This week a group of bike shop owners, bike advocates, planners, and volunteers traveled to Washington, DC to attend the National Bike Summit, organized by the League of American Bicyclists. I attended on behalf of ABC in order to accept a grant from Bikes Belong (details coming Monday), attend the great summit workshops, and join the rest of the good people from Georgia in meeting with our Congressional delegation.

This year marked a change in our reception in Washington. Whereas in past years in some offices you could hear the eye roll in staffers' voices as they announced, "the bike people are here," this year there was a friendly inflection ("the BIKE people are here!")

Our group asked Representatives and Senators to support the America Bikes agenda to:

• Increase bike project funding to a whopping 3% in the federal transportation bill (we believe this will help us double the proportion of trips by walking and biking from 10 to 20%)
• Pass Complete Streets legislation requiring streets to consider all users in their design
• Receive our fair share of safety dollars
• Pass legislation to address climate change by replacing car trips with bicycling and walking

Other highlights of the conference included a stirring presentation from Andreas Rohl, head of the City of Copenhagen's Bicycle Program Office, where 36% of trips are made by bike. Andreas shared survey results indicating that the vast majority of Danes travel by bicycle simply because it is fast and easy, rather than for environmental, exercise, or financial reasons. Wouldn't Americans do the same, given a similar investment in safe and welcoming places to ride?

You can read all about the summit on the League's website. Maybe next year you'll join us!