We know, you’re hearing it from everyone. But it’s important, so we’re saying it, too: the election is one week away and your vote counts.

The following blog post is co-authored and published in partnership with the National Complete Streets Coalition, a non-profit, non-partisan alliance of public interest organizations and transportation professionals committed to the development and implementation of Complete Streets policies and practices and a program of Smart Growth America.

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The League certifies hundreds of League Cycling Instructors every year and there are thousands of LCIs around the country leading bike education efforts in their communities. We know so many of their stories, but we don’t know enough of them—and we certainly haven’t shared enough of their stories with the world. 

Earlier this year, the League put out a call for some of our most important volunteers: League members who are interested in serving on our board. Board candidates, whether elected by our membership or appointed by the Board, are dedicated to the League's mission of building a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. They contribute by generously donating their time, skills, and other resources to guiding the League and ralling the resources we need to realize a future filled with more bike joy. 

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Charlie Denney of Potomac & Chesapeake Cycling, contributed the following blog post. 

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As of this week, the League of American Bicyclists has officially and permanently removed ‘Enforcement’ as one of the pillars of the Bicycle Friendly America program’s ‘5 E’ framework.

The U.S. Department of Transportation released its list of 70 BUILD grant awardees last week, awarding $1 billion dollars to 70 projects in 44 states. Much of what media coverage these grants have garnered focuses on how they benefit states important in the November election.  

Here’s a different take. I’m looking at how bicycling and walking projects fared. 

In 2017, the SELF DRIVE Act sailed through the House, from the committee to a floor vote by voice, within one day--leaving advocates like the League with no opportunity to have our voices heard. We’re not alone: many groups interested in road safety want real regulation of automated vehicles, so that the technology that is developed responds to people who bike, walk, or use a wheelchair. The SELF DRIVE Act must be defeated unless it contains real safety regulation.

As the election approaches, the League will be sharing a series of blog posts with important information about voting. Today, we’ll start today by making sure you are registered to vote, and know how to request a mail-in ballot (if you choose to vote by mail).

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Sixty percent of Americans surveyed think the federal government should invest more of its transportation dollars into programs that benefit people who bike and walk. In a new League of American Bicyclist/Ipsos poll, Americans across the political, social, and racial spectrum report wanting better places to bike and walk, with 78% of people surveyed agreeing that their community would be a better place to live if bicycling were safer and more comfortable. 

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Today, the League of American Bicyclists announced 13 companies earned Bicycle Friendly Business awards in its Summer 2020 round of awards, along with two earning Honorable Mentions. The Bicycle Friendly Business program recognizes organizations that have taken steps to make biking an easy option for employees or customers.

There is new yearly data on bike commuting and a new League data portal including multiple federal, state, and local agency sources to enable comparisons on a variety of data for biking and walking.

There is power in bicycling, from inspiring change to instilling independence. A simple bike ride always improves our day. As bicycling advocates and educators, we know bike rides are a great way to improve lives and communities. And we know that strung together, all of our bike riding is leading towards vibrant, healthy communities and making a more sustainable future possible. 

The law currently setting funding and policy over our nation’s transportation system expires at the end of September, and conventional wisdom suggests that Congress will need to temporarily extend that law and start over on passing a new transportation bill in January when the new Congress comes into session. However, there is still a possibility, ever so slight, that we’ll get a transportation bill this year. The question is whether the Senate will finish their bill. 

Dijon Kizzee was a bicyclist. He was a person on a bike. He was a Black man in America on a bike.
Racism is much larger than bicycling, but to make safe streets for everyone requires confronting racism.

Every day, the League is working to promote and protect bicyclists' rights at the federal level. Here are Caron's notes from the past few weeks on her work to promote bicyclists' rights on Capitol Hill.

There are two very important elections we hope you'll vote in this fall: one takes place on November 3 and another takes place right here. First, though, we want you to meet the candidates running to serve on the League's board. 

To reduce the barriers to bike education in underserved communities, the League is launching an Equity Scholarship Program which will offer approximately 40 full scholarships to people of color interested in teaching bike education courses in underserved communities.

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Spring 2020 round of BFB awards recognizes companies and groups across the country for their commitment to encouraging biking.