President
Douglas Stewart

Vice President
Barbara Klieforth

Treasurer
Paul d'Eustachio

Secretary
Randall Myers

Board Members
Matt Bieschke
Kendall Dorman
Jana Lynott

Hunter McCleary

Elissa Parker

Curtis Runyan
Dana Wolfe

Executive Director
Eric Gilliland

Safety Education Program Director
Dorcas Adkins

Safety Education Program Coordinator

Glen Harrison

Membership & Development Manager
Eve deCoursey

Membership & Development Assistant
Jenn Bress

Office Volunteers
Bruce Dwyer
Jon Fleming
John Telesco

Bike Bill Hearing Next Week

On October 2nd, despite the wide-spread support of local bicyclists and the District Department of Transportation, the DC Council tabled the “Bicycle Commuter and Parking Expansion Act of 2007”.  Due to the opposition from certain council members, a vote on this important piece of bicycling-related legislation was postponed until October 23rd.  This bill, which was introduced by DC Councilmember Tommy Wells, would improve bike parking at residential buildings, require bike parking in most new buildings, double the current bike parking requirement at commercial buildings with car parking, and require a detailed study of bike parking and bike access to DC government office buildings. 

WABA strongly encourages you to contact the DC Council to express your support for the bill and to urge them to bring it to the floor for a vote.  While we have provided a sample letter for you to send, personalized emails carry much more weight.  Here are some points that you can make in support of the bill:

• Bike parking is an important, yet inexpensive, amenity to provide cyclists as a way to encourage non-motorized travel.
  
  
• The bill conforms with the policies of the DC Comprehensive Plan that seeks to promote alternative means of transportation.
  
  
• Over 36% of District residents do not own a car.  In some neighborhoods the rate of car ownership is lower than anywhere else on the east coast outside of Manhattan.
  
  
• While new and substantially renovated buildings will be required to provide bike parking, the latest bill does not make bike parking mandatory at existing buildings (a major concern expressed by commercial and residential building owners).  But the bill it will make it easier for residents and employees to request bike parking in their building.
  
  
• The bill has the support of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the Sierra Club, the Coalition for Smarter Grown, Friends of the Earth, as well as the District Department of Transportation.
  

WABA strongly urges you to write to the DC Council, especially Councilmember Phil Mendelson, to express your support for the bill.

Take action>>