The top 7 Reasons You Need to be at the National Bike Summit

Today is the last day of early bird registration for the National Bike Summit, and we want to make sure you know just why your voice is needed in Washington.

REASON 7: The Congressional Bike Ride! Enjoy the activity that brought you to Washington: riding your bike. Meet Congressional staffers, local activists, and decompress from a week well spent in the Nation’s Capitol.

REASON 6: Learn from the Leaders! With 18 break-out sessions to choose from, keynotes, panels, etc., the National Bike Summit is the senior seminar for bicycling advocates and enthusiasts. Check out the agenda to see what all you can discover!

Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists, Jay Walljasper of the Project for Public Spaces, Caron Whitaker from America Bikes, Chris Kegel from Wheel & Sprocket, and John Burke of Trek

REASON 5: Get pinned! The eye-catching bike pins made famous by this fine sir are in abundance. Let people know you stand for cycling with style!

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) shows off his bike bling

REASON 4: Better connect with your members, clients, and Representatives! Luncheon Keynote Speaker Jason Ryan Dorsey is the expert at reaching Generation Y.

The're babies, I tell you!

REASON 3: Want to meet the person who designed your bike or funded your town’s bike lanes? They’re here! Come join them! From top-rate advocates to small shop owners, they’re at the National Bike Summit. See and be seen.

Gary Fisher. Need I say anything else?

REASON 2: You can help us in defeating the House Transportation Bill. You must be sick of hearing about just how terrible this bill is. And you know what? So are we! Let’s end this tragedy once and for all. Full post on this–including video–here.

(drumroll, please) REASON 1: Meeting your representatives in Congress. These personal relationships are what bring about change! Sitting down and having a conversation about bicycling can do amazing things.

Look at this personal relationship with Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R – OH)! He's now a huge bicycling supporter.

Now that you know why you need to come, let me tell you how to come! Register now for the final day of early bird pricing by clicking here. And once you’ve done that (or if you’ve already done that, wink wink) make sure to let your friends, colleagues, and grandmother on facebook know. Join the event, like us, and twitter #nbs12