National Bike Summit Rides into D.C.

Public Bike System showed off their bike sharing models. Left to right: Minneapolis' Nice Ride, Melbourne Bike Share and London's Barclays Cycle Hire. 

The 2011 National Bike Summit recently wrapped up. It was a week filled with lobbying Congress on the importance of creating livable communities with walking and bicycling infrastructure investments. Of course, one of the biggest champions of biking in this country is current Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. He received another rousing ovation this year (last year he memorably stood up on a table to give an impassioned defense of bicycling) as he spoke about the need to invest more in bicycling.

Here is the video of LaHood's speech to the National Bike Summit at the Grand Hyatt at Metro Center:



I had the chance to stop by and check out some of the organizations represented at the summit. Here are links to their websites.

My Bike Law -- promotes and protects rights of bicyclists.

League of American Bicyclists -- works for a bicycle-friendly America.

People for Bikes -- Trying to gather a million names to support bicycling in America.

Bike to Work -- Encourages commuting to work by bike.

Rocky Mountain Center for Sustainable Urbanism -- Promoting sustainability tours of Europe.

Alliance for Biking & Walking -- Mission is to unite and strengthen local walking and biking advocacy groups.

Saris Cycling Group -- Solutions for bicycle parking.

Public Bike System -- Montreal-based bike sharing company.

National Center for Safe Routes to School -- Assists communities to provide safe walking and biking routes to schools.

American Public Transportation Association -- Promotes public transit investments in America.

Rail-Volution -- Upcoming conference on building livable communities with public transit.

International Mountain Bicycling Association -- Promotes mountain biking around the world.

Bikes Belong -- Goal is to get more people on bicycles more often.