On the recordMarch 11, 2011
I would like to thank the hundreds of cyclists, parents, business people, and especially bike industry leaders who flooded Capitol Hill this week with a message of bike partisanship. They were addressing the issues found on the front page every day in our newspapers about what would happen if we made it easier to use the most efficient form of urban transportation ever designed. It would make a huge difference to the health of our families, dealing with traffic congestion and air pollution, and reduce the tyranny of our addiction to oil if we burned more calories and less fossil fuel. It is also big business. Billions of dollars are made from the sales, service, manufacturing, and bike tourism. And most important, it makes our communities more livable, our families safer, healthier, and more economically secure. Thank you, cycling advocates, for your positive message of hope. I hope that it found receptive ears here on Capitol Hill.
