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BIKE WALK AMERICA UPDATE

Times change and advocacy organizations have to keep up to date. The League of American Bicyclists has tried, but over the years, other organizations took on services which the League had offered -- or might have offered. These organizations include, to name a few:

• the Adventure Cycling Association, which maps bicycle touring routes and organizes tours;
• the Rails to Trails Conservancy, whose name describes its mission, a mission which the League rejected;
• the International Police Mountain Bike Association (once a League program), which trains police bicyclists;
• the Alliance for Bicycling and Walking (formerly Thunderhead Alliance), which coordinates local advocacy efforts, taking advantage of improved communication over the Internet.

It is rumored that the leaked document below -- a version of the League's e-mail newsletter to its members -- was floated at a League Board meeting in early 2009, as a faction of the League Board attempted to reshape the League's mission. The League did not send this message and did not adopt the proposed changes -- actions which speak for themselves.

April 1, 2009 Greetings! I have exciting news about awards, and legislative efforts to protect the rights of bicyclists. But first, a new development that takes advocacy to the next level. Read about it here! Sincerely, Andy Clarke, President BWA News Bike Walk America, a New Era! The League of American Bicyclists is changing its name to Bike Walk America, or BWA, effective immediately, BWA Board Chair Amanda Eichstaedt announced today. The change reflects a 30-year trend which started with Transportation Alternatives, in New York City.   Eichstaedt also cited:   * the former Bicycle Federation of America, for a decade now the National Center for Bicycling and Walking; * the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, now the Active Transportation Alliance; * the Thunderhead Alliance, once only serving bicycling advocacy organizations, now the Alliance for Biking and Walking.   "Reform of the US transportation system will succeed much more quickly if we advocates extend our efforts beyond a single travel mode," Eichstaedt explained. "But please don't fail to notice, BWA puts 'Bike' first, and we always will. Bike Walk America stands ready to meet the challenges of the 21st Century." BWA Heels and Wheels Education Conference The bi-annual BWA Education Conference is ramping up, and it is destined to be a great one. Thanks to our expanded commitment to Safe Routes to School and a $200,000 grant from Nike, we will be expanding our kids curriculum to cover walking! Come to San Jose this summer to talk about the best way to teach cyclists and pedestrians; to help BWA continue to improve our curricula; and to hear news and updates from the world's foremost pedestrian and cycling educators. We've lowered our fees by more than 30 percent this year. All fees increase by $100 after the earlybird deadline of May 1. Register today! International News Diamond Awards BWA today announced a new, top Bicycle Friendly Communities award level -- Diamond -- and the first Diamond awards, to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogotá. "BWA seeks out the very best," explained BWA President Andy Clarke. "We can not restrict ourselves to one country." On hand to accept the Copenhagen award was architect Jan Gehl, on his way to San Francisco. "We propose cycle tracks adjacent to the tracks for the historic cable cars, which will have handholds to assist bicyclists up steep hills. It will be more like Copenhagen," Gehl remarked. BWA also announced a Bronze award to Venice, Italy. "We acknowledge that bicycles are banned everywhere in Venice, and we are working on that," added Clarke. "But Venice has a first-rate bicycle programme whose logo bears an uncanny resemblance to ours, and she is totally car-free -- a great walking city." National News Contact your Members of Congress! Latest! General Motors has requested Federal bailout funding for a motorized car cover that deploys like a convertible top. BWA supports this initiative but is lobbying for compatibility with rooftop bike racks as a condition for the funding. Please contact your representatives in Congress to lend your support! Background: GM's request follows from an unprecedented Afghan-US development agreement. As Afghan spokesman Hamid Karghai explains: "The burkha market has largely collapsed. Women want nothing to do with blue clothing. Yet every day, Afghanistan's widely-dispersed cottage dry-goods industry produces many hectares of blue cloth." "It's a win-win," stated Karghai, in a joint statement with USAID representatives. "We in Afghanistan benefit from a thriving industry. And, as Bike Walk America informs us, bicyclists in the USA can rest assured that the car-door problem will be solved." Employment BWA Hiring BWA is hiring for two permanent positions:   Pedestrian Education Associate, an office administration and logistical position requiring a valid driver's license and ability to accurately update our data-base and perform record keeping tasks.   Safe Routes to Schools Coach. Work to train community leaders as organizers and instructors for parents and school chldren in Walking School Bus and bicycle rodeo techniques, as well as design of safe bike/ped environments.     Visit BWA. Bike Walk America promotes bicycling and walking for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle- and footwear-friendly America. BWA represents the interests of America's 260 million bicyclists and pedestrians, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support BWA, visit www.bwa.org. In This Issue Diamond Awards Lobbying Congress A New Era! Bike/Ped Ed Conference Employment Donate to BWA! BWA 2009 Rally Weekend on Wheels 2009 in Twin Cities, Minn. will be the host for BWA's 2009 National Rally. Click here for further information. Quick Links Join BWA Sign up to Receive Enews Cycling in Your Area Search our Website Help protect the rights of cyclists and pedestrians across the nation: Donate today!

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