Congresswoman DelBene Joins the Bike Caucus

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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene

First-term Congresswoman Suzan DelBene joined the Congressional Bike Caucus this week, and signed on to a letter calling for the measurement of bicycle safety under our national transportation funding bill, MAP-21.

Rep. DelBene’s actions come after a nine-person delegation of Washingtonians visited Capitol Hill last week as part of the National Bike Summit, and requested the Congresswoman to take these actions. Cascade’s Executive Director Chuck Ayers and Director of Policy, Planning and Government Affairs Evan Manvel helped lead the delegation.

We were glad to hear DelBene became Washington’s fourth Bike Caucus member. The Congressional Bike Caucus includes more than 160 members, including Washington Representatives Larsen, McDermott, Smith, and now DelBene. Governor Inslee was a member when he served in Congress.

We were also appreciative Rep. DelBene signed on to the letter to US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood calling for bicycle safety measurements. As part of MAP-21, the U.S. Department of Transportation rewards states that do well on performance measures. While overall safety is proposed as a performance measure, there is currently no performance measure specifically relating to bicycle and pedestrian safety. And while 15% of road fatalities are people on bike or pedestrian, states are spending less than 1% of the Highway Safety Improvement Project monies on bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. Rep. Larsen has also signed onto the letter.

Rep. DelBene represents Washington’s 1st Congressional District. She is one of Washington’s newest representatives, having been sworn in last November.

Join us in thanking Rep. DelBene by contacting her here.