Are you one of the People for Bikes?

A lot of news came out of the National Bike Summit in Washington DC earlier this month, such as the Google maps route finder for bicycles.

It also marked the unveiling of a public awareness campaign entitled People for Bikes.

The idea of the mobilization effort by Bikes Belong and the SRAM Cycling Fund is to sign up 1 million people in support of bicycling so we can speak with one powerful voice and get the attention of policy makers, newspaper and television, and the general public.

Now, considering that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced soon after the summit that bicycle transportation will be treated equally with motorized transportation, you might think that the tough work is over.

Not hardly.

Opposition

LaHood is getting hammered by Republicans and the National Association of Manufacturers, among others. Grist documents some of the attacks. The manufacturers group brought out the fear and loathing card:

“Treating bicycles and other nonmotorized transportation as equal to motorized transportation would cause an economic catastrophe.”

Republican congressman Steven LaTourette from Ohio wants us to believe that for every $1 million spent of a freeway, half would go to cars and half would go to bicycles. He asked:

“I mean, what job is going to be created by having a bike lane?”

Sign up

By signing up 1 million strong, we can show them that bicyclists are a force to be reckoned with. While the effort is going to heat up after the Bicycle Leadership Conference at the Sea Otter Classic in California next month, you can sign up now. I did.

Here's the pledge:

“I am for bikes. I'm for long rides and short rides. I'm for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, riding to school, or just a quick spin around the block. I believe that no matter how I ride, biking makes me happy and is great for my health, my community and the environment we all share. That is why I am pledging my name in support of a better future for bicycling—one that is safe and fun for everyone. By uniting my voice with a million others, I believe that we can make our world a better place to ride.”

It's free, and you might get improved bicycling in your community as a result.