Summit Countdown #3: Create the Agenda for the NEXT Transportation Bill

When I first started with America Bikes in 2008 one of the first things we did was write a platform for the re-authorization of the federal transportation bill. For the four years between then and MAP-21, that platform was my roadmap. Yes, we had to adjust and modify our strategy through the process, but the goals of that platform guided our lobbying efforts throughout.

Now that Congress is gearing up for the next transportation bill, the bicycling community has to gear up, too. We are preparing to write the next federal bicycling platform and we need YOUR input.

This year at the National Bike Summit on March 4-6, we’ll be running three sessions aimed at “Creating the Bicycling Agenda for 2014 and Beyond.” During these facilitated discussions, we’ll seek your input on the following questions:

• Should the biking community work more closely with transit advocates? What would that look like?
• What’s happening with the Transportation Alternatives program in your state — and what changes would make the program more effective or accessible for bicycling?
• How can we ensure that the bicycling agenda is more inclusive and improves bicycling for all Americans?
• What’s the best way to enhance Safe Routes to School under MAP-21?
• How can we ensure a ‘Fair Share for Safety’ for bicyclists and work towards zero deaths on our streets?
• What should be the next Recreational Trails and off-road agenda in the transportation bill?

These answers will then be incorporated into the federal platform of the national bicycling organizations for the next re-authorization of the transportation bill. We’ll also make summaries of these conversations available after the Summit.

We want to make sure that our work here in Washington best reflects the needs of the entire bicycling community — and we need your input to do it. Please join us at the 2013 National Bike Summit to set the next federal bicycling agenda.