Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood speaking
at the National Bike Summit.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has followed up his encouraging keynote speech at the National Bike Summit -- where he said bike advocates "have a full partner at the US DOT" -- with a post on his "Welcome to the Fast Lane" blog titled, "Cyclists are important users of transportation systems".

The post is a reflection on his speech at the Summit. Here's an excerpt (emphasis mine): (more...)

Rep. Jim Oberstar, speaking
at the opening night dinner.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Representative Jim Oberstar (D-MN) -- the man whose passion for Safe Routes to Schools helped establish it as a national priority in America -- is now throwing his energy behind a new idea. And, as Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that will be writing the new transportation bill, Oberstar's ideas have real potential to turn into policy.

Today at the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C., Oberstar will meet with the country's top bike lawyers to discuss the potential of a new legislative initiative to draft the country's first piece of legal policy that would directly relate to the respect and recognition of bicycles as users of our roadways.
(more...)

U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Ray LaHood addressed the National
Bike Summit this morning.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Ray LaHood, President Obama's Transportation Secretary kicked off the opening plenary at the National Bike Summit this morning.

LaHood, sporting the ubiquitous bike pin, made it clear that he symbolizes a new era of cooperation between the U.S. Department of Transportation and bike and active transportation advocates around the country. As I reported last night, LaHood is focused on the idea of "livable communities".

At the outset of his remarks, he said, "I want all of you to know you have a full partner at the US DOT in working toward livable communities". A key theme of LaHood's remarks was that he and President Obama will work hard help make communities nicer places to walk and bike. LaHood said that he and Obama, "Will work toward an America where bikes are recognized to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges." (more...)

We'll hear from Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood tomorrow
morning.

Tomorrow morning, President Obama's Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will address the 2009 National Bike Summit.

When LaHood was announced as Obama's pick back in December, many in the bike movement didn't really have much to say about him. He's been a strong supporter of rail, but his background on bike issues wasn't too deep.

Tomorrow, he'll have his first chance to acquaint himself with America's bike power brokers and, if a recent story in Congressional Quarterly is a reliable sign, LaHood is sure to win many fans. (more...)

Roger Geller (L) and the bike program
manager for the City of Copenhagen,
Andreas Rohl.
(Photos © J. Maus)

The 2009 National Bike Summit kicked off tonight with a pep rally of sorts, and the head cheerleader was Andreas Rohl, bike program manager for the city of Copenhagen.

For the uninitiated, Copenhagen is the world class cycling city all others aspire to. Don't believe that claim? 36% of people who enter the city for work or for school do so on a bicycle and among people who live in their city's core, 55% bike to work. (more...)