National Bike Summit 2009--Day 2: Legislation moving

Day 2 of the National Bike Summit is going very, very well.

The most remarkable thing for me is the amount of coalition building we are seeing over the past few years--now really come to bear fruit.

We seen the same type of thing happen on our local scene here in Missouri: It's not just the bicyclists any more--its the public health advocates, people who care about health and the environment, transportation advocates and planners, groups like the AARP and the National Association of Realtors.

All these see the benefits of creating more liveable communities--and making communities safer and more inviting for bicycling and walking is a huge part of that.

Just as we saw after Missouri's Bicycle Day at the Capitol--when dozens (or hundreds in the case of the National Bike Summit) of ordinary citizens like you take the time to talk with their elected representatives, it make an extraordinary difference.

After Bicycle Dat at the Capitol we had no less than 8 amazingly good things happen--new bills introduced, hearings on Complete Streets and the "Share the Road" license plate, and now today a hearing on the Safe Streets bill in the Missouri House.

We NEVER saw that kind of action in the days before we had Bicycle Day. When citizens like you visit with the legislators, it not only builds new support but it heartens and energizes our existing supporters.

The same thing is happening in Washington, DC, today--Complete Streets bill as being introduced and given bill numbers even as I type. Another interesting new idea called "Clean-T" has been introduced as a bill.

All this is happening because about 580 bicycle and pedestrian advocates from across the country are descending on congressional offices tomorrow for visits.

It's really just amazing to see the momentum that has built up over the past several years--now many of these bills have a real chance of moving forward.

And when they do move forward it has the chance to fundamentally change the landscape for transportation here in America.