More Bike Summit Coverage This Afternoon

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- I had a chat with Bill Nesper, who works on the bicycle-friendly communities program for the League of American Bicyclists.

Tampa is a city that blows off bike lanes. Had a bicyclist cited for biking in the road. Told bicyclists to not pedal in a new waterfront park.

So, how did Tampa get an "Honorable Mention" nod from the League a few years ago?

Bill's wife is from Tampa, so he knows Tampa does not have a city government that implements bike-friendly road construction or facilities.

But he hoped the "Honorable Mention" would motivate the city of Tampa government to pursue the next level -- a Bronze award. Bill told me, however, that it will take a while for Tampa to win a Bronze nod based on some of non-support of building bike-friendly roads.

In contrast, the city of St. Petersburg has won a bronze from the League and needs to work on getting people to bike to work.

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Wonderful luncheon with IMBA executive director Mike Van Able telling a packed room of 700 bike advocates that it's been a great move to combine the forces of his mountain-biking members with the League of American Bicyclists at the summit. After all, we all ride bicycles.

Mike officially signed a 5-year agreement with the federal parks to renew IMBA's partnership with the federal government to continue building trails on federal park lands.

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I spoke with Tom Miller, chief of staff for Portland Mayor Sam Adams who gave a great presentation on Portland's commitment to bike lanes and bike-friendly roads.

Miller said get Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio to see in person a city with a real commitment to biking.

"It's like going to a major-league baseball game. You can't appreciate Major League Baseball by going to T-ball games," Miller said.