Amongst all the news coming out of Washington, we want to make sure you know about the latest administration action that will impact the safety of people who bike. 

Last week, an internal memo began circulating at the U.S. Department of Transportation directing an agency-wide review of competitive grants, to ensure all awarded projects for which funding has not been fully obligated are aligned with the administration’s Executive Orders aimed at removing DEI and “green new deal” related projects. This memo will significantly impact bicycle infrastructure by mandating a review and potential removal of funding from projects that prioritize it. 

Essentially, this memo identifies bicycle infrastructure as “green new deal” or climate related. It puts a pause on transportation projects whose “eligible activities included bicycle infrastructure”. The agency’s review teams are instructed to “flag any project scope elements or activities for potential removal, including: Project activities such as equity analysis, green infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, EV and/or EV charging infrastructure.” 

For now, projects funded through programs with a statutory scope which includes bicycle infrastructure – so programs like Transportation Alternatives – should be unaffected. But other discretionary funding such as Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants, RAISE grants, and Reconnecting Communities grants are all at risk because their statutes do not specifically include bicycle infrastructure as an eligible activity. 

But potentially thousands of bike safety projects already approved for federal funding may never break ground to transform dangerous streets. Projects already in progress could stop immediately and may never start back up again. 

The targeted bicycle infrastructure projects are not top-down mandates, they are bottom-up requests for funding. Local communities have identified a need for bicycle infrastructure and applied for the grants to build it. Those grants were approved and should continue to receive the funding they were allocated. 

The League is working through our state and local partners to learn more about the projects on the ground that are at risk. With our national partners, we’re putting pressure on the administration to continue funding these essential bike projects. 

Your voice matters, too. Sign our petition calling on Secretary Sean Duffy and the U.S. Department of Transportation to enable states and communities to do the work to make their roads and streets safer and better for everyone. 

The post How a Washington Memo Could Stall Your Bike Lanes  appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

By Calvin Thigpen, PhD, Lime Director of Policy Research

Lime, in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists, is launching the second year of the Lime Mobility Insights Competition. This innovative partnership seeks to empower one to three U.S. communities by leveraging comprehensive datasets and expert analyses to address critical transportation issues such as safety, equity and accessibility.

A Mission for the Future

At Lime, our mission is to build a future where transportation is shared, affordable and carbon-free. Through strategic partnerships with cities and communities across the globe, we’ve dedicated ourselves to understanding and mitigating the challenges faced by urban mobility systems. From discounted fare programs to safety enhancement protocols, our efforts are grounded in a commitment to making cities more safe, equitable and sustainable for everyone.

The Competition: A Catalyst for Change and Innovation

Lime regularly collaborates with cities, sharing data and insights to foster improvement in urban mobility, and this competition takes our existing efforts a step further. 

In 2024, Lime and the League of American Bicyclists debuted the Mobility Insights Competition, selecting Washington, D.C. and Bloomington, Indiana as the two winning cities. The 2024 report’s findings emphasize the profound role that bike lanes and dedicated micromobility parking play in improving road safety and increasing ridership. In particular, the report focused on three core insights: 

Insight #1: Micromobility users prefer bike lanes 

As DC and Bloomington built bike lanes, ridership on those streets increased dramatically compared to similar streets without bike lanes.

Insight #2: Safety outcomes are improving

Lime rider-reported safety incidents in Washington, D.C. decreased significantly between 2021 and 2024, as Lime riders increased their use of bike lanes by 38% over the same time period, showing the value of protective infrastructure.

Insight #3: Parking corrals boost compliance 

Where parking corrals were added in Washington, D.C., parking concentration increased by 60%. If you build it, riders will use it!

To learn more, read the full “Lessons from Lime Data” report or watch the webinar featuring the 2024 Mobility Insights Competition winners!

2025 Competition Offerings

In 2025, Lime and the League of American Bicyclists will again select one to three cities to receive unique access to both Lime’s comprehensive datasets on travel, safety and surveys, as well as the expert knowledge from Lime’s team and the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program. This partnership focuses on tackling the prevalent challenges cities face, offering:

• Access to extensive datasets: Participants can delve into Lime’s detailed trip, safety and survey data, unlocking new insights and understanding mobility patterns in unprecedented ways.
• Expert collaboration: The competition enables working closely with leading urban planners and researchers from Lime, along with the experienced professionals from the League’s Bicycle Friendly America team. This synergy aims to blend data-driven insights with practical experience to confront and solve urban mobility challenges.
• Tailored solutions: Communities will benefit from receiving custom reports or presentations, designed to address their specific needs and challenges. This personalized approach ensures that the solutions are not only relevant but also actionable.
• Opportunity to showcase work: A significant part of the competition is the chance to present findings and achievements in a webinar, co-hosted by Lime and the League. This platform is an excellent way to share successes and lessons learned with a broader audience, underlining the commitment to sustainable mobility.

Through this initiative, Lime and the League of American Bicyclists invite communities to rethink transportation, leveraging both data and expert knowledge to drive meaningful change.

Eligibility 

Eligibility for the Mobility Insights Competition extends to U.S. communities that are Lime cities and are also current or aspiring members of the Bicycle Friendly America program. These criteria ensure that participants are already aligned with the principles of sustainable and accessible urban mobility.

How to apply

Interested communities should mark their calendars—the application deadline is April 18, 2025, at 5pm PT. The winners will be announced in May. 

Apply now!

For additional details or inquiries, please reach out to bfa@bikeleague.org.

The post From Data to Action: Applications Now Open for the 2025 Lime Mobility Insights Competition appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

We were thrilled to host the annual 2025 Advocacy and Education Awards at this year’s Summit, as it helped capture the unrivaled energy of celebrating our winners together as a community. If you missed it, a livestream recording is available, offering a glimpse of the festivities and a preview of 2026.

The 2025 award winners are an impressive group, making significant impacts in the lives of their neighbors and broader community. Their inspiring work, detailed below, is shaping the future of the bike movement by building a more impactful, inclusive, and Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone.

Bicycle Friendly America Leadership Award 

The Bicycle Friendly America Leadership Award honors civic, academic, and business leaders who work tirelessly to advance our shared goal: an America where bicycling is safe, comfortable, and accessible – for everyone. From mayors to public agency heads, from business innovators and university presidents—each year, this award recognizes the leadership of those who make change.

Our 2025 Award goes to Barbara McCann.  What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

My hope for the future is that bicycling increases as a routine method of transportation, supported by complete streets that provide many types of people with a variety of ways to travel, and that use resources fairly because they are safe and welcoming for everyone.  You might call such streets diverse, equitable, and inclusive.  

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

First, find ways to use the joy of bicycling to counteract the hatred we see today. Second, build local community and connections to build a world for better bicycling.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

I loved being able to bicycle along a causeway with Deputy Secretary Trottenberg on a trip we took to Miami – encouraging her to keep riding despite a climb and a hot day!

Advocacy Organization of the Year

This award goes to a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization or club who, in the past year, made significant progress. Their leaders have worked tirelessly together to grow and strengthen their organization and fulfill their mission. The proof of their efforts is in the growth of their capacity, programs, membership and the victories they have achieved for biking and walking in their state/community. This award is about recognizing organizations that are inclusive, welcoming, and committed to growing bicycling.

Our 2025 Award goes to Wisconsin Bike Fed.  What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I hope the future of the bike movement sees bicycling recognized for the tremendous return on investment it can offer communities.  Wisconsin’s bicycling industry is second in the nation for the value it adds to the state’s economy, yet we are near to last in what we invest in the infrastructure needed to make our streets safe for people who bike and walk. The benefits of a cycling-friendly environment are clear—improved public health, stronger local economies, and more vibrant, connected communities. I hope we continue to move forward in the way we design our public spaces and how we value the people who use them. 

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

If the winds are not at our back at the Federal level, advocates should seize this moment by focusing on community focused local advocacy. We need to change hearts and minds by improving bike and walk culture in places where people are most engaged—like neighborhoods and schools. In a time when the divide between opposing viewpoints is deeper than ever, maybe it’s through shared experience – like going on a bike ride – that we can find common ground. 

What is a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

Wisconsin received a record $210 million in Federal Redistribution funds in 2024. Wisconsin Bike Fed was asked to advise Wisconsin DOT on shovel-ready projects that were eligible for these funds – resulting in 49 grants to Transportation Alternatives, Congestion Mitigation, Carbon Reduction and Rail Crossing Safety projects. 

And also…in December Wisconsin Bike Fed’s Santa Cycle Rampage set a new record of over 2,000 registered riders joining us for the “world’s largest holiday-themed costume bike ride for charity”. The “ho ho hos” were deafening!

Advocate of the Year 

This award goes to a leader of a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who has shown tireless commitment to promoting bicycling and walking in their state/community. This person goes above and beyond the call of duty to transform their state/community into a great place for biking and walking. Their time, knowledge, creativity, and commitment are the highest standard of excellence exemplifying a role model for peers.

In 2025, the League gave two Advocate of the Year Awards, one to a professional advocate and one to a citizen advocate. 

Our 2025 Professional Advocate Award goes to Lee Lambert. What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement? 

I hope for a future where using a bike as a means of transportation is practical, safe and accepted as a common means to get people where they want to go by the general public and policy makers.  That we build transportation systems that center the people who want, need or have to travel by bike. 

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

The threats at the federal level to biking/walking dollars is huge, given how reliant all communities across the US are on these infrastructure dollars. I see the opportunity as twofold. First, how do we sharpen the “why” of biking to those in power in Congress; our talking points need to change, and I think the movement benefits from staying nimble and connected about what resonates. Second, thinking beyond federal funding and policy, how do we work with champions at the state and locally to move issues.  

 What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

Two weeks ago I was one of d 2,000 people on bikes who filled a public ferry in Seattle and travel across Puget Sound in the rain to Bainbridge Island to participate in our 53rd annual Chilly Hilly ride. The fact we can get thousands of people to bike together in February in cold and inclement weather is amazing, and it shows that if we create welcoming events and safe spaces the people will come.  

Our 2025 Citizen Advocate Award goes to Charlie Denney.  Gail and Jim Spann Educator of the Year 

This award recognizes a person who has worked to elevate bike education in their state/community. We’re looking for educators who are current League Cycling Instructors, active in teaching classes in the past year, serve diverse communities, and have shown innovation in their education work.

Our 2025 Award goes to Megan Ramey.  What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I hope that in the future when families watch  E.T., Goonies or Stranger Things, those scenes of children riding bikes to solve problems, find friends or get to school, are mirrored out their front window. For this to happen, leaders need to champion childhood joy and independence through active transportation and funnel the money and vision to the engineers so they center children in the design of our streets.

The indicator of success is when it’s normal to see our streets full of free-range kids or moms riding side-by-side with their little ones.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

Get the kids in the street! Don’t think about it or ask permission, just do it. We advocates have all the reasons to act -“Anxious generation”, climate change and a health crisis. We have new tools like the Bike Bus and E-cargobikes and traditional tools like biking in PE class or after school clubs. Use these tools to get kids in the street. They will feel the joy and community and become your biggest cheerleaders. Consequently, your Principal or Mayor will be uplifted when the kids say things like “Viva la America” or sing and once in their bikes to Taylor Swift. This is subversive advocacy because it’s contagious and leads to action.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

As an educator who plays with kids using bikes, there are 1000s of joyful moments, especially when I teach older kids how to ride or play their favorite song for a bike ride.

As an advocate, I am addicted to winning grants, accruing almost $10 million in the few years that I have had this job. Two of these grants were synergistic for Odell a 3000-person fruit packing town. Oregon DOT (ODOT) won the Youth Active Transportation grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association and the Mid Valley Elementary parent-teacher organization won an ODOT grant. The result was a demonstration “Puma Path”, weekly walking bus, bike shed, fleet of learning bikes for kinder and fifth graders, new Smith helmets, Tern E-bike giveaway and Dero fix-it stations for the elementary and middle schools in town.

In terms of future funding, I was successful when inviting one of Oregon’s five Transportation Commissioners, Jeff Baker, to “be like JT (Timberlake)” and ride the bike bus with my dear friend Sam Balto. And now I consider Jeff my friend.

Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award

This award commemorates Susie Stephens, one of the Alliance for Biking & Walking founders and an enduring inspiration for many members of the bicycle and pedestrian movement. The honor goes to an individual or group who carries on Susie’s passion for advocating for bicycling as a fun and economical means of transportation.

Our 2025 Award goes to Dorothy Wong. What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement? 

The time is now.  Let’s have some fun!  Bicycle movement for everyone! Inspiring to see more people biking with more safe infrastructure and families and friends the bicycle brings us together… pure joy! 

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

Be brave, bold, build coalitions, more people riding bikes, makes us stronger! Bring your passion and be the change! Build community, organize rides, advocate with schools, family, advocate for safe routes to schools and parks. Prioritize safe, inclusive streets!

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

Working with youth to educate and inspire from TK to High School and in December Altadena Snow Day brought our community together with snow and the Pop-Up Bike Park!

Katherine “Kittie” T. Knox Award

This award recognizes champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the bicycling movement. This award goes to an individual or group that has led in making bicycling more inclusive and representative and has worked to remove barriers to participation by underserved and underrepresented people in their community, state, or country.

Learn more about Kittie Knox and her advocacy for a more inclusive League and bike community.

Our 2025 Award goes to Rachel Olzer.  What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I envision a future where biking is truly accessible, welcoming, and safe for everyone. The bike movement must move beyond a narrow focus on infrastructure alone and embrace community-driven solutions that center the voices of all folks. I hope that the industry can see biking not just as a mode of transportation or recreation, but as a tool for social change—building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities. Ultimately, the future I envision is one where every person feels a sense of belonging in the cycling world, and the benefits of biking—economic, environmental, and personal—are equitably shared.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

Advocates must seize this moment by prioritizing equity in every facet of their work. Now is not the time to back-down. The moment calls for persisting in the face of fear. Keep it up and remember the joy is in the work!

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

I organized a small ride with community folks on an unusually nice day last week and I was reminded of the beauty in small, community-focused organizing and how many ripple effects that has. It’s so important that we recognize that the depth of intervention is just as, if not more important than the breadth of intervention. 

Emerging Leader of the Year

This award is a special accolade for a young person who is new to the bicycling movement and has demonstrated exceptional and inspiring bicycle advocacy. Nominees have demonstrated leadership in their short tenure and show great potential to continue leading in the bicycling movement.

Our 2025 Award goes to the Hawai’i youth environmentalists. Read more about them on our blog »  Club of the Year

This award is for a bicycle club that has done an excellent job at providing a great experience for its members and people who are new to bicycling. The goal of this award is to recognize clubs that do an exceptional job at integrating advocacy into club activities or supporting advocacy organizations while creating exceptional events for new and experienced bicyclists. This award is about recognizing clubs that are inclusive, welcoming, and committed to growing bicycling.

Our 2025 Award goes to Potomac Pedalers.  What do you hope the future holds for biking in America?

As a club we hope biking in America becomes more inclusive, more accessible, and safer for all.

How should bicyclists and advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

Be the future you wish to see: show that joy and cycling go hand-in-hand, and that this joy is attainable to all even in times of chaos and duress.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

Hosting our annual Ride Leader Symposium brought together veteran ride leaders with folks who want to learn the ropes of leading safe, effective, and enjoyable group rides – it was a meeting of generations and full of joy.

Youth Empowerment Award 

This award recognizes a leader who has dedicated their time and energy to mentoring and empowering young people to see the benefits of bicycling as a lifelong skill. This inspiring mentor has provided guidance, support, and opportunities for young people to develop their skills, gain confidence, and make a positive impact on their communities. Through their mentorship, they have helped to cultivate a new generation of passionate bicycling advocates.

Our 2025 Award goes to Gabrielle Rossi of Girls in Gear. What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

From restrictive reproductive rights policies to systemic barriers in education and employment, the independence of girls is constantly under threat. By fostering self-reliance, resilience, and decision-making skills at Girl in Gear, we empower girls to boldly take control of their futures. The act of riding a bike is a powerful symbol of freedom, teaching girls that they are capable, strong, and in charge of their own paths.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

At Girls in Gear, we are working at the intersection of youth development, public health, and gender equity to break down systemic barriers that limit girls’ access to biking. We are building a future where girls are not only learning how to ride bikes, but are also becoming strong, confident leaders who understand their worth and are prepared to navigate the world with courage and conviction.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

Every time a girl pedals on her own for the first time, with her entire team cheering her on, or when she confidently leads a group ride after spending a season in the back of the pack – it fills me with pure joy. But it’s not just about biking. When a girl applies what she’s learned through Girls in Gear to become a better student, daughter, or friend, it reminds me why we do this work. Life is challenging, and being a girl in today’s world is even tougher. While we’re shaping the next generation of pedal-pushers, we’re also infusing their lives with joy, optimism, and the courage to face any challenge that comes their way in a world that too often questions who they are, why they matter, and what they stand for.

Paul Dudley White Award 

This award, the League’s highest honor, recognizes an individual whose commitment, vision, and inspiration have resulted in significant improvements to the world of bicycling and the needs of American Bicyclists. Dr. Paul Dudley white was a world renowned cardiologist and cycling enthusiast. He cycled daily and realized the positive effects of cycling exercise on cardiovascular development. He pioneered safe cycling campaigns and opened the first modern cycle path on Nantucket Island in 1960. Dr. White authored Cycling in the School Fitness Programs and became an evangelist for health through cycling in the United States.

Our 2025 Award goes to Senator Ben Cardin.

The post Congratulations to our 2025 Advocacy and Education Award winners appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

Today, the League of American Bicyclists is thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2025 Community Spark Grants! After extensive review, the League selected 10 communities to each receive $2,000 to fund projects with the potential to spark change toward a more Bicycle Friendly America. 

Marking the fourth year of the Community Spark Grant program, this latest round of applications was larger than ever! In total, 150 proposals were submitted with creative ideas for bike-friendly projects. This year’s recipients include three education projects, three event-related projects, and four projects to increase the accessibility of bicycle maintenance and equipment. 

“I am overwhelmed by the amount of quality applications we got this year, especially for applications including an equity and accessibility component,” said Anna Tang, the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program Specialist. “I am glad that we can help a few communities with our Community Spark Grant to make small, iterative changes that will ripple into the future and set great examples for other communities to follow.”

Since its launch in 2022, the Community Spark Grant program has provided seed funding for dozens of bike-related projects across the nation. These mini-grants are meant to catalyze community change by empowering grassroots leaders to identify local needs and take action accordingly. Whether the funding goes towards building capacity for bike education or supplying pop-up infrastructure to realize a community’s vision of safer streets, each grant is one small spark with the potential to ignite sustained action for better bicycling. 

New this year is the Equity and Accessibility criteria, which was used as a determining factor for five of the ten grant awards. The League firmly believes that equity & accessibility are essential lenses through which all other Bicycle Friendly America work must be viewed to achieve a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. The League defines “Equity” as the just and fair inclusion into a society in which everyone can participate and prosper. The goal of equity must be to create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential by erasing disparities in race, income, ability, geography, age, gender, and sexual orientation. The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that fairness regarding these unbalanced conditions is needed to assist equality in the provision of effective opportunities to all groups.

“Accessibility” refers to improving and increasing access to mobility options for everyone, particularly for people with disabilities. The League recognizes that not every disability is visible to others and that not every person with a mobility or accessibility need identifies as ‘disabled.’ Whether from a cognitive, sensory, or physical disability, age, temporary illness, or injury, there are people in every community who face a range of mobility challenges, for whom a bike or cycle may open a world of possibilities to increase accessibility.

Keep reading to find out how the ten recipients of the 2025 Community Spark Grants plan to use their new funding to spark change in their communities by making bicycling safer, easier, and more accessible.

2025 Community Spark Grant Awardees All Bodies on Bikes: Industry Training for Size Inclusion

• Organization: All Bodies on Bikes
• Location: Bentonville, AR

“We’re thrilled to receive the Community Spark Grant, which will help us advance size inclusion in cycling through industry trainings here locally in Bentonville. By equipping bike shop employees and industry leaders with the knowledge and tools to better serve larger-bodied cyclists, we aim to create a more welcoming and accessible cycling community. This grant will enable us to break down barriers, foster inclusivity, and ensure that everyone, regardless of body size, can experience the joy of riding a bike.” — Marley Blonsky, co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes

Community Mobility Rituals: Magic of Music Bike Rides

• Organization: Equiticity
• Location: Chicago, IL

“Equiticity is thrilled to receive a Community Spark Grant for our 2025 season of Community Mobility Rituals. Our CMRs —community bicycle rides and other community excursions— contribute to increased socialization and mobility, leading to improved life outcomes in Black and Brown communities.” — Bonnie Scarlett-Logan, Equiticity Senior Director of Development

Bikes for Adults and Newcomers

• Organization: Thrive Mahoning Valley
• Location: Youngstown, Ohio

“The Community Spark Grant will help us meet our goals in increasing independent transportation to those who need it the most in our community. We are so excited to continue our programming through 2025 as we embark towards our goal of allocating 100 bicycles to community residents. Additionally, thanks to the great support of our community, partners, and foundations, we are better equipped to sustain the program. This year, we hope to host or participate in bicycling events and community engagement through ongoing safety and maintenance demonstrations that not only benefit our recipients, but the whole community.” — Vicki Vicars, Vice President of Operations of Thrive Mahoning Valley

Fort Peck Tribal Elves Bike Day

• Organization: Fort Peck Tribal Elves
• Location: Poplar, MT

“Tribal Elves in conjunction with the League of American Bicyclists are excited to bring back Bike Day to children. It’s been a few years since we’ve sponsored one and are excited to be able to sponsor one again.” — Sunee Erickson, Director at Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

BikeWalkBG Youth Helmets & Bicycles

• Organization: BikeWalkBG
• Location: Bowling Green, KY

“BikeWalkBG kicked off a new outreach program offering bicycle education in area elementary schools. This program is intended to introduce the excitement of bicycling and its many physical and mental health benefits to hundreds of children across Warren County, Kentucky. As cycling becomes ever more dangerous day after day, we hope to make a change for the next generation by equipping the students with the knowledge, power, and excitement to ride a bicycle. In turn, we hope these students will influence their parents’ view of cycling to get more families on bikes, and doing so safely.” — Carroll Duckworth, MPO Coordinator at Bowling Green/Warren County Metropolitan Planning Organization

April 29, 2024 – Bike Walk BG hosts a bike rodeo at Briarwood Elementary in Bowling Green, Ky.. Redemptive Cycles Kid’s Bike Rodeo Program

• Organization: Redemptive Cycles
• Location: Birmingham, AL

“Redemptive Cycles hopes to spark a lifelong love of cycling in children of marginalized communities by empowering them with a bicycle and bicycle-related safety education. Cycling is not only a healthy activity, but can also be a community building activity, a way to decrease pollution and traffic congestion, and a sustainable and affordable means of transportation which will provide access to work or continued education.” — Brian Gosdin, Executive Director at Redemptive Cycles

NW Pasadena / Altadena Bike Repair and Donation Hub

• Organization: Day One
• Location: Pasadena, CA

“We’re excited to leverage our Community Spark Grant to position Day One as the community hub for bike repair and instruction for local youth and adults, many of whom rely on bicycles for transportation.” — Colin Bogart, Active Transportation Director at Day One, Pasadena

Streets as Places Pop-Ups

• Organization: Crim Fitness Foundation
• Location: Flint, Michigan

“We hope our Streets as Places Pop-Ups will spark conversations about the need for more cycling infrastructure in our city.” — Ryan Kelsey, Fine Arts Instructor / PSE Coordinator at Crim Fitness Foundation

Webster Community Center Bike Enhancement

• Organization: Micah 6 Community
• Location: Pontiac, MI

“These funds will help make serious bike improvements to Pontiac’s west side and will complement the community enhancements coming at Webster Community Center.” — Coleman Yoakum, Executive Director at Micah 6 Community

Youth Earn A Bike

• Organization: The LOVE Building
• Location: Detroit, Michigan

“We are honored to receive the 2025 League of American Bicyclists’ Community Spark Grant to support our Youth Earn A Bike Program in collaboration with community partners. This grant will allow us to expand access to cycling for youth in our community, providing them not only with a free bike and helmet but also with critical education in bike repair, bike safety, and how to navigate urban environments confidently. By equipping young riders with hands-on mechanical skills and essential road safety knowledge, we are fostering independence, mobility, and a deeper connection to their communities. We hope this program will inspire a new generation of cyclists who are empowered to use biking as a tool for health, sustainability, and everyday transportation.” — Mackenzie Rector, Program Manager at The LOVE Building

The post Meet the Winners of the League’s 2025 Community Spark Grants  appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

Last week, senators introduced a bill that would siphon funding away from bike lane projects to instead fund off-road recreational trails projects, including all-terrain vehicle trails. 

This is not how we make biking safer for everyone. 

While the League supports increased funding for the recreational trails program, we cannot support those increases at the expense of other biking and walking programs. 

The RTP Full Funding Act would specifically require funding to come out of the Transportation Alternatives Program, which funds bike lanes and sidewalks, and bars the funding from coming from other sources (last paragraph). There are other options to increase funding for Rec Trails without lowering the available funding for biking and walking TAP projects, but this bill isn’t it. 

The Transportation Alternatives program is the number one source of biking and walking funds, responsible for roughly 50 percent of all federal funding that goes to bicycling and walking. It can fund bike lanes, sidewalks, trails, crosswalks — any form of bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure, including recreational trails.  Local governments apply for what is most important to their communities. 

Currently, about 6 percent of TAP is used to fund the Recreational Trails Program which supports motorized and non-motorized off-road trails (and 30-70 percent of Recreational Trails funding goes to motorized uses). Under the Senate bill, Rec Trails would become 20 percent of TAP. This table shows what percent of TAP will be reserved for Rec Trails within your state. 

Where did this bill come from? 

Off-road motorized vehicles pay gas taxes when filling up their ATVs and snowmobiles, and a 2021 study by the Treasury Department found that motorized vehicles’ gas tax accounted for $281 million a year. Therefore off-road interest groups want the full $281 million to be spent on off-road trails. 

This “user-pay should equal user- benefit” argument being used to promote this bill is the same argument Project 2025 is using to argue that NO federal funds should go towards biking and walking because bike lanes and sidewalks don’t generate gas tax. 

If we allow Congress to buy into the argument that infrastructure should only be built for the mode that paid for them, we concede the argument that biking and walking infrastructure doesn’t deserve federal investment.

I want to reiterate that the League of American Bicyclists supports funding for Recreational Trails. But this bill, and the rhetoric behind it, does more harm than good. It undermines both the main funding source for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure and it uses rhetoric that threatens the eligibility of bike infrastructure for ANY federal funding.

The post Say NO to Senate Recreational Trails Program Full Funding Act appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

In this month’s spotlight, we’re excited to connect with Tina Beecham — Shero of her local San Antonio, Texas chapter of Black Girls Do Bike. In addition to regular rides throughout the month, the group also hosts thematic rides throughout the year. This month, they organized a Black History Month ride through San Antonio’s Eastside with this inspiring invitation:

“Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with an unforgettable ride through the historical landmarks on San Antonio’s Eastside. Together, we’ll uncover the rich stories and legacies that continue to shape our community, guided by inspiring presenters who will leave us motivated to honor and preserve these impactful histories.” 

At the League, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to bike for transportation, good health, and the pure joy and freedom it brings. That’s why we love collaborating with our friends at Black Girls Do Bike — an organization whose mission is to foster a vibrant community of women of color who share a passion for cycling. Keep reading to learn how Tina is putting this work into action in San Antonio.

Tell us a bit about the Black History Ride event, the inspiration and intention around it.

San Antonio has been doing the Black History Month ride since 2017, as long as the weather holds up — February can get pretty cold in Texas! Each year, the ride brings together a different group but it’s always a good turnout. We collaborate with different historians, often professors at the University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA), to provide historical context during the ride.

This year, Historic Preservation Specialist and African American history scholar Dr. Charles Gentry was there to share his deep knowledge of local history. The ride is designed to showcase and highlight all the different contributions African Americans have made in San Antonio, and a lot of people are surprised to learn the history. I always love seeing all the faces of surprise, excitement, and joy throughout the ride.

Dr. Charles Gentry

What was the route like, and were there any key historical sites or moments highlighted?

We make four major stops where we get off our bikes and listen to a speaker share a deep dive into the history of the site. Along the way, we also include quick virtual discovery spots along the way where you can briefly pause and scan a QR code to learn more. My favorite stop this year was outside of Saint Paul’s, where we were joined by senior pastor Rev. Amerson and Alex Bailey, founder of Black Outside Inc. —an organization dedicated to reconnecting Black youth with the outdoors. Alex’s speech highlighted Camp Founder Girls, America’s first summer overnight camp for Black girls, which recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary. Among our riders were two young girls who had attended Camp Founder Girls themselves. Seeing their excitement and connection to this piece of history made the stop even more special.

Left to right: Alex Bailey, Tiffany Wilson (Co-Shero of BGDB San Antonio), and Tina Beecham Shoutout to Visual Embers for taking photos during the ride! Rev. Amerson, pictured left

Do you have any future plans for similar events or ways you’d like to expand this ride?

We try to do the Black History Month ride every year, and we also host a Juneteenth ride with San Antonio Social riders. Our biggest ride each year is the Pedaling in Pink ride for breast cancer awareness, benefitting and supported by the Thrivewell Cancer Foundation. You can stay connected with our events by following us on Instagram at @bgdbsatx.  

Any recommendations for other cycling groups across the country who might be interested in planning a similar event?

Reaching across the table and willingness to collaborate is key. I recommend getting connected with different cycling clubs in the city you’re in, and consider what other groups might be interested. You might have luck inviting groups of runners and outdoor enthusiasts who are new to biking and want to get involved as a group. Come up with an event that everyone can be a part of, and you’ll get all hands on deck. Speaking of outdoor enthusiasts, I have to give a shoutout to our local REI for working with us closely and always coming out to our events. They brought out mountain bikes to the Black History ride, and we really appreciate that level of support. 

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the ride or BGDB San Antonio?

At our BGDB chapter, we try to be involved in our community. Whether it’s charitable rides, casual gatherings, or hosting a pillow drive to give back to the community — it’s more than cycling, we try to be a part of the fabric of the San Antonio community. Advocacy is a big piece, so we try to be a part of city council meetings and things like that. We try to be well-rounded. I’m really excited to become a certified League Cycling Instructor (LCI) soon, so I can help our local chapter host bike rodeos and teach kids how to ride. The LCI seminar is at the end of March and it’s all Black Girls Do Bikes Sheroes, so it’s going to be a great time!

Photo credit for all photos in this blog to Visual Embers

Tina’s passion for building community through biking is truly inspiring. Her work with BGDB San Antonio highlights how cycling can be a powerful tool for connection—bringing people closer to their history, amplifying advocacy efforts, and creating shared experiences that strengthen communities. We can’t wait to see what she and her club do next—plus, with so many Sheros becoming LCIs soon, they’ll be sharing their knowledge, supporting new riders, and growing an even stronger, more connected cycling community nationwide!

The post Club Leader Spotlight: Tina Beecham appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The League of American Bicyclists is proud to recognize 39 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFBs) and four Honorable Mentions in its latest award round. This brings the total number of Bicycle Friendly Businesses nationwide to 1,192, joining a nationwide network of employers committed to making bicycling safer, easier, and more joyful for their employees, customers, and the broader community. BFBs can earn Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum status based on their efforts, and must renew periodically to ensure their efforts towards better bicycling are sustained over time. 

“Bikes mean business, and Bicycle Friendly Businesses are proving it,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “When businesses support biking, they’re investing in healthier employees, more engaged customers, and stronger communities. Bicycle Friendly Businesses are leading by example, showing that making biking safer and more accessible isn’t just good for individuals—it’s a catalyst for thriving local economies.”

List of all Fall 2024 Awards + Honorable Mentions | List of all Current BFBs

This round of awards underscores how Bicycle Friendly Businesses are leveraging local investments in bicycling to attract more foot (and pedal) traffic while improving community well-being — a win-win for local riders and business owners alike.

For example, Willmar Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in Minnesota saw their award level increase to Silver for their work to transform Willmar into a bicycling destination by investing in trail maps, signage, a bike share program, and events like the annual Mayor’s Bike Ride—all of which have boosted local tourism. 

“Personally for our business, biking and trails are incredibly important to the success of tourism in our county. Before we started talking about biking 12+ years ago, there was no biking in our communities. Since then, we have a Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly Businesses, a Bike Share, trail improvements, maps, new trails, a planned trailhead improvement, a mountain bike facility, bike and pedestrian plans and many more items. As an organization, we have led this charge and the awareness of biking has significantly improved,” shared Beth Fisher, Willmar Lake’s Executive Director.

This bike tourism model is a trend growing across the nation, where an influx of revenue from out-of-town visitors helps a region thrive economically while also creating access to better biking for locals.

Another key trend in this round is the rapid expansion of Bicycle Friendly Businesses in specific regions, where a combination of healthy competition and cooperation have fueled momentum. In particular, Fayetteville, AR, and Fitchburg, WI, stand out with four and five new BFBs, respectively. In New Hampshire’s tri-town area, three new businesses earned the designation, while Arlington, VA, welcomed two new and one renewing BFB. Clusters of Bicycle Friendly Businesses are working together to make their efforts even more impactful — notably, BFBs in Fitchburg, WI recently joined forces, pitching in thousands of dollars in an ongoing push to convince the city to install a new bikeshare station in the popular mixed-use district of Uptown Fitchburg. 

In a similar spirit, National Landing Business Improvement District (BID), a mixed-use business district in Arlington, VA, received a renewed Silver BFB award (formerly under the name Crystal City BID) for its continued commitment to making bicycling a key part of its community identity. Along with an expansive celebration of National Bike Month to encourage more people to ride each May, National Landing BID staff also play an active role in reviewing and supporting updates to the Crystal City Bike Network Plan to ensure that its infrastructure continues to evolve in support of safe and accessible biking. “Our community members have thanked us many times for advocating for their safety and offering innovative bike-themed events,” said Matthew Jones, Mobility Manager at National Landing. “We are committed to a safe and accessible bike community, not only for our employees but for the broader community as well.”

This investment from business leaders into community mobility reflects a broader trend in this round of Bicycle Friendly Business awards—a wide range of industries are recognizing the benefits of supporting bicycling. Bicycle shops and nonprofits were the most common awardees in this round, but business districts, government agencies, and retail businesses also had a strong presence. The variety of awardees includes breweries, real estate firms, architecture and planning companies, and even a place of worship—demonstrating that businesses of all kinds can play a role in fostering a more Bicycle Friendly America for all. 

The League of American Bicyclists invites organizations of all sizes and industries to apply for the next round of Bicycle Friendly Business awards. The next application deadline is March 20, 2025. Learn more at bikeleague.org/business.

About the League Of American Bicyclists

Since 1880, the League of American Bicyclists has been people-powered, with a goal to make bicycling safer and easier as a means of transportation and recreation. Today, the League continues to improve lives and strengthen communities through bicycling. We are more than 200,000 members and supporters strong with more than 1,000 state and local advocacy groups and bike clubs as well as thousands of businesses, universities, and communities together leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. 

About the Bicycle Friendly Business Program

Bicycle Friendly Business awards reflect local leaders’ ongoing work to build better places to bike and evaluate those efforts as part of a national movement. Each of the five levels of the Bicycle Friendly Business award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provides a clear path for businesses to continuously improve. Visit bikeleague.org/business to learn more about the BFB program.

The post Investing in Biking Pays Off: 39 Bicycle Friendly Businesses Recognized by the League of American Bicyclists appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

In our first year of hosting workshops to certify League Cycling Advocates (LCAs) in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, we’ve seen incredible engagement and enthusiasm from emerging and seasoned bike advocates from across the country. 

At the LCA workshops, participants from diverse backgrounds came together to learn about many aspects of what it takes to become effective bike advocates, from understanding safety and policy to grassroots organizing and fostering a stronger biking culture in their communities. The workshops have not only empowered individuals to take action but also sparked collaborations with local organizations and government officials, laying the groundwork for lasting change. As we look ahead to the coming year, we’re excited to expand our reach, offering more workshops, building on our successes, and continuing to advocate for safer, more bikeable, liveable cities. 

Below, we connected with five of the 50 LCAs around the country who are working to make bicycling a normalized transportation and recreation option. We asked them a series of questions and we are highlighting a variety of their answers below to capture the work that advocates, like yourselves, are working on at the grassroots level.

Laura Groenjes Mitchell, Board President at Our Streets (Minneapolis, MN)

Is there a moment or experience that solidified your commitment to bike advocacy?
In April 2014, I challenged myself to commute by bike every single day of the month. Bike commuting helped me realize how much the built environment impacts safety for all road users, especially people walking, biking and rolling. When I became a parent a few years later, with the most precious cargo in tow behind me in a bike trailer, the way I viewed the transportation infrastructure in my city changed. Rather than brushing things off and assuming nothing could be done, I knew I wanted better for my kids and committed to figuring out how I could help advocate for safer streets for everyone.

What’s one takeaway from the LCA Workshop that you are incorporating into your bike advocacy?
I found the policy, political engagement and data portions of the LCA workshop particularly helpful. Learning more about strategies and tools (like power mapping) to hone in on key people and institutions will help ensure I’m spending my time, effort and energy as effectively as possible which is important for everyone, but especially those of us trying to fit in advocacy on top of full-time jobs, families, friends, and hobbies. I also appreciated the opportunity to connect with and learn from so many skilled and experienced advocates doing this work across the country.

Gregory Williams, Advocacy Campaign Organizer at Bike Durham (Durham, North Carolina)

Is there a moment or experience that solidified your commitment to bike advocacy?
The moment I think that truly solidified my commitment to bike advocacy occurred during the 2024 Ride of Silence here in Durham. As I manned the Bike Durham table to chat with attendees, I felt an atmosphere so different than the previous rides I’d been on. I listened as survivors and family members shared their experiences and the full scope of my work hit all at once. The ways that I can advocate for changes can tangibly change and save lives.

What’s one takeaway from the LCA Workshop that you are incorporating into your bike advocacy?
One takeaway I find myself incorporating constantly is the section on talking to my elected officials. Being able to leverage my strong relationship with the city staff and representatives goes a long way toward demonstrating my group’s legitimacy and inspiring those who work with us.

Ben Shepler, citizen advocate in Orlando, FL

What project or campaign are you involved with right now?
I’m so new to advocacy work that I don’t have a singular project or campaign, though I have been participating in lots of small-scale projects. I was accepted into Orlando’s “Mayor’s City Academy” where I attend weekly sessions at different departments of the local government with other residents. This has been a great learning and networking experience both with city staff and other eager community members. I’ve also started volunteering with Bike/Walk Central Florida, assisting at a bike rodeo, and tabling at a pro soccer game. Additionally, I recently celebrated a tiny victory of successfully getting a bike rack repaired.

What’s one takeaway from the LCA Workshop that you are incorporating into your bike advocacy?
To me, the biggest throughline of the workshop was the need to build relationships. It seemed that every presenter touched on how important connections with other people are in our advocacy work. Whether that’s with politicians, government staff, design firms, or other members of the community, you can’t create change without the help of others.

Rob Kadota, Chair of the City of Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee (Los Angeles, CA)

What’s one takeaway from the LCA Workshop that you are incorporating into your bike advocacy?
Changing our car-centric way of life to more sustainable, healthier forms of transportation is huge and complex. For me, the importance of networking and learning from others has proven to be one of the most critical lessons reinforced. Besides the bicycle advisory committee I currently chair, I’ve prioritized getting to know and supporting the work of other safe streets and bicycle/pedestrian/transit-oriented organizations as much as possible. We each bring a slightly different set of people, priorities, opportunities and perspectives that create powerful networks of change agents.

What project or campaign are you involved with right now?
As the Paris Olympics and Paralympics closed, the world’s attention shifted to Los Angeles. We’ve got a LOT of work to do if we want to demonstrate to the world that LA is a world-class city that is accessible to all and a shining example for others to emulate, especially as it relates to mass transit and LA’s dependence on cars. Can we transform our city enough that we generate broad support for a more bike friendly, walkable, sustainable LA? One specific issue our bicycle advisory committee is working on is to get a City Council file passed (20-1469-S-1) to better notify and enforce safe alternative walk/bike routes around construction projects that close sidewalks or bike lanes. 

Alexa Dobson, Executive Director at Bike Anchorage (Anchorage, Alaska)

What’s one takeaway from the LCA Workshop that you are incorporating into your bike advocacy?
The LCA workshop was the first formal advocacy training I’d ever received, and I realized that if that’s my experience as the Executive Director of an advocacy nonprofit, then people in our broader community probably aren’t getting the tools they need to be effective advocates, too. Our organization is now working on a series of advocacy trainings that are open to the community, because things like testifying at community council meetings or writing a good op-ed are skills that can be learned. They’re also fantastic opportunities to meet your fellow advocates, deepen relationships and generate new ideas!

Where do you see the future of bike advocacy heading?
Bike advocacy is part of a much larger movement toward safer streets and livable cities and intersects with some other really important advocacy areas like disability justice, affordable housing and climate change. It’s so much bigger than bikes. The design changes that make a road safer for bikes also make it safer for drivers, pedestrians, people taking transit — everyone benefits.

It’s a slow process, but institutional change is happening: federal guidelines and funding now prioritize safer bike-friendly infrastructure, more engineers, agencies, and political leaders are recognizing the value of these designs, and there’s a growing willingness at all levels of government to champion road safety. It’s gradual (and painfully slow sometimes!), but the momentum is building, and the changes are starting to take hold.

As our first year of hosting bike advocacy workshops has come to a close, we are filled with optimism and determination. The progress we’ve made, from empowering individuals to sparking collaborations, is just the beginning. The passion and commitment we’ve witnessed from participants has reinforced the importance of this work, and we are eager to build on this momentum. Looking ahead, we plan to expand our efforts, bringing even more communities into the fold and continuing to push for safer, more inclusive biking environments and empowering more local advocates.

Learn more about the LCA workshops and certification program at bikeleague.org/LCA, and register here for our next upcoming workshop in Santa Monica, California this March. Hope to see you there!

The post League Cycling Advocate (LCA) Spotlight Roundup appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

The League knows bike laws. For decades, the League of American Bicyclists has advocated for the rights of people who bike and for traffic laws that align with best practices for bicyclist safety taught in our bicycle education program, Smart Cycling. Starting in 2012, the League created Bike Law University to provide comparative information about 13 types of bicycle-related traffic laws and we have kept those resources up-to-date as advocates and legislators throughout the nation have changed traffic laws – mostly for the better.

Traffic laws provide rules for how road users interact and the consequences for when people don’t follow laws. It is often difficult to quantify the exact impact that traffic laws have on safety because we often don’t know key facts such as public knowledge about a specific traffic law, compliance rates with specific traffic laws, or enforcement rates. There is also no national organization specializing in the development and promotion of best practices in traffic law. 

Into this yawning void of data and leadership, legislators often come up with safety ideas that may be well intentioned, but are unworkable. Several years ago, this happened with a proposed Missouri law that would have required bicyclists to affix 15 foot tall flags to their bikes. This year, it happened with a Montana bill that would have required “A person operating a bicycle on a roadway without a flag vehicle escort shall ride opposite the flow of traffic.”

The League of American Bicyclists has long recommended that bicyclists ride with the flow of traffic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that, as part of “defensive driving,” a bicyclist should “drive with the flow, in the same direction as traffic.” Nevertheless, due to pedestrians often being advised or legally required to walk opposite to the flow of traffic if no sidewalks are present – as they are required to in Montana – it is not surprising to hear the suggestion that bicyclists do the same. 

The reason that bicyclist and pedestrian behavior is different in this case is speed. People on bikes are two to six times faster than people walking and running on average and can reach speeds between 20-40 mph depending on conditions. These higher speeds mean that speed disparity is reduced when operating with the flow of traffic and increased to a dangerous extent when operating against the flow of traffic. Riding against the flow of traffic means that the bicyclist and driver have less time to react to each other, and if they crash the crash will transfer more energy into the bicyclist, resulting in greater injury.

We’re happy to report that safety best practices have prevailed in Montana. According to a local reporter, the lead author will no longer be pursuing the bill after swift backlash. While it may stay on the state legislature’s site until the end of the session, it will not advance. We’ll keep watching. We believe our Bike Law University resources are a great place to start for best practices and hope legislators and advocates who want to improve bicycle safety give them a look.

The post What safer biking laws should look like appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

At a time when many are looking for ways to strengthen their communities, local investments in better bicycling offer a path forward. Today, the League of American Bicyclists is proud to recognize 91 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFCs), along with eight honorable mentions, celebrating local efforts to make biking safer and more accessible for millions of Americans. From major metropolitan areas like Phoenix, AZ (population 1.6M), to small rural towns like Frazee, MN (population 1,316), this round demonstrates how prioritizing bicycling can create healthier, more vibrant communities in any size or setting. 

“Bicycling is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a powerful tool for building healthier communities, fostering sustainability, and connecting people,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The cities, regions, and towns recognized in this round of Bicycle Friendly Community awards are leading the way by investing in infrastructure and programs that make biking an easier, safer, and more accessible choice. Their leadership demonstrates that supporting bicycling is an investment in a healthier future for everyone.”

When municipalities apply for an award from the Bicycle Friendly Community program, they fill out an extensive application which requires collaboration across city agencies and with local advocates and other partners. Based on the communities’ responses, the League determines if they deserve recognition and at which award level. Critically, a report card with feedback from the League’s expert reviewers offers next steps that each applicant community can take to improve how well they support people who bike in the future.

Leadership at both the state and local levels is pivotal in shaping if and how communities prioritize better bicycling. This round highlights the impact of that leadership, particularly in Washington state, the League’s #1 Bicycle Friendly State, which boasts seven new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities. Washington’s commitment to spreading the joy of bicycling has stood the test of time — for example, newly upgraded Silver-level BFC Anacortes has operated a free bikeshare program at its ferry port since 1997 and continues to promote cycling safety and fitness for all ages and abilities. Access to comprehensive bike education is a key contributing factor to Washington’s success as the top-ranking Bicycle Friendly State, and our feedback for several Bicycle Friendly Communities encourages them to take advantage of Cascade Bicycle Club’s incredible statewide cycling education program, if they aren’t already. 

Washington’s leadership is inspiring progress (or perhaps healthy competition) in neighboring states as well. In Oregon, Eugene submitted an exceptionally strong renewal application, reaffirming its status as a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community. In Idaho, the capital city of Boise has set an example with a standout application highlighting the city’s ongoing efforts to improve bicycling for all. This year, Boise and surrounding Ada County both applied for higher award levels and both successfully earned Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community status, demonstrating their shared commitment to creating safer, more accessible streets. Their efforts are strengthened by local partnerships with local groups such as Boise State University, a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly University; the Boise Bicycle Project, a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business; as well as public health agencies and many other partners, aligning transportation planning with broader community well-being goals.

Case Study: Looking Ahead to Platinum
Boise’s approach prioritizes safety, accessibility, and inclusive mobility. Both Boise and Ada County have adopted Vision Zero commitments and the Ada County Highway District (ACHD)’s Livable Streets Performance Measures ensure bike infrastructure is designed for people of all ages and abilities. The city’s Adaptive Recreation Program and Safe Routes to School initiatives expand cycling access, while Boise’s efforts to reduce speed limits have resulted in 76.81% of the city’s roads (over 1,100 miles) being set to 20 MPH or less. 

Community input via our public survey plays a crucial role in the BFC evaluation process, helping to shape recommendations for future improvements. In addition to their feedback report card, all applicants receive a full report of their public survey results and this local input also informs the recommendations provided to each community on the League’s BFC report card. One highlight from Boise’s BFC public survey is a rising demand for improved maintenance practices on bike facilities, emphasizing the need not just to build infrastructure but to keep it safe and accessible year-round. With a growing network of low-speed streets, protected bike lanes, and a vibrant car-free downtown corridor, Boise’s new Gold-level status sets a strong example for active transportation in the Mountain West — and with improved maintenance practices, a Platinum BFC award could be on the horizon.  

Along with Boise, this round features six other state capitals celebrating BFC status including renewing Bronze-level Nashville, Tennessee; newly Bronze-level Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Honolulu, Hawaii, which moved up to Silver-level status in this round after holding Bronze since 2014. Many of these communities show a commitment to improving active transportation as a way to make their residents happier, healthier, and better connected. In renewing Bronze-level Topeka, Kansas, “Ridership has visibly increased as a result of increased infrastructure and community investment in the active transportation culture.” Local leaders have forged local partnerships to pursue multi-modal transportation grants on behalf of the city and county, resulting in 28 new miles of on-street bike lanes and side paths being added to Topeka’s bikeways network since 2020.

Of the 91 communities being recognized in this announcement, 16 communities are moving up in award levels, 67 are renewing at the same level, and eight first-time applicants have earned Bronze on their first application. After all award status expirations and additions, there are now 460 recognized Bicycle Friendly Communities nationwide, with 76 million people living in a current BFC. From bustling cities to quiet countryside towns, these communities are leading the way in showing that investments in bicycling not only improve infrastructure but also the quality of life for everyone. As places across the nation step up to prioritize active transportation, the momentum for safer, more accessible biking at the local level continues to grow stronger.

To explore all the communities recognized in this round, see the full list of current and past Bicycle Friendly Communities here. Any community that would like to join, return to, or stay on the BFC list, can start their new or renewal application and submit by June 25, 2025 to be reviewed in the next round. 

Apply to BFC program 

About the Bicycle Friendly Community℠ Program

Bicycle Friendly Community awards reflect local leaders’ ongoing work to build better places to bike and evaluate those efforts as part of a national movement. Each of the five levels of the Bicycle Friendly University award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear path for cities and towns to continuously improve. Visit bikeleague.org/community to learn more about the BFC program.

About the League Of American Bicyclists

Since 1880, the League of American Bicyclists has been people-powered, with a goal to make bicycling safer and easier as a means of transportation and recreation. Today, the League continues to improve lives and strengthen communities through bicycling. We are more than 200,000 members and supporters strong with more than 1,000 state and local advocacy groups and bike clubs as well as thousands of businesses, universities, and communities together leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

The post 91 Places Earned Bicycle Friendly Community Awards in 2024 appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

Update: Duffy was confirmed by the Senate on January 28 and sworn in as the Secretary of Transportation the same day.

On January 16th, President Trump’s nominee for Transportation Secretary, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.) testified in front of the Senate Commerce Committee. The tone of his confirmation hearing was one of a friendly homecoming as Duffy served in Congress with 14 of the 28 Senators on the committee and had worked with many of them personally. He was introduced and recommended by both of his Wisconsin home state Senators Ron Johnson (Rep.) and Tammy Baldwin (Dem.). Senator Baldwin also sits on the Commerce Committee. 

In addition to being a former congressman, Duffy has also served as a lobbyist, financial adviser, Fox news host, reality TV star, and a lumberjack sportsman. You can read the biographical questionnaire he submitted to the Senate here and his prepared statement for the hearing, which he read verbatim, is here. While he does not come from a transportation background, that is not unusual for a Transportation Secretary nominee.  

Duffy’s Priorities

Duffy testified that his priority in the role would be safety. His wife was in a severe car crash when she was a young adult and he understands how crashes can change lives. Several Senators asked specifically about the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users to which Duffy committed to working with them to address the safety of “pedestrians, bikers, scooter-ers” and everyone using our roads. 

Questions from the Dais

• Senator Baldwin specifically asked about the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp bill which would make it easier for states and local governments to use highway safety dollars to build biking and walking safety infrastructure 
• Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawwaii) commented about the false dichotomy between cars and pedestrians saying you will be the “Secretary of Transportation” and not the “Secretary of Cars” 
• Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) discussed distracted and impaired driving, asking Duffy to reinvigorate efforts to end distracted driving and to push the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to move on technology to stop drunk drivers. (As a father of nine, Duffy noted he is specifically concerned with distracted driving of young people.)
• SenatorsTammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Baldwin brought up accessibility for people with disabilities. Duffy’s ninth child has Down’s syndrome and he discussed his understanding of the need for accessible transportation. 

There were a few other comments of note regarding bicycling and walking. Senator Klobuchar brought up her strong support for the Recreational Trails Program. Senator Bernie Moreno (Rep.), the new Senator from Ohio, made a point of saying almost all Americans drive cars and depend on cars. 

In addition to safety, senators raised questions about a number of issues we expect to hear more about in the reauthorization debate. Duffy’s answers were pretty nondescript, along the lines of “I support safety” or “I will look into that”. Questions touched on a number of themes: 

• Project Delivery: Members on both sides are concerned with how long projects take
• Autonomous Vehicles: there is bipartisan support for creating a regulatory framework 
• Electric Vehicles: both their lack of ‘paying in’ and that they cause more wear and tear to the roads because of their weight, and their benefit to the environment and air quality
• How to Pay for Transportation Infrastructure: Duffy is against raising the gas tax
• “Buy America” Policies: everyone is for it in general terms, but concerns for specific industries
• Disaster Relief: the need for fast deployment

Another topic, more hinted at than deeply discussed, was that of good governance. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Ranking Democrat on the committee, brought up her concerns over the policy recommendations in Project 2025, and asked Duffy if he would implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as written by Congress. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) also asked if Duffy would ensure NHTSA would prosecute Tesla as necessary despite its owner’s relationship with President Trump. Duffy committed to following the law, and he stated that President Trump would set the Administration’s policy. 

Overall, Duffy proved himself to be a strong nominee who was prepared and knowledgeable about the senators’ concerns. His commitment to safety ran throughout his testimony and he regularly emphasized that infrastructure projects are not partisan. 

The committee voted to support Duffy’s nomination 28-0 and his nomination is fast tracked for a quick vote on the House.

On the day of Duffy’s hearing, President Trump nominated Steven Bradbury for DOT’s Deputy Secretary (the number two position formerly held by Polly Trottenberg). Bradbury was the Chief Counsel at DOT under the first Trump Administration. Between Trump Administrations he was at the Heritage Foundation where he was an author of Project 2025. He should also get a hearing although those are rarely as high profile. 

Want to watch parts of the hearing? You can watch specific exchanges with Sean Duffy here. We’ve listed one or more of the topics each Senator asked about, however it’s not a comprehensive list of topics discussed. 

Time stamps

• 27:03 Duffy Testimony
• 33:20 Cruz, TX- project delivery, high speed rail, rural needs
• 39:30 Cantwell, WA- IIJA projects in progress, transit
• 45:20 Fischer, NE  – EVs, paying for transportation, FHWA guidance to states
• 51:05 Schatz, HI- Tribal lands, pedestrian safety
• 57:33 Moran, KA  –Rail and Aviation
• 1:03:06 Baldwin, WI- VRU safety, disabilities, Buy America
•  1:09:32 Sullivan, AK – Rural, project delivery, aviation
• 1:16:23 Klobuchar, MN- Distracted driving, rec trails, blocked rail
• 1:22:02 Blackburn, TN- auto industry, AVs, disaster relief
• 1:27:40 Kim, NJ – Gateway tunnel, transit
• 1:33:10 Budd, NC- Rural , disaster relief
• 1:38:18 Peters, MI- AVs, Auto industry
• 1:44:10 Curtis, UT- Olympics, rural
• 1:49:55 Luján, NM- drunk driving, NHTSA
• 1:56:25 Moreno, OH- auto industry
• 2:01:12 Markey, MA- EVs,CAFE standards, IIJA implementation
• 2:06:41 Capito, WV- Reauthorization help, technical assistance
• 2:12:35 Blunt Rochester, DE- transit,ports
• 2:18:45 Wicker, MI- Amtrak, Merchant marines
• 2:26:18 Duckworth, IL – ADA across modes
• 2:31:29 Sheehy, MT – aviation
• 2:36:31 Rosen, NV – Travel and tourism
• 2:42:39 Young, Indiana – AVs, travel/ tourism, changing trucking rules 
• 2:50:00 Second Round of Questions 
• 2:50:23 Cruz, TX- space travel
• 2:53:21 Cantwell, WA – project 2025
• 2:58:27 Schmitt, MO- Hiring practices
• 3:04:08 Closing Remarks 

The post Sean Duffy’s Nomination Sails Through Committee appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

We’re pleased to present an excerpt from Wes Marshall’s book, “Killed by a Traffic Engineer”, and we’re equally thrilled to be hosting Marshall as a keynote speaker at this year’s upcoming National Bike Summit. Learn more about the Summit and register on our Summit page!

From Killed by a Traffic Engineer by Wes Marshall. Copyright © 2024 Wesley Marshall.
Reproduced by permission of Island Press, Washington, D.C.

Many of my favorite movies and television shows don’t work if the kids can’t safely walk or bike around town on their own. The Goonies. Home Alone. The Sandlot. Stranger Things. Even E.T. falls into this category despite the kids living in the midst of suburban California construction sites. These movies and shows all work because some producer or director chose a filming location with streets good for walking or biking. Our problem? Most streets aren’t good for walking or biking—especially if the main characters are kids.

How do traffic engineers accommodate walking and biking? Well, the first problem is that word accommodate. We don’t design for these modes; we accommodate them by giving up whatever’s left over after we design for those in cars. If we don’t have any leftovers, we’ll throw up a “SHARE THE ROAD” sign or paint a sharrow in the street.1

When we do have leftovers, the basic idea is to separate pedestrians and bicyclists from the drivers and their vehicles. We can do so either temporally or spatially.

Temporal separation is as simple as a walk phase on a traffic signal. The idea is for pedestrians to use part of the street at one time and drivers to use it at a different time. This approach rarely ensures safety because our de facto design allows drivers to, for example, turn right on red or take a permissive left at the same time we tell pedestrians it’s their turn to cross.

Spatial separation used to mean building something like an expensive pedestrian overpass over a terrible street. Whenever I see one or hear somebody propose one, I take it as an admission of failure. In other words, we can’t possibly make this street safe enough for humans to cross on foot. Instead, we need to spend millions building a bridge that is extremely annoying for people to use. It’s like lipstick on a pug.2

These days, spatial separation might mean protected bike facilities. In the words of our old pal Paul Hoffman on the first page of his 1939 book, protected bike facilities offer “a degree of safety that the white lines alone could never guarantee.”

Paul wasn’t talking about protected bike lanes, though. He was trying to bolster his argument for turning our streets into highways. Yet the same thinking applies here.

All protected bike lanes aren’t created equal, either. A flimsy plastic post isn’t going to protect anyone like a concrete barrier or steel bollard could. But the reason a plastic post isn’t good enough is because our streets aren’t good enough. It’s reasonably feasible to design a street that calms drivers down to a speed where we don’t need bike lanes or even sidewalks to safely walk and bike. It’s just not reasonably likely.

It wouldn’t be hard to argue that the humble sidewalk is the most fundamental of all transportation infrastructure. Yet when you ask most city traffic engineers about their sidewalks, they put their hands up as if they are trying to get away with an obvious foul in an NBA game.

My student Peyton Gibson interviewed traffic engineers from 16 different cities about their roadway asset management processes. Every city tracked its roadways and did so on a regular basis with hired consultants who drive the entire network using a vehicle mounted with high-tech sensors that collect high-quality, geo-located data.

We then asked the same questions about sidewalks. The most common response was a frustrated sigh and a warning that “it’s complicated.”

Five cities had no data whatsoever on their sidewalks. Ten cities knew where sidewalks existed but had no information on basics such as width. Only one city was collecting data in a similar ballpark to their roadway data.

Got a pothole? One city fixes 90 percent of them within 24 hours. Most cities do so within 48 hours. The longest was less than five days.

But if your sidewalk is falling apart, good luck getting the city to help. In fact, most cities will turn around and tell you to fix it yourself.

For whatever reason, “the fundamental value of sidewalks and the corresponding need to provide a safe walking path” are “often forgotten or deferred” and “viewed more as a luxury.” This 1978 Traffic Quarterly paper goes on to say, “While it is apparent that sidewalks serve an essential function, it is equally apparent that in many areas sidewalks are missing, discontinuous, or unsuitable for pedestrian use.”

That wasn’t news. Even AAA, in 1958, said that “adequate sidewalks are another responsibility of engineers.”

You could argue that AAA promoting sidewalks was more about getting the pedestrians off the street and out of the way. Whatever their motivation, it’s better than what the Urban Land Institute said at the time. Their 1954 Community Builders Handbook worries that when it comes to the safety of kids, sidewalks may do more harm than good: “It has been hinted that sidewalks actually tend to encourage playing in the street rather than in off-street areas such as rear yards or a playground.”

When asked for evidence, the director of the Traffic Operations Division of the National Safety Council admits that we just don’t know: “Unfortunately there is no good accident information available which would demonstrate the relationship between child safety in areas with sidewalks and without sidewalks.”

Why don’t we know? Well, we don’t collect the sidewalk or exposure data needed to answer such basic questions.3 That was true when said in 1957, and it’s true today.

The bigger issue is that this sort of thinking misses the point. Even if we had the data and found that not having sidewalks or bike facilities helped confine kids to their backyards and led to better road safety, is that really what we are looking for? Of course not.

In his book Bicycle Diaries, David Byrne of the Talking Heads says, “Being in a car may feel safer, but when everyone drives it actually makes a less safe city.” David Byrne is talking about crime—along the lines of Jane Jacobs’s eyes-on-the-street concept—but the same is true about road safety. Put everyone in a car, and your city isn’t going to be safe. But build the sort of infrastructure that gets people out walking and biking, and your city is going to be safer.

This result goes against the grain of conventional traffic engineering thinking. On average, you are about 20 times more likely to die when walking a mile than driving a mile. Bike a mile? That’s maybe 10 times more dangerous than a mile in a car. But guess what happens in cities with lots of people walking or biking? They end up as our safest cities, far safer than conventional cities where everyone is conventionally driving.

Safety isn’t the only benefit.

My cholesterol level was at 222 when my doctor said it was time for medication. When I asked what I could do exercise-wise instead, the answer was getting my heart rate up with cardio for at least 20 straight minutes every day. I was active before, but not quite like that. I figured that biking to work—about a half hour each way—would do the trick. Six months later, my cholesterol level was at 149.

It’s hard to say what exercise does for mental health, but the research suggests good things.

How much money does biking to work save me compared to driving and paying to park? It adds up over time.

It saves me time as well. The last time I checked, the average commuter in the Denver region spends about 40 hours each year stuck in rush-hour traffic. I spend zero.4

If I drove to work, I’d have to spend time looking for a parking space, paying to park, and then walking from one of the campus parking garages to my office. Instead, I park my bike in my office.

And whenever I couldn’t figure out how the puzzle pieces of this book fit together, they came together on those bike rides. I’ve also heard that walking and biking are good for the planet. But guess what? Most people aren’t going to risk their lives on dangerous streets out of the goodness of their environmental heart. It doesn’t matter if walking and biking save money, time, our health, and the planet if you feel like you are going to die the whole time.

So my second Kondo category is simple: focus on making your streets and intersections safe for walking and biking. We’ve already done so in and around where kids go; now do so for the rest of your city.

But how?

I could go through all the tools in the traffic engineering toolboxes. Some are simple, like the all-pedestrian phase Barnes Dance. Others get more complicated, like some of the protected bike inter- section designs. My favorite interventions tend to focus on slowing drivers down while also prioritizing those walking and biking. Australia’s wombat crossing, for instance, places a sometimes-colorful zebra crossing on top of a wide, raised speed hump. Even when there are no pedestrians around, the wombat humps slow drivers down to 20 or 25 mph.

Suffice it to say there are a lot of good—and bad—designs out there. But before focusing on those, let’s change our fundamental design approach.

Many safe street groups use an upside-down triangle diagram with a pedestrian icon at the top and a car icon at the bottom. In between, you see bikes, scooters, buses, and trains closer to the top with trucks and freight closer to the bottom. The idea is that safe street efforts, including Vision Zero, should prioritize the needs of the pedestrian first and those of cars last.

This doesn’t stop traffic engineers from doing what we always do: thoroughly designing for cars, leaving those walking and biking with the leftovers.

But what if we followed that mantra of the upside-down prioritization triangle and actually designed for pedestrians first? Instead of starting at the centerline of the street—as traffic engineers are taught—we design from the outside in. Start at the edges and figure out how much space the pedestrians need. Then do the same for bicyclists. And then transit. Whatever’s left over goes to drivers.

With this reprioritization, the de facto intersection designs could change as well. Making a right turn on red would be prohibited unless a traffic engineer signs off on a variance. The same goes for protected pedestrian signals; allowing permissive left turns becomes the exception, not the norm.

Make the intersections safe to cross and guess what? Pedestrians opt to use them instead of opting for jaywalking and giving us so-called human error to blame.

In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers asked me to give a presentation about the future of transportation. Going into that event, it was clear that the other two guys in my session were going to talk all about our amazing, electric, autonomous, high-tech future.

I rained on their parade. Why? Well, the future they laid out isn’t as simple as they were saying it was. Even if we get technology to work. Even if it works in all kinds of weather. Even if it does so without having to reboot at inopportune times. Even if we get all that right, we still need everyone on board. We don’t get all the benefits we’ve been promised—including many of the safety ones—without every car on the road being autonomous.

But guess what? People love driving. There’s a reason why The Fast and the Furious movie franchise made billions of dollars. While driving is not exactly a constitutional right, trying to force people to use autonomous vehicles—or even electric vehicles—might end up mirroring the US gun debate.

The real future of transportation isn’t that different than it was 20 or 200 years ago. That’s why some of our simplest streets and cities have worked for hundreds of years and continue to do so. The real future of transportation will always come back to the fundamentals of walking and biking.

So let’s start there and build in. Make your city safe for walking and rolling—and for kids to do so—and it will be safer for everyone.5 Let drivers and autonomous vehicles adapt to that future, not the other way around.

Until then, I have a hard time getting excited about this amazing, electric, autonomous, high-tech transportation future of ours while we live in a world where we can’t even get the sidewalks right. If a kid can’t safely sell lemonade on the sidewalk in front of where they live, we’re doing something wrong.

Let’s stop working harder on getting people to Mars and instead work harder on helping them cross the street. I think E.T. would agree.

1. As mentioned earlier in the book, a sharrow is the common name for a shared-lane bike marking that we paint in the vehicle lane to remind drivers that bicyclists have the right to exist in the street. ︎
2. I meant to write “pig,” but I liked my typo and kept it. ︎
3. In the same report, the American Society of Planning Officials (precursor to the American Planning Association) said the research doesn’t matter because “sidewalks, like babies and cars, are here to stay.” ︎
4. The only exception was the Denver Broncos’ Superbowl parade. As a New England Patriots fan, I wanted no part of that nonsense and biking around it was a nightmare. ︎
5. Jeff Speck’s Walkable City books are a great resource for making that happen. It is interesting to note (at least to me) that my stepfather, Richard Bartley, was Jeff’s high school track coach. Once we figured out this connection, Jeff spoke so highly of him and told me that my stepfather instilled a confidence in him that he never knew he had. My stepfather recently passed away as I was finishing up this book. ︎

Don’t miss your chance to hear Wes Marshall live at the 2025 National Bike Summit! Join us at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library from March 11-13, 2025, as he takes the stage as a keynote speaker.

Get your tickets today! »

The post ‘Where the Sidewalk Begins’: an excerpt from Wes Marshall’s Killed By A Traffic Engineer appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

Winter biking isn’t just about toughing it out in the cold—it’s about finding those little moments of joy that make it all worthwhile. From the quiet beauty of snow-covered trails to the camaraderie of seeing another rider braving the elements, winter biking has its own kind of magic. For some, it’s the challenge; for others, it’s the sense of adventure or the reward of warming up afterward. 

We asked folks in our network — and our own team — what does winter bike joy mean to you? Here’s what they had to say:

Gearing Up for Winter Joy

For many riders, finding joy in winter biking is all about preparation. Waterproof (and windproof) layers, studded tires, and bright lights are key for navigating through heavy “mashed potato” snow, icy trails, and dwindling daylight. “[I stay] riding year round, thanks to shoe covers, glove over shell, vented windbreaker, balaclava, and oversize helmet with most vents covered — plus the usual layers and dynamo light power,” shared Brian from northern California. 

With the right gear, what could potentially be a freezing cold, uncomfortable ride turns into a chance to feel more connected to the world around you. As another rider put it, “Commuting in winter means you gain special insight into the rhythm of the seasons in a way you can’t feel from behind the windshield of a car. From noticing how the light changes to understanding local weather better, it can be a really special experience.”

Tracks in the Snow: Stories Left Behind Photo by Doug Gordon, annotations by Transportation Alternatives.

Snow also grants the unique opportunity to collect data by observing tracks left behind by passersby — vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and critters alike. Urbanist nerds like yours truly often celebrate “sneckdown season,” AKA the time of the year when snowy imprints of tire tracks call attention to how much roadway space isn’t being used by cars. This gives us a joyful opportunity to reimagine what else could fill that space, like bike lanes, sidewalks, benches, or any number of things that would improve the experience of people walking, biking, and rolling.

Seeing where snow is (and isn’t) also tells you a lot about how communities prioritize different modes of travel. Some towns, like my own, tend to focus on plowing highways, speedy arterial roads, and parking lots so vehicles don’t slip and slide as they zip past humble pedestrians stomping through half-frozen sidewalk slush. Other areas, like the Gold Bicycle Friendly Community of Minneapolis, Minnesota, demonstrate their investment into active transportation by regularly plowing bike lanes so that cyclists can safely get around even on the snowiest days. 

“Thanks to Minneapolis’ growing network of protected and plowed bike lanes, our family can continue to safely bike for transportation through our neighborhood and city in the winter,” shared Laura Mitchell, Board President of Our Streets and certified League Cycling Advocate. “For us, winter bike joy is about traveling in a way that allows us to notice and appreciate the changes of the season. Our kids love to listen to the sounds the snow and ice make under our studded tires, feel the snowflakes falling on our faces and see the tracks in the snow around us – imagining what person/vehicle/animal created the trail before we got there.”

Winter Biking as Resilience

Wherever you’re riding, winter biking can feel like an act of resilience and defiance. “It’s like… despite how cold it is and all these folks in their warm, toasty cars with seat heaters on, we’re still out here pedaling away and somehow having a good time doing it!” said one rider.  Another cyclist in our network offered the perspective of someone less charmed by winter conditions: “I never could quite understand why Northern Europe & Scandinavia utilize the bike so much when the weather sucks most of the year. Some kind of discipline!” 

Whether you enjoy the ride or see it more as “type two fun,” winter biking can remind us of our strength and determination in the face of challenges like icy roads and bitter winds. Plus, there’s a hidden bonus: trails are less crowded, offering peace and quiet along with a sense of solidarity with the few who venture out. “There’s a camaraderie in seeing other people braving the challenging weather,” shared a rider from Washington, D.C. 

Cool Weather, Warm Rides

Half the country might not even experience much snow and ice, making winter the perfect time to ride in warmer climates. Personally, I grew up in the mild winters of Alabama where cooler months brought much-needed relief from the heavy summer heat. For a lot of folks in the Southern U.S., winter is the optimal season for getting out there and exploring by bike.

www.pedbikeimages.org / Jane Healy

Again, the key is knowing how to layer. As the old saying goes, there’s really “no bad weather, just bad clothing.” I’ve often heard the advice that you should start your rides feeling a little bit chilly, so you’ll be able to warm up without getting drenched in sweat by the end of the ride. The heat of cycling can be an enticing factor in itself — Alison, the League’s Education Director says, “What got me on my bike this cold winter morning was the thought of being warm!” And for e-bike users? Yes, batteries do drain faster in the cold, but the experience still brings joy and gets your blood pumping even if you don’t get as warm as you might on a traditional acoustic bike. Just don’t forget to bring your e-bike inside if it’s too cold — a temperature-controlled environment is ideal for longer battery life.

Long and Short-Term Rewards

For some, winter bike joy is all about looking forward to warmer days. “I love planning trips for next summer during the winter,” says Ally, the League’s Graphic Designer based in frosty Montana. Browsing cool gear and dreaming of spring can keep spirits high even on the coldest days. Our Education Coordinator Riley kept it real by saying short trips are their favorite way to find bike joy in Philadelphia winters: “Not biking anywhere more than 20 minutes away feels manageable and keeps it fun.”

And of course, there’s the immediate reward waiting at the end of every winter ride: warming up indoors with a steaming mug of hot chocolate or apple cider!

A cyclist stops at Onyx Coffee Lab, a Bronze BFB in Bentonville, Arkansas

Winter biking isn’t everyone’s cup of tea—some riders, myself included, admit they’re still trying to find their winter bike joy—but for those who embrace it, the season offers a unique kind of magic. Whether you’re pedaling through snowbanks, cruising quieter trails, or just bundling up for a quick errand, winter biking proves that joy doesn’t take a season off.

What does winter bike joy mean to you? Share your stories and photos with us by writing to bikeleague@submit.media — let’s celebrate the magic of riding in all seasons!

The post Finding Joy in Winter Biking: Stories and Reflections appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting is one of the largest transportation conferences in the United States, perhaps in the world. This year was its 104th meeting and it regularly brings together researchers, agency leaders, policymakers, consultants, and others in the transportation industry for packed agendas in the cold of winter. Here are some of my takeaways from this year’s event.

1. The show goes on, despite snow

TRB started on Sunday. Over Sunday night and into Monday, the DC area got between 5-7 inches of snow. Despite this snow event, TRB went on mostly without major disruptions thanks to the resiliency of DC’s transportation system. The DC metro, sidewalks mostly cleared by the DowntownDC Business Improvement District, and many attendees staying at nearby hotels allowed the conference to continue and for many of the nearby businesses to be open for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and receptions. While not all attendees may have noticed, a robust multimodal transportation system was key to a successful event.

 Snow-covered Lime bike in downtown DC

2. What’s next for Vision Zero?

It was a theme of several sessions and research efforts that the United States was a decade into adopting the idea that traffic deaths are preventable and zero traffic deaths is the only acceptable moral goal for our transportation system. Key milestones in the Vision Zero movement, such as the Toward Zero Deaths National Strategy and New York City adopting Vision Zero, happened in 2014. But, as one researcher remarked “it’s beginning to look ridiculous” that the United States has nearly 10,000 more annual traffic deaths in recent years compared to 2014. There was a sense that safety professionals have made significant progress in defining Vision Zero within agencies, but that the broader transportation community and general public are still largely unaware of how a Vision Zero approach differs from business as usual. Moving from buzzwords and concepts to the complicated process of unwinding practices that are long-standing but at odds with a Vision Zero approach, such as reliance on driver speeds for speed limit setting, is the difficult way forward.

3. Massive demand and need for active transportation

On Monday morning of TRB, the Federal Highway Administration announced the first round of grants under the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP). ATIIP was conceived by the Rails to Trails Conservancy as a way to fund networks, not just individual projects, and was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but did not receive funding in that bill. At the 2022 National Bike Summit, the League made funding ATIIP one of our “asks” and hundreds of attendees met with their representatives – ultimately resulting in $45 million being allocated to the program. In March 2024, an initial call for proposals resulted in 352 applications requesting more than $1.8 billion in funding, and in Monday’s announcement 14 projects received $44.5 million in funding. To put that in perspective, that is less than 4 percent of applications and less than 2.5 percent of costs, making the ATIIP more selective than universities like Stanford, Yale, and MIT. The demand for active transportation infrastructure is incredible and hopefully this incredible demand will lead to Congress allocating more funding to ATIIP in the future.

4. Planning in the midst of uncertainty

With a new administration weeks away, there was a lot of uncertainty about the future at TRB. Nevertheless, TRB served as the launch pad for strategic plans, new guidance, and many other initiatives from researchers and organizations.

Most notable for bicycle infrastructure was the launch of the third edition of the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ Urban Bikeway Design Guide. Currently available for pre-order for $55, this Guide delves into not just designing individual bikeways, but designing bike networks to deliver safe and accessible infrastructure for more people who use bikes. I got to take a look at it and you can see some of my impressions on Bluesky.

Other initiatives that caught my attention were the ITE Safety Roadmap and Action Plan and the continued roll-out of IIHS’s 30×30 initiative to reduce roadway fatalities 30% by 2030. In committee meetings, it was also obvious that TRB was very focused on ensuring that its committees had strong strategic plans so that research would lead to improvements in practice, perhaps in response to reports like TRB’s “Tackling the Road Safety Crisis: Saving Lives Through Research and Action” produced last year

5. Old-school lobbying

The halls of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and adjoining Marriott Marquis are vast, and attending TRB itself is only part of what makes the event such a perennial feature of the transportation industry. Old-school lobbying, in the sense of hanging out in the lobby and talking to people who have come from all over to be there, is very much a part of the event. Organizations like the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices meet outside of TRB, leveraging its ability to draw people together and make meetings easier. While there were many great conversations at TRB, a special highlight was the FIA Foundation’s reception that brought together an incredible group of people leading on traffic safety issues. The ability to get value from TRB without actually attending it is one of its great assets.

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