| What
better way to jump-start a fledgling interest in bicycle
advocacy than to attend the National Bicycle Summit
in Washington, D.C. - hang out with over 400 expert
cycling advocates, attend educational seminars all
day and lobby Congress on behalf of cyclists nationwide?
So I thought when I considered going, and I was not
disappointed. Just steps away from the White House,
The Capitol, the monuments and museums, Washington
is an awesome place. But if you want to be a tourist,
go some other time; the schedule for March 5-7 was
intense.
I
had never met anyone from the Texas Bicycle Coalition,
but Robin Stallings, TBC legislative director, found
me in the hotel lobby early the first day of the
conference. The second person I met was Linda Armstrong
Kelly, mother of Lance; then Gayle Cummins, TBC
Executive Director; and Jeanne Patterson, Chair
of the TBC board. Later we were joined by Preston
Tyree, Education Director; Hill Abel, owner of Bicycle
Sports Shop in Austin; and Bill Fry, President and
CEO of Bell Sports.
Why
do I mention all these people? Because this was
a great team! Everyone in this group really contributed
something solid to the intense lobbying effort we
put in all day Thursday on Capitol Hill. Also, this
group was somewhat representative of the conference
attendees as a whole. Besides state and local advocacy
groups and bike industry representatives, many Department
of Transportation staff and other experts at the
state and national levels were present.
One
thing I learned immediately at the summit is that
TBC is nationally admired and respected because
of its accomplishments. I'm really proud of what
we accomplished in Congress on Thursday. Due to
careful planning, we were thoroughly briefed on
the bicycling issues and the background and special
interests of each Senator and Congressman before
we visited them. Between the eight of us from Texas,
we visited both Texas Senators and 29 Congressional
offices, and wrote follow-up thank you notes to
each one. The great reception we received was exciting.
Bicycling
is really a great issue to lobby for because almost
everyone bicycles or has in the past - at least
a little - and everyone thinks what we are doing
is worthwhile. Besides that, we aren't paid lobbyists,
but real people visiting our elected officials.
This is what democracy is all about. What a great
country!
One
more thing I have to mention, that was an unexpected
treat: Greg LeMond showed up at the Congressional
reception. I'm definitely not a groupie, but I couldn't
think of any celebrity I'd rather have met. If you
ever get a chance to go to a National Bike Summit
yourself, I promise you it's worth the trip.
TBC
NOTE: The League of American Bicyclists organizes
the National Bike Summit. In 2003, participants
visited more than 300 House offices and 80 Senators.
It is our hope that this momentum will result in
what we are all working for: a bicycle-friendly
America.
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