|
previous | next
 |
| Pictured from left: Greg Nesypor (Trek Bicycle
Store), Randy Neufeld, Sherry Daun, Stan Day (SRAM), Congressman
Daniel Lipinski, Brian Miller (Bicycles Etc.) and Rob Cappucci
(SRAM) . |
Bike Summit bolsters advocacy in Chicagoland
By Sherry Daun
Our advocacy efforts for the region made significant steps
at the National Bike Summit last month in Washington, D.C. as we
met with our peers and elected officials.
We swarmed Capitol Hill. Nearly every Illinois congressional representatives
met with us, including Rep. Lipinski, whose office had a bike.
We encouraged them to support the federal Complete Streets Act of
2008 (S. 2686) and a bill that would compel congress to incorporate
the benefits of bicycling into a national strategy (H.CON.RES. 305).
Thanks to our conversations, these elected officials are now aware
of the ongoing bicycle and pedestrian projects in their districts.
The Bike Summit also offered a chance to meet with other bike and
pedestrian advocacy leaders to exchange ideas that will bolster
each others’ work. From grassroots organizations to facility
funding, Bike Summit seminars invigorated us.
Joining us from Illinois were members of the bicycle industry, including
representatives from SRAM, Trek, Turin, Bicycles, Etc. and the League
of Illinois Bicyclists.
By the end of the Bike Summit, we were beat from walking the halls
of Congress, but the welcoming site of pedicabs transporting passengers
on Capitol Hill was uplifting. It had been an important day for
bicycle advocacy.
Sherry Daun is the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Director
of Advocacy and Programs.
|
