Bikes Belong Coalition (BBC), the League of American Bicyclists and Interbike are orchestrating a ‘Congressional Call-In’ campaign at the 2011 Interbike International Bicycle Expo in Las Vegas, on 14-16 September, to push for continuing federal investment in bicycle infrastructure.
The US Congress is currently considering another extension of the multi-year Federal Transportation bill, which provides crucial funding for bicycle-related projects. The current extension expires on 30 September, and needs the industry’s support to sustain it.
The BBC’s booth (L28) at Interbike will be the site of the Congressional Hotline, a red phone on which attendees can use to call their US Senators and convey to them how federal spending on bicycle-related projects positively affects their businesses, their local economies and the health of their customers.
“The federal investment in bicycling is under attack in Congress,” said Tim Blumenthal, President of Bikes Belong. “We’re asking bike business leaders to take five minutes out of their busy Interbike schedules to make two urgent phone calls to their state’s Senators. This timely campaign will help build more bike paths, lanes, trails and safe routes to school. These investments will continue to increase bicycling participation and grow bike sales.”
BBC staff will be at the booth to provide phone numbers of all the US Senators, as well as concise talking points. The League of American Bicyclists, Alliance for Biking and Walking, IMBA and other America Bikes Coalition member organizations will provide additional support.
“Interbike is the industry’s gathering place,” said Pat Hus, Interbike’s Managing Director. “Imagine the impact of 24,000 people all calling their senators during the three days of the show. It would be huge. So, we encourage everyone at Interbike to get to the Bikes Belong booth to make a couple of calls.”
