Great job, everyone! 

FABB still has openings for volunteers to attend the 2017 National Bike Summit from March 6-9, 2017, in Washington D.C. at the Renaissance Hotel. FABB will pay the registration costs and reimburse volunteers for reasonable expenses (Metro tickets, parking,etc.) related to their participation. 

The event, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, gathers bicyclists from around the country to learn about topics such as regional planning, national and local messaging, and collaborative techniques to advance bicycling. Workshops this year will include topics such as youth bike education, Vision Zero safety initiatives, and Bicycle Friendly Community applications. The summit’s final day is spent on Capitol Hill lobbying legislators on bicycling. 

If you are interested in participating to learn more about bicycle advocacy and are able to commit to the three-day summit, please contact Jeff Anderson at president@fabb-bike.org.

Interested in learning about bicycle advocacy? FABB is looking for up to three of our members to participate in the 2017 National Bike Summit. The summit is the nation’s premier annual bike advocacy event, and it will be held from March 6-9, 2017, in Washington D.C. at the Renaissance Hotel. 

The event, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, gathers bicyclists from around the country to learn about topics such as regional planning, national and local messaging, and collaborative techniques to advance bicycling. Workshops this year will include topics such as youth bike education, Vision Zero safety initiatives, and Bicycle Friendly Community applications. The summit’s final day is spent on Capitol Hill lobbying legislators on bicycling. 

If you are interested in participating to learn more about bicycle advocacy and are able to commit to the three-day summit, please contact Jeff Anderson at president@fabb-bike.org and tell us why you would like to attend the summit.

The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has released its report card and rankings of states as being bicycling friendly, and Virginia came in as #13 nationally and #1 in the southern region. Virginia scored better during the past year in the areas of education, encouragement, infrastructure, and funding. It also scores well in policies and programs but suffered a lower score for legislation and enforcement. 

According to LAB, among the signs of Virginia’s success in improving its rank as a bicycling friendly state are recent increases in dedicated state funding and the passage of a safe passing law.  The Commonwealth previously had been recognized for having a state bicycle plan, active bicycle advocacy, a complete streets policy, and a share the road campaign. To improve its national standing, Virginia needs to take several steps to get 1% or more of its citizens commuting by bike, including: 

A coalition of bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced identical bills (HR 3494 and S 1708) -- the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act -- to help reduce the number of bicycle and pedestrian fatalities on American roadways.

Here is League President Andy Clarke's statement on the legislation.

Dramatically reducing the number of people biking and walking who are killed and seriously injured on our roadways is critical for two very compelling reasons.

First, this is about much more than just statistics - every one of these fatal crashes robs a family, a community and our nation of a precious human life. The costs to society are huge, and these are usually very preventable crashes.

Second, bicycling and walking are healthy and enjoyable ways to get around that we should be doing everything possible to promote: we know that lack of safety is a major deterrent to people walking and riding more frequently, and we know exactly what we can do to improve traffic safety - not just for people riding bikes and walking but for everyone on our roads.

Establishing simple safety performance measures - holding ourselves accountable to eliminate these needless crashes - will prioritize roadway designs that are safe for all users, and encourage education and enforcement programs that rid our communities of the scourge of distracted driving, speeding, and drunk/drugged/drowsy driving. That's good for everybody.

Bicyclists and pedestrians make up an increasingly large percentage of all roadway fatalities and serious injuries - and in a handful of states the issue is particularly acute. States such as Florida, California, New York and Texas need the backing of the Federal government to tackle this problem head-on, and every State in the nation can play a role in making biking safer and encouraging more people to ride.

The online Smart Cycling program is designed to develop your knowledge of bicycling safety by using lessons, interactive components and videos. Here you will learn about the different types of bikes and bicycling gear. You will learn techniques for improving your ride, your rights as a bicyclist and how to ride safely on the road.

Women & Bicycles Rock Creek Park ride Photo: Washington Post

Although it officially launched in March, the program has been in the works over the past few years, as WABA and other bike advocates across the country have taken notice of the fact that women represent just 24 percent of cyclists.

No one had ever tried to do much about the disparity, says Carolyn Szczepanski, spokeswoman for the League of American Bicyclists, which is helping fund the effort. But no one knew what to do. “We’re not a homogenous group, and there’s no silver-bullet solution. It’s not like none of us gets helmet hair, and everything’s solved,” she says.

After a whole lot of forums, surveys and fundraising, WABA has come up with a plan based on the Mary Kay model. Ten women have been selected as “Roll Models.” Their job is to coax friends and acquaintances who haven’t been biking to attend a themed dinner party. Over beer and burritos, they’ll dive into a women’s bicycling workbook.

The national survey, performed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, asked 1,003 adults in the United States about their opinions on federal funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths. The results were astounding — and bipartisan:

• 83 percent of all respondents support maintaining or growing the federal funding streams that pay for sidewalks, bikeways, and bike paths.
• 80 percent of Republican respondents and 88 percent of Democrat respondents think Congress should maintain or increase federal funds for biking and walking.
• 91 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 support continuing or increasing biking and walking funds.

These results add critical perspective to a pressing national debate about transportation, as members of Congress conference to develop a consensus transportation bill — and some propose eliminating dedicated funding for biking and walking.

“Our enthusiasm to take this momentous step for the movement is matched by a commitment to do this right,” said Noah Budnick, Board Chair of the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The boards of all three organizations must ratify the agreement. Once (and if) that occurs, the transition team will work with a variety of board, staff, partners and advisors to determine the initial programs, membership structure, and staff needs of the new organization. “Changes will be implemented carefully and respectfully over time,” continued Budnick, “and it is important to say that all existing contractual agreements will be honored and the continuity of existing memberships is assured.”

“We can transform communities across the United States and accelerate the creation of a more bicycle-friendly America by combining the programs, resources, and members of these three leading organizations,” said Chris Fortune, Chairman of the Bikes Belong board and member of the transition team empowered to facilitate unification of the three groups. The transition team comprises representatives of each organization and will be working with the boards, staff, and members of each group to implement the process.

“There is a lot of work ahead,” acknowledged Hans van Naerssen, Chair of the League’s board and a member of the transition team. “We must determine how to combine the diverse strengths of a powerful alliance of state and local organizations, a storied national user group, and a vibrant industry association in a way that preserves their unique attributes and realizes the game-changing potential of a single entity.”

Act Now on Key Transportation Votes
Ask the Senate to Support Cardin-Cochran, Tell Your Representative to Oppose the House Bill It’s time to ask both chambers of Congress to save our streets.

The current Senate transportation bill (MAP-21) weakens walking and biking programs. To improve the bill, we’re asking senators to vote for a bipartisan amendment to guarantee local governments a voice in transportation decisions and allow them to build sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that keep people safe.

In the House, we are asking representatives to oppose the House transportation bill. Despite the fact that walking and bicycling infrastructure is a low-cost investment that creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending, the House bill eliminates dedicated funding for walking and biking altogether.

Will you contact your Representative and Senators today and ask them to save our streets?

Senate: Support the bipartisan Cardin-Cochran amendment

As written, the Senate’s transportation bill removes dedicated funding for walking and biking and allows state DOTs to opt-out of safe street programs. The Cardin-Cochran amendment ensures local governments can fund walking and biking infrastructure.

Tell your senators:

Local governments deserve a voice in transportation. The Cardin-Cochran amendment ensures that cities and counties have a voice in making transportation decisions for safer streets in their communities. Safety matters. Bicycle and pedestrian deaths make up 14% of all traffic fatalities, but only 1.5% of federal funds go towards making walking and biking safer. These programs provide funding for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make streets safe for all users.

Active transportation is a wise investment. Walking and biking infrastructure is low-cost, creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending, and is critical to economic development for main street America.

House: Say “NO” to H.R. 7

On the other side of Congress, the House is about to consider a transportation bill that reverses 20 years of progress in making streets safer for people. Despite the fact that walking and biking make up 12% of trips but receive only 1.5% of federal funding, the House bill eliminates dedicated funding for walking and biking. It’s time to defeat this bill.

Tell your representative:

HR 7 takes us back to the 1950s. HR 7 takes us back to a 1950s system by eliminating dedicated funding for biking and walking AND kicking transit out of the highway trust fund. We need a transportation bill to meet 2012 needs, not 1950 needs.

HR 7 doesn’t invest wisely. Federal transportation laws should invest our finite resources in cost-effective, efficient infrastructure solutions that create jobs and keep the economy moving. The House bill eliminates walking and biking, despite the fact that walking and bicycling infrastructure is low-cost and creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway funding.

HR 7 makes streets more dangerous for kids. By repealing the successful and effective Safe Routes to School program, the House bill makes the streets more dangerous for kids on their walks and bike rides to school. Congress needs to know that that finding effective, efficient transportation solutions to keep people safe on the streets should be a national priority. Please contact your representative and senators today.

Thank you for all that you do to keep the streets safe!

"It requires cyclists on Federal lands to use a path or trail, instead of roads, if the speed limit is over 30 MPH and a trail exists within 100 yards, regardless of its condition or utility of the path. The provision sets a terrible precedent. Passing it would send the wrong message to transportation agencies that these policies are acceptable. Laws like this have been taken off the books in states over the past 30 years. This takes us in the wrong direction."

"If we were in Portland or Amsterdam ... we'd have our own set of traffic signals, and there'd be a little more space here," he says, "but, you know, these are early days, and we're not Amsterdam yet. We don't have quite that many cyclists, but it's certainly noticeable the increase in the last year or two as the infrastructure has gone in."

After six months of Bikeshare participation, the patients will swap places with a control group that will ride for the next six months. “The hypothesis is that people who have been riding bikes for six months will have a greater sense that they are healthier,” Moghimi said. “They’ll have a greater sense of mobility, that things are accessible to them in the city that weren’t accessible before.”

Pedicab drivers, like their renegade cousins, bike messengers , burn countless calories cycling, one of the most healthful forms of exercise we know. They work outdoors. They work for themselves. They set their own hours. A hustling driver can cover 25 or 30 miles in an eight-hour day, earning about $200 and staying pretty darn fit in the process.

Many motorists also assume that roads were built for them. In fact, cars are the johnny-come-latelies of highways.

The hard, flat road surfaces we take for granted are relatively new. Asphalt surfaces weren't widespread until the 1930s. So, are motorists to thank for this smoothness?

No. The improvement of roads was first lobbied for – and paid for – by cycling organisations.

In the UK and the US, cyclists lobbied for better road surfaces for a full 30 years before motoring organisations did the same. Cyclists were ahead of their time.

Cyclists' organisations, such as Cyclists' Touring Club in the UK and League of American Wheelmen (LAW) in the US, lobbied county surveyors and politicians to build better roads. The US Good Roads movement, set up by LAW, was highly influential. LAW (now LAB) once had the then US president turn up at its annual general meeting.