Blog Post
Last week, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives passed their version of the transportation bill, and referred it to the House floor. Committee leadership has indicated that they expect to pass the bill through the House, reconcile it with the Senate bill, and pass it by November 20. So far, this looks like good news for bicycle and pedestrian advocates.
When communities want to make their streets more bicycle friendly, they often face many of layers of opposition and challenge. Even when the popular and political will exist, existing regulations can stymie the process. This is especially true for roads within the National Highway System, but there’s new hope that these regulations will become easier to navigate.
Last year, we awarded $3,000 in mini-grants to support new and growing programs that engage young women in bicycling. Yesterday, we heard how the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) and Multicultural Communities for Mobility (MCM), mini-grant recipients, were able to boost their efforts through their pilot program aimed at growing allies for the bicycle and pedestrian movement through women’s leadership. Daniella Alcedo, of the Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition chapter of LACBC, and Maria Sipin, of MCM, discussed their partnership in-depth during our Women Bike webinar.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new series of forums in cities across the United States to discuss transportation challenges and solutions. These “Beyond Traffic” forums are an “invitation to the American public” to participate in the future of transportation in the country. Read USDOT’s full announcement on the forum series below.
Next week, we’ll hear how the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) and Multicultural Communities for Mobility (MCM), mini-grant recipients, were able to boost their efforts through their pilot program aimed at growing allies for the bicycle and pedestrian movement through women’s leadership. Daniella Alcedo, of the Pomona Valley Bicycle Coalition chapter of LACBC, and Maria Sipin, of MCM, will discuss their partnership in-depth via a webinar on Thursday, October 1, at 2 p.m. eastern / 11 a.m. pacific. Register today.
On September 17, the U.S. House Transportation Committee will be voting on the transportation bill. One of the issues they’ll be debating is whether or not to continue the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which is the main source of funding for bicycling and walking across the country.
The League has been teaching and certifying League Cycling Instructors for decades. With more than 3,500 LCIs across the country, the League’s bike education curriculum is ubiquitous. We’re highlighting some of the great work our LCIs are doing in communities from coast to coast. Tom Pogson, a Kodiak Island, Alaska, resident, has been an LCI since February 2014. We asked him a few questions to learn more about his take on bicycle education and some of his favorite teaching moments.
The League is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and colleague, Deb Hubsmith. Hubsmith was the founder of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and served as its director for 9 years. She dedicated her career to bicycling and walking advocacy at the local, state and national levels. She began her advocacy as the founding executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, where she helped develop the county’s Safe Routes to School pilot program. She championed the nation’s first statewide Safe Routes to School program in California and also a nationwide program, which passed the U.S. Congress and resulted in more than $1 billion for Safe Routes to School programs across the country.
Last Friday, our #BikeChat focused on bike education — where it stands, where it’s going and more. We were lucky enough to have four League Cycling Instructors on hand as panelists: Dan Hoagland, of Washington Area Bicyclist Association; Greg Billing, also of WABA; Molly North, of Bike Denver; and Nick Mason, of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota.
The League has been teaching and certifying League Cycling Instructors for decades. With more than 4,000 LCIs across the country, the League’s bike education curriculum is ubiquitous. We’re highlighting some of the great work our LCIs are doing in communities from coast to coast. Bernard Green, a Marina, CA, resident, has been an LCI since summer 2013. We asked him a few questions to learn more about his take on bicycle education and some of his favorite teaching moments.