In only its second year, nearly 600 advocates, industry members, and citizens gathered in Madison for the Second Annual Wisconsin Bike Summit put on by the Bike Federation of Wisconsin.  Over the course of two days (April 21-22), attendees participated in breakout sessions, seminars, round table discussions, and meetings with their local and state government representatives.

The event was highlighted by the evening Plenary Session, which featured guest speakers Andy Clarke, President of league of American Bicyclists, Amanda White, Director of the Wisconsin Bike Fed, Tim Blumenthal, Executive Director of Bikes Belong, and John Burke, President of Trek Bicycle Corporation.

A nearly full house for the Plenary Session at the Summit

The night was a success despite the fact that the original Keynote speaker, Andreas Rohl, the Bike Coordinator for the City of Copenhagen, inability to attend due to flight cancellations from the Icelandic volcano.  Additionally Madison’s Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and five other panelist where stuck in Amsterdam and unable to present. The mayor was leading a group of 20 Madison area advocates visiting and researching best-in-class cycling cities across Netherlands and Germany.  This trip was the kickoff for Madison’s new goal: to achieve 20% bicycle mode-share transportation by the year 2020.  Visit the blog website at 20-by-2020.com to see details and lessons learned from their trip, and to see how Madison is going to accomplish this lofty but attainable goal.

And there is a great chance this goal will be attained.  Last year at the summit this same group accomplished great things.   On lobby in 2009, the Wisconsin Advocactes asked for three things. 1) “Complete Streets” legislation, 2) a Fair share of funding and 3) pass Anti-Dooring legislation.  Within three months of the summit all three asks were signed into legislation. It is proof that advocacy does work.

While the Wisconsin Bike Summit and all of its accomplishments are specific to Wisconsin, everything they’ve done and achieved is very applicable to your city and state.  John Burke always says that “Government is of the people, by the people, for the people… who show up.”  If you just show up, you will begin to make a difference.

To start, visit peopleforbikes.org and sign the pledge.  Then have everyone you know who cares about cycling also sign the pledge, to help gather over one million names of support for cycling.  There is so much momentum in cycling advocacy happening right now, with support from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, bikesbelong.org, bikeleague.org, imba.com, and many other organizations.  As a member of the cycling industry, make sure you are doing everything you can to move cycling forward.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood named the National Bike Summit as a catalyst for his recent proclamation that declared an end to “favoring motorized transportation at the expense of the nonmotorized.” Lahood’s initial statements came following the 2010 National Bike Summit, and outlined new DOT plans for livable and sustainable communities. LaHood specifically stated that “bicycling and walking should be given the same consideration as motorized transport in state and local transit projects.” This is clear proof that the voices of America’s cycling advocates are not falling upon deaf government ears, and that a bicycle friendly America is an obtainable goal.

Trek would like to extend an enormous thank you to the 108 Trek Retailers who showed up at the 2010 National Bike Summit, as well as the League of American Bicyclists for organizing the event. Your efforts are going noticed, and your support is greatly appreciated.
Read the New York Times article and become a fan of Ray LaHood on Facebook
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