(Photo © J. Maus)
Once again, it’s that time of year when bike advocates from all over the country converge on our nation’s capitol for the National Bike Summit.
I’ll be attending the event for the third year in a row. I leave on a red-eye tonight from Portland and I’ll hit the streets of D.C. on my Bike Friday tikit (thanks Paul!) in the wee hours of tomorrow morning.
from previous years:
The Summit is always an important event, but this year I expect even greater things from the collective energy of the hundreds of advocates and bureaucrats who attend. In addition to pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill to educate members of Congress about the role bicycles can play in the health and well-being of our country, we’ll also learn from ourselves through a full schedule of workshops and panel discussions on a variety of topics.
The past two years, I’ve worked hard to bring you the insider view of this event through many articles and hundreds of photos. My plan this year is more of the same, but with even more experienced eye and mind for the people and the issues.
I am taking this trip on your behalf — to keep you in the loop on the big issues, to share the experience with you, and to share the Portland story with anyone who will listen. For the past two years I have been extremely proud to have my trip funded by readers, and I hope a few of you will contribute again this year.
If you appreciate BikePortland.org and extensive coverage of events like this, I would be very grateful for your help in offsetting trip expenses.
Special thanks to those folks who have already chipped in, and also to Planet Bike, who has stepped up to be the official sponsor of all my coverage (you’ll notice their banner on every story I publish about the Summit).
(*Note: I plan to continue my regular news coverage as much as I can during the trip, but I won’t be back in my Portland office until Monday, 3/10)
Thank you for all you do, and for representing Portland in a truely awesome way.
Our thanks, Jonathan. You are Our Man in The City.
Love that little folder bike, makes me want to get one sometime, have fun! be safe.
Joe
Thanks, Jonathan. I always enjoy these annual reports. I hope that one of these years I can experience it in person.
Go get \’em, Jonathan! Hope to see more shots of you riding the Tikit in the hotel, too. 🙂
thanks for all the kind words and support. I\’m on a bus right now headed into DC. I\’ll be doing a group ride hosted by Bike Friday and then I\’ll attend a meeting at the Rails – Trails Conservancy where theyll be discussing a major new funding program that hopefully Portland will wb a part of.
Cheers.
How\’s the weather back there for riding Paul\’s Tikit? Thanks for being our ears and etes. I couldn\’t make it due to performing at Seattle Bike Expo this weekend, but so much important stuff being discussed it kills me to miss… BTW, anyone need a ride to Seattle Bike Expo? I\’m heading up Friday morning for some corporate events. If you want to carpool I have room for two more people in my Echo.
Are you going for a ride with Earl?
glad to see a greater emphasis in this year\’s programming on transportational cycling. there is an unfortunate tendency at LAB and Bikes Belong to talk about trails rather than streets. also good to see a strong Portland presence at the summit.
Make sure to cruise Rock Creek Park on the weekend, when it is largely closed to vehicular traffic (one of my favorite things about DC). A lovely pit stop is the National Zoo!
I met the infamous Jonathon today at the Rails to Trails event 🙂
Nice BIKE FRIDAY!