Please register below for the 2010 Georgia Bike Summit, Saturday October 9th in Savannah, GA. The cost is just $40 through October 1 (jumps to $60 after) thanks to our sponsors at Trek and SRAM, which includes a continental breakfast, luncheon, and snacks/refreshments throughout the day. Simply click the "Pay Now" button below (paypal account not required - credit cards accepted as well), then after completing payment select "Return to Georgia Bikes" to come back and fill out a brief form.

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I've been in Washington DC this week attending the 10th annual National Bike Summit. After registration and reception on Tuesday evening, work began in earnest on Wednesday morning with an opening General Session, followed by break-out sessions (before and after lunch), a keynote luncheon, an evening Town Hall Meeting & finally, the State Delegate Coordination Meeting. It was a long day.

Of the wide ranging break-out session topics I chose "Jump Start Your State and Local Advocacy Effort", "Taking Public Transportation to the Next Level", & "Social Marketing - Real Potential for Advocacy".

As you might expect, all these were fascinating. I wish there were more folks from our community here so we could have come back with the information from the other break-out sessions as well. Aside from being informative, the sessions provided a way to meet fellow advocates from other communities. Through the day, we were coached on the significant bills before Congress that affect cyclists, because on Thursday we were to go Capitol Hill to meet with our Congressmen to encourage their support.

Please read more to learn about bills the summit supported.

[Update at end of 2010 session: The bill's sponsor asked advocates to choose between the right to ride two abreast as provided in current GA law or the 3 feet safe passing law. The rationale given was the concern that passing two cyclists riding side by side would be unsafe and require drivers to move too far into the adjacent lane. The GBA board decided that was a compromise we were not willing to make. We'll be back next year!]

Georgia Bikes, with David Crites as executive director, has worked since 2003 to improve bicycling conditions and promote bicycling throughout Georgia.

During 2009 it became clear that the nonprofit needed to reorganize and expand in order to take its efforts to the Capitol. A group of advocates, bicycle shop owners, and cyclists organized to take on this challenge. The Georgia Bikes Alliance is the result. A nonprofit with 501(c)(4) status pending, the Georgia Bikes Alliance is a sister organization to Georgia Bikes, whose 501(c)(3) status limited its ability to engage effectively on legislative issues.

In 2010, for the first time, Georgia’s bicyclists will have the benefit of a professional lobbyist working on their behalf during the legislative session. Georgia Bikes Alliance is pleased to announce it is contracting with Emily W. Ham Consulting for the upcoming session.

Efforts during the session will include facilitating contacts between bicycling communities across the state with their members and the annual “Georgia Rides to the Capitol” event, organized by Georgia Bikes!

Thousands of cyclists converge on the Capitol each year for this ride to demonstrate to their legislators the power and breadth of cycling. During 2010 we will build on this momentum and solidarity among Georgia cyclists to pursue better bicycling bills in the state of Georgia. Please visit our Legislative Agenda for more information.

More about Georgia Bikes

Georgia Bikes! has provided a voice for all cyclists, interacted with government officials at all levels, and promoted safer and expanded facilities for cyclists. It has also educated cyclists, the general public, law enforcement and civic groups, and has supported training and seminars for planners and engineers. It has fostered local advocacy groups and encouraged cycling for health, transportation and economic development.

As Georgia’s cycling community grows, so has Georgia Bikes! Georgia Bikes! is pleased to announce the Board of Directors of has grown to thirteen to create more opportunities for communication with the growing cycling communities of Georgia.