Would you make a quick one-minute phone call to support our efforts on Capitol Hill in D.C.?

LIB’s Ed Barsotti and Bob Hoel led Illinois’ delegates at the National Bike Summit, asking Illinois’ Congressional Members to:

1. Co-sponsor HR3494, the Bike/Pedestrian Safety Act. Creating a federal traffic safety goal specifically for bike/ped will boost access to existing safety money. Overall traffic fatalities and injuries are decreasing, but rates for cyclists and pedestrians are going up.
2. Co-sponsor HR2468, the Safe Streets Act. Requires states and metro areas to adopt complete streets policies, with guidelines but flexibility on the details. Complete streets are road projects built for all users, including bicyclists, with common sense exceptions.
3. Co-sponsor HR3978, the New Opportunities Act. Provides a small, pilot low interest loan program for cities to build bike/walk networks. At least 25% must be in low income areas.

Calls from constituents are still needed to reinforce our in-person requests. Simply mention your name and address, asking your Congressional Member to co-sponsor* these bills, by leaving a message with their DC receptionist — use your full address to find the phone number here.

* Thank your Representative if they’re already a co-sponsor: HR3494 (Bustos, Roskam, Schneider, Schakowsky), HR2468 (R.Davis), HR3978 (Bustos, Enyart).

If you would like to make two more calls, thank Sen. Durbin (202-224-2152) for co-sponsoring S1708 (Bike/Ped Safety Act) and ask him to co-sponsor S2004 (Safe Streets Act). Ask Sen. Kirk (202-224-2854) to co-sponsor both.

Thanks! Your calls make a difference.

(More info on the bills is here)

Meanwhile, back in Illinois…

Be sure to join other bicyclists and advocates at the Illinois Bike Summit in Champaign on April 15. Check out our Illinois Bike Summit webpage for schedule, speakers, and registration.