America Bikes' "Haikus to Congress" campaign

Poetic cyclists are invited to sharpen their pencils for the "Haikus to Congress" contest, sponsored by America Bikes. "While haikus aren't a traditional advocacy tool, they capture the magic of bicycling." says Martha Roskowski, campaign manager for America Bikes. "We're using every means available to convince Congress to include strong provisions for bicycling in the 2003 federal transportation bill. While we won't be wandering the Halls of Congress spouting Haikus, we may find the perfect moment for one."

Entrants are invited to submit Haikus on any of America Bikes priorities: Safe Routes to School, trails and pathways, or safe roads for all users. Haikus contain three unrhymed lines of five, seven and five syllables. Haikus can be submitted at www.americabikes.org until midnight on January 31st.

Haikus will be judged by an assemblage of literary geniuses hand selected from the bicycle community for their in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Haiku. The winner will receive rain gear, courtesy of Burley Design Cooperative, designed to shed water and to be lightweight, comfortable and stylish.

America Bikes is inspiring more people to ride bicycles by creating a safe, efficient, and well connected transportation system for bicycling and walking as an integral part of healthy communities. America Bikes is a coalition of eight major national bicycling organizations focused on the reauthorization of TEA-21 in 2003.

In additional to submitting Haikus, America Bikes encourages businesses, organizations and individuals to endorse the America Bikes agenda and learn other ways to get involved by visiting www.americabikes.org.

Susan Byrne Klasmeier
Program Manager
America Bikes
202.833.8080
susan@americabikes.org