with some random guy
at the 2005 National Bike
Summit in Washington DC]
According to the League of American Bicyclists, the composition of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is set to take a decidedly bike-friendly turn after Tuesday’s elections.
Likely to be chairman of this committee is the current ranking Democrat, Congressman Jim Oberstar from Minnesota. Oberstar is considered by many to be Washington’s #1 man for bikes.
At last year’s National Bike Summit in Washington DC, he shared a rousing and inspiring speech about the importance of encouraging more kids to drive bikes to school. He told a packed room of bike advocates from across the country that we,
National Bike Summit]
“have the chance to change the habits of an entire generation…it’s now in your hands.”
I also recall a story he told about visiting a new school and then calling out the school’s leadership for putting the bike racks in the back of the building. I remember him saying emphatically, “They should be right in the front!”
Also in pole positions on the D.C. transportation politics scene are Oregon’s top cycling advocates, Congressmen Peter DeFazio and Portland’s very own Earl Blumenauer. Both DeFazio and Blumenauer are very enlightened as to the increased role that bicycles need to play in our country’s transportation mix and to have them in leadership roles is a huge boon for bikes.
The ’07 National Bike Summit is just on the horizon and there’s no doubt it will be a tremendous year for the event. So, who wants to join me this year?!