The new Transportation Bill, H.R. 3 SAFETEA-LU, almost doubles the amount available for bicyclists and pedestrians from the previous bill, guaranteeing at least $3 billion will be spent on bicycle programs through 2009. The bill creates a new Safe Routes to School program, with $612 million allocated for the program over the next 5 years. To learn more about the bill, and for updated analysis, visit www.bikeleague.org.

The deadline to apply for bicycle friendly community status is August 19. You have just over a month to complete the application and get support from your mayor and city council. This program, which is supported by generous grants from Bikes Belong, evaluates communities on five criteria. League reviewers and local advocates extensively analyze a community?s efforts in education, enforcement, engineering, encouragement, and evaluation. To find out more about the program, or to begin the application process, click here.

The Outdoor Industry Foundation has published its 2004 Outdoor Recreation Participation in the United States with 2004 statistics, and they found that 79.1 million Americans rode a bike on a paved road in 2004, as compared with 77.8 million in 2003. To see more cycling statistics, read the bike section of the study here.

A new Web site, www.completethestreets.org, was launched to offer advocates, volunteers and industry leaders information on how to create complete streets across America. The site includes a chart of existing policies, model language for how to get to Complete Streets, and early success stories. A diverse coalition makes up Complete the Streets -- the participants are listed here. For other site resources, click here.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will be featured on the David Letterman show tonight on CBS. For schedule and broadcast information, click here.

On the Colorado legislative front, Colorado House Bill 1148 clarified the state?s toll road rules and in doing so specifically added that bikeways and sidewalks are eligible for funding from collected tolls. The change is an improvement but is still far from a complete streets policy. Bicycle facilities should be included in every project unless exceptional reasons justify their exclusion. Even with this new change, citizens have to work to get bikes included in a project. Bicycle Colorado is leading efforts to get complete streets in Colorado. For general information, visit www.completethestreets.org.

It's official! The N.C. House and Senate have approved and the governor has signed the bill -- North Carolina now has a Share the Road license plate. $20 from each plate will go to NC-DOT's Bicycle and Pedestrian Division. In order for the DMV to produce the plates, 300 people need to order them. Sign up today!

The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals will be electing three board members this September. If you know of someone (including yourself) who is worthy of and eager to serve, please submit a candidate statement. The qualifications for the Board are two-fold:  (1) be a member in good standing (dues paid), and (2) have a minimum experience level of two years working in the public, private or nonprofit sector on projects, initiatives or campaigns related to the purpose of the association as stated in the bylaws. Candidate statements are due August 18, 2005 to Judy Paul, Managing Director, APBP, 957 Route 33, Suite 307, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690, 609.581.8244 (fax) or email to apbp@.... It should be no more than four paragraphs and should: summarize your professional qualifications in the world of pedestrian and bicycle issues, describe what specific talents you would bring to the Board, and articulate a vision for the future of APBP.

Becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) is a great way to help cyclists in your community. Certified instructors can teach BikeEd classes to children and adults. If you are an experienced cyclist and League member who has completed Road I, you can apply to become an instructor. Instructors are trained at Seminars held throughout the year. Click here to see seminars scheduled for the coming months, including ones in Tampa, Fla. and San Luis Obispo, Calif. If you have any questions, contact Bill Nesper at the League or the site coordinator for the seminar you are interested in attending.

The board of directors of the U.B. Bicycling Hall of Fame has announced the inductees for the class of 2005. Selections are made based on review of nominations accepted from the national cycling community and the general public. The inductees are: William Spencer, veteran pre-1945 competitors category; Oliver ?Butch? Martin, modern 1945 - 1975 competitors category; Ron Skarin, modern post - 1975 competitors category; Greg Hill, BMX category; Juliana Furtado, mountain bike category; Michael Aisner, contributors category; and Pierre Lallement (1843-1891), contributors category.