To all Ohio bicyclists who want to make a difference for bicycling in
Ohio:

Our country's bicycle community comes together ever year at the
National Bike Summit.

The Summit is organized by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) and
is supported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the U.S.
Department of Transportation, the Bikes Belong Coalition (bike industry
and bike retailers), the Thunderhead Alliance (coalition of state,
regional, and local advocacy organizations), the National Bicycle
Dealers Association (NBDA), the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information
Center, the National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW), the
Adventure Cycling Association, Interbike, the Association of Pedestrian
and Bicycle Professionals (apbp), the International Mountain Bicycling
Association (IMBA), and America Bikes (coalition of all major national
biking organizations to strengthen federal transportation bill).
Everybody will be there. Will you?

Since 2001, the Summit has brought together thousands of bicyclists;
industry leaders; transportation, health and environmental
professionals; and local, state and federal officials; all of whom are
concerned with the future of bicycling. Its relevance and success have
produced numerous educational, programming and policy success stories
at all levels of government.

The Summit fills three days in Washington, D.C. For a detailed schedule
go to the LAB website at:
http://www.bikeleague.org/events/summit05.html. The Summit is held at
the beautiful Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
just a mile down Pennsylvania Avenue from Capitol Hill. At every break
you can fill yourself up with wonderful juices, cookies, pastries, and
assorted snacks and finger food.

The first day of the Summit is devoted to a welcome from well-known
champions of bicycling and break-out sessions on all the cutting-edge
topics: routine accommodation/Complete Streets; Safe Routes to School;
Fair Share for Safety; federal funding programs like Transportation
Enhancements/CMAQ/STP/NHS/Interstate and Bridge Funds; Recreational
Trails Program; and on and on. There are so many great presentations
you will find yourself torn over which ones to go to and which ones to
miss. Many breakout sessions are presented by and for bicycle industry
people and bicycle dealers.

The second day is devoted to making the rounds of Capitol Hill to visit
all our Senators and House Members. We need to fill the offices of our
Congresspeople with bike dealers, bike club leaders, bike/ped planners,
bike trail builders, and just everyday bicyclists who show their
passion for bicycling to come to the Summit and tell their Senators and
House Members how important the bicycling provisions of the federal
transportation bill are here in Ohio.

The third day of the Summit wraps up with more invaluable breakout
sessions and the Congressional Bike Ride around historic Washington,
D.C. beginning at the steps of the Capitol.

Needless to say, there are countless opportunities to meet and get to
know bicycling "advocates" from all around the world, the country, and
Ohio at breakfasts, snack breaks, luncheons, dinners, and receptions
all overflowing with incredible food and drink.

If only a half dozen of us show up from Ohio again this year our
Congresspeople may begin to think that there aren't really enough of us
concerned enough about bicycling to worry about. Don't let that happen.
Make a difference. Go to the Summit.

Myself and others working with me will do everything we can do to help
you get to the Summit. Hawley is offering Summit scholarships to bike
dealers going to their first Summit. We can coordinate carpools,
homestays, shared hotel rooms. We will be there at the Summit to help
you enjoy all the presentations, luncheons, receptions, and to make
sure your voice is heard in the offices of our Senators and House
Members.

There will never be a more important and more exciting Summit. Be there.


John


John Gideon
President
Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition
Post Office Box 2003
Columbus, Ohio 43216-2003
Voice: (614) 430-3377
Email: jgideon@...
Web: www.cobac.org