The Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety is “the largest gathering of roadway safety professionals in the United States.” I’ve been a member of the planning committee for the Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Micromobility for over a decade, representing bicycle advocates and bringing the League of American Bicyclists’ perspective into the conference. This year was the third or fourth Lifesavers Conference that I’ve attended, with my last conference being in Seattle in 2023. If you’re interested in my stream of consciousness during the conference, please check out my Bluesky feed with #Lifesavers2026 — but in the meantime, here are my top three takeaways from this year’s Lifesavers Conference in Baltimore.

1. Pathways to Safer Streets

The Lifesavers Conference began with a keynote address by the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Jonathan Morrison. Administrator Morrison’s speech introduced and outlined “the most extensive and comprehensive behavioral traffic safety initiative in NHTSA’s history” called Pathways to Safer Streets. With eight core pathways, there is a lot that could be said about this initiative. There are some interesting points of emphasis, such as an embrace of “speed interlock technologies, specifically for chronic, excessive speeders” that align well conceptually with Families for Safer Streets’ Stop Super Speeders campaign. It will be interesting to see what actually happens through this initiative.

What I did hear clearly from Administrator Morrison’s speech is that “progress is not the same as success. Tens of thousands of lives are still lost every year. And as long as that number is anything other than zero, we cannot call this system safe, we can only call it improved.” This clear embrace of the goal of zero traffic deaths is a great foundation for traffic safety efforts. While deaths of people biking and walking were not mentioned in the Pathways to Safer Streets or Administrator Morrison’s remarks, those deaths are included in the goal of zero traffic deaths.

2. Lots of Interest in E-bikes

I was part of two sessions at this year’s Lifesavers Conference, one on e-bikes and one on bike helmets, and the session on e-bikes was by far better attended. A theme to my session, across all speakers, was the difficulty of classifying and regulating e-bikes, e-scooters, and other light electric vehicles such as one-wheels and e-mopeds. Whether due to incomplete crash reporting that masks the extent of crashes, inconsistent descriptions of devices to emergency departments that make appropriate care more difficult, or sales of illegal devices that put delivery riders at risk; each speaker had a reason that more efforts are needed to better incorporate these new vehicles into our transportation safety frameworks.

There was some overlap between the interest in e-bikes and the interest in bike helmets. Two themes that emerged from that overlap were that standard bike helmets may not be sufficient for e-bikes or their faster e-moto cousins, and that developing bike helmets that better meet the needs of bikeshare and scootershare users is a priority. Both of these themes pointed towards innovation in helmet design, which was the topic I was asked to speak about. If you’re interested in the innovative helmets that I featured, you can check out my presentation here.

3. The Role of Technology in Behavior Change

Compared to the last Lifesavers Conference that I attended, there was a much greater focus on technologies and that showed up in a few distinct ways:

There was a great emphasis on telematics – using technology to monitor driver behavior in near real-time – to inform real-time responses to crashes, to target enforcement efforts, and to plan for safety improvements based on observed behavior rather than waiting for crashes or deaths. Telematics was perhaps most prominently embraced by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which has published several reports about its use in traffic safety efforts.

Automated enforcement technology was prominent in sessions and in the exhibition hall. It was very interesting to see the breadth of applications of automated enforcement, with applications for behaviors such as distracted driving, which is easier to detect and validate today thanks to higher definition cameras and artificial intelligence that can better identify behaviors and validate that drivers are fulfilling the elements of a distracted driving law. There were also specialized applications, such as school bus stop arm enforcement, which is now easier due to the reduced cost and size of camera equipment. While some in Congress are attempting to stop DC’s automated speed enforcement efforts, the Pathways to Safer Streets initiative appears to embrace the value of automated enforcement “to augment traditional law enforcement.”

While NHTSA is our national vehicle regulator, and has the authority to implement safety technologies as required features in new cars, the Pathways to Safer Streets initiative instead chose to embrace in-vehicle technologies as part of enforcement. Technologies like intelligent speed assistance, which is required on new vehicles in Europe, was primarily discussed as a potential intervention against the “worst of the worst” speeders. Similarly, in-vehicle technology to prevent impaired driving, which Congress required NHTSA to develop standards for in the last transportation bill, is discussed as an intervention to reduce impaired driving recidivism much like interlock breathalyzers are today. While reducing distracted driving is one of the eight core pathways to safer streets, there was no mention of potential regulation to address the potential distraction due to ever-larger screens in new vehicles. It may be that NHTSA tailored its messaging to a behavior change audience, but it is frustrating to see lifesaving technology approached as a punishment for bad drivers rather than an aid for all drivers.

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Originally shared by our partners at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association on April 21, 2026.

We’re thrilled to share an update on the lawsuit to protect the 15th St bike lane in DC from removal by the federal government: WE HERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS! In case you missed it, our legal team argued our case for saving the 15th Street protected bike at a hearing on April 9th. Today, the judge issued a ruling IN OUR FAVOR. The fight may not be over—there’s a chance the government tries to appeal—but this is REALLY GOOD NEWS. The ruling states that the decision to remove the bike lane was arbitrary and capricious, and that the removal cannot proceed as planned. The government has to follow a public input process and conduct further research. Let me tell you there’s no good faith research that supports their position, and boy will make sure they hear from the public, over and over again.

Recently, my colleague Jonathan said “Elizabeth, sometimes it’s not about the WIN, it’s about the FIGHT.” I found that advice inspiring during the last few weeks, and boy did we fight. I am so inspired by the community that rose up to fight this foolish attempt, by the volunteers and staff and legal team that brought their A-game to every step of this process.

In mid-February, a contact reached out to let us know that the National Park Service, under the direction of the US Department of Transportation and the White House, were planning to remove the bike lane, probably without following the correct process, and on a short timeline.

I reached out to every lawyer we know and we put together an all-star team from two well-regarded firms, Beveridge and Diamond, and Covington. Kalli, our Advocacy Director, organized a team of volunteers to keep the bike lane under constant surveillance. We worked with local experts on a rapid response direct action. Hundreds of you showed up to our first rally on the steps of the Wilson Building. Thousands of you shared and signed a petition.

For a couple of weeks, the rumors quieted down. We breathed a little. Then several sources confirmed a date: March 23rd. Our law firm sent a sharply worded letter indicating that we planned to file suit March 22 and notified the court of the Sunday filing. Then came our first tiny victory: In response, the Department of Justice (which represents the Federal Government in court) agreed that NPS, USDOT or any other agencies would not remove the bike lane until March 30th, and, shortly after that, they agreed to hold off until April 23rd. We filed our complaint on March 23—I signed the documents on my phone at our second rally surrounded by hundreds of amazing people like you, who showed up to support this critical piece of infrastructure.

They said April 23rd, but we know how this administration operates. Trust but verify, right? You helped us keep eyes on the bike lane, and I am grateful to every one of you that called me about changes, blockages, and suspicious construction equipment on 15th Street.  

The judge met with both parties four times, and then set the hearing date for April 9—a quick turnaround given that the government was unwilling to concede more time. Our excellent team argued eloquently for our side and many advocates joined us in the courtroom gallery to demonstrate the depth of public support. 

AND WE WON!! 

Your voices, your hard work, your financial support all made this possible. 

It has been inspiring to fight alongside so many dedicated, and brilliant people. And we’re not done fighting. You know, and I know, and the region knows how VITAL this corridor is to safe bike, pedestrian and transit traffic. We are still rallying to celebrate the 15th Street Bike Lane at the “Save America’s Bike Lanes Rally” on TODAY (April 21) at 5 p.m., and I hope thousands of us show up. We matter. Our safety matters. We know this won’t be the last time this administration tries to pull off some BS that makes our streets less safe, and we are fired up and ready to keep fighting. But in the meantime, go take a ride down 15th street and enjoy this lovely spring day.

A note from the League:

Thank you for showing up.

We are so proud of everyone who rallied on April 21st. Whether you rode, marched, posted, called, or simply spread the word, you were part of something real. The energy from that day carried into the courtroom, and this ruling is proof that when people who love biking show up together, it matters.

This is a genuine victory worth celebrating. And we’ll take it.

But as WABA notes, an appeal is possible, and the threats to bike infrastructure extend far beyond DC. The same arguments being used to justify removing the 15th Street lane are being used to cut federal funding for biking and walking nationwide. Protecting one lane (especially America’s Bike Lane) is meaningful. Protecting every lane, and ensuring communities can access federal funding to build new ones, is the work ahead.

Wondering what’s next? The best thing you can do right now is keep the pressure on. Take our action alert to tell Congress that people across the country care about safe, connected streets — not just in DC, but in every community that deserves a bike lane. Because #BikeLanesSaveLives, and that doesn’t stop being true when the news cycle moves on.

Thank you for being part of this movement. We’re not done yet, and we’re glad you’re riding with us.

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If you work in local government, planning, or public health, proclamations probably cross your desk pretty regularly. It’s easy to think of them as ceremonial or for photo-ops. In practice, proclamations can be quite useful. They are a simple, practical way to build momentum, signal priorities, and bring partners together around a shared goal. 

Take National Bike Month as an example. Communities across the country recognize May as a time to celebrate bicycling, encourage new riders, and highlight the importance of safe streets for everyone. Passing an official Bike Month proclamation does more than mark the calendar. It creates a moment of awareness to rally around. It gives local champions, city staff, and leaders an example to point to and say, “Look at this cause our community believes in! Let’s keep it going!” 

Proclamations can also show support for broader public health initiatives. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active People, Healthy NationSM initiative offers a customizable proclamation template that communities can adapt. This can help connect local efforts to a national movement. 

Beyond an initial rally point, a proclamation is also a communications opportunity that can keep the momentum going well after the ink has dried. After signing, you can capture a photo or two of the ceremony, write up a short recap, and connect with local media to share the news. Think of it as documenting your progress: a visible, public signal of your community’s commitment to active transportation and healthier living.

Wondering what that looks like in practice? Here are some notable examples we’ve seen over the years:

• Hawai’i Bicycling League’s Bike Month proclamation and BFC award ceremony 
• Ridgeland, Mississippi’s Bike Month + Active People, Healthy Nation proclamations
• City of Keene, New Hampshire’s 2025 Bike Month proclamation
• East Lansings’s Bike Month + Active People, Healthy Nation proclamations
• Virginia DOT’s Bike Month proclamation
• Maricopa, AZ’s Active People, Healthy Nation proclamation

Communities that see the most impact tend to treat proclamations as part of a broader effort. They connect them to events, communications, and ongoing initiatives. Instead of standing alone, the most effective proclamations are well-placed within a larger campaign that invites engagement and participation from the community. 

Building a more active, healthy community takes time. A proclamation is a small step that can help set a direction, build support, and create more activity-friendly communities.

The post Why Proclamations Matter More Than You May Think appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

We should know in the next few weeks what the first draft of the bill that will decide transportation funding and policy priorities for the next five years looks like. 

As we’ve written before, the lead author of the bill, Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), has said it will be a “traditional” bill that doesn’t fund biking or walking infrastructure. On the other hand, he has also said he wants this to be a bipartisan bill and it’s unlikely Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, would back a reauthorization bill that zeros out funding for bicycling and walking infrastructure. 

But debates over the merits of bicycling and walking funding will continue. Last week, Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced a bill that would eliminate Transportation Alternatives – the largest bucket of federal funding for things like bike lanes, sidewalks and trails. That bill is unlikely to go anywhere (Perry doesn’t have a very successful track record of getting legislation passed into law), but it is indicative of the type of thinking among certain members of the House Transportation Committee. 

We need to push back on that kind of thinking. We oppose any reduction in Transportation Alternatives funds – we want to strengthen the program – and while we believe a complete zeroing out is unlikely, we believe strong advocacy may be required to ensure there is no reduction in the next five years of funding. 

When the first draft of the reauthorization bill is released, we’ll be looking for our priorities and asking you to lend your voice in support of better biking. Those include: 

• Robust funding for Transportation Alternatives 
• Legislative language of the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Act and the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act
• Reauthorization and fund for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program 

We’ll also be scouring the bill for any changes to language around vulnerable road users, local match requirements for federal grants, policy changes, and other bills like the BIKE Act. 

Join us in our efforts to Save America’s Bike Lanes and send a letter to your Member of Congress today »

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We were honored to celebrate the annual Advocacy and Education Awards at this year’s National Bike Summit — one of the most beloved traditions in our movement, and a chance to lift up the people and organizations doing the hard, joyful work of making bicycling safer, more inclusive, and more accessible across the country.

The 2026 award winners represent the very best of our movement: dedicated professionals, tireless volunteers, inspired educators, and creative changemakers who go far beyond what’s asked of them. Their work is building a more impactful, inclusive, and Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

Club of the Year Award

This award recognizes a bicycle club that has done an exceptional job integrating advocacy into club activities, supporting advocacy organizations, and creating welcoming events for new and experienced bicyclists alike. Clubs that earn this recognition are inclusive, energetic, and committed to growing bicycling in their community.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Elmhurst Bicycle Club

Founded in 1977, the Elmhurst Bicycle Club (EBC) is one of the largest, most active cycling clubs in the Chicago region — and one of the most advocacy-driven. With members throughout northeastern Illinois and beyond, EBC rides at the speed of fun, welcoming cyclists of all skill levels year-round. But their reach extends far beyond the ride itself: EBC members can be found running, hiking, snowshoeing, volunteering at regional cycling events, and making the case for safer streets at every level of government.

The club has been actively involved in bicycle advocacy at the local, state, and national level for more than 20 years — spearheading safety and infrastructure improvements, engaging with elected officials on relevant legislation, and showing up consistently where it counts.

Youth Empowerment Award

This award recognizes leaders who empower young people through bicycling advocacy, education, and opportunities to ride. From community bike shops to schools and youth-serving nonprofits, this award honors the mentors who are cultivating the next generation of cycling advocates.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Major Taylor Michigan Cycling Advocacy

Major Taylor Michigan Cycling Advocacy (MTMCA) is a Detroit-based nonprofit that transforms bicycles into tools for economic mobility, workforce access, and community empowerment. Mark “Marco” Speeks (pictured right) is the organization’s Founder, Executive Director, and a League Certified Instructor (LCI).

Named for Marshall “Major” Taylor — America’s first Black world champion cyclist — MTMCA operates five interconnected programs that build a cycling culture rooted not in recreation, but in access, independence, and opportunity:

• The Joe Louis Greenway Bike Bus
• Operation: Rack and Roll, an infrastructure initiative installing bike racks at Detroit Public Schools adjacent to the Joe Louis Greenway
• Stride and Glide, a balance bike literacy program for pre-K through third grade
• Bikes 4 Employees, a revolving loan fund connecting transportation-insecure workers with bicycles and gear
• Bicycle Safety Town at the Detroit Historical Museum, a museum-based bicycle safety program

Together, these programs reflect MTMCA’s deep commitment to making Detroit a city where cycling is essential transportation for everyone.

Advocacy Organization of the Year Award

This award goes to a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization that, in the past year, made significant progress — growing its capacity, deepening its programs, and achieving meaningful wins for biking and walking in its community. This award comes with the Jon Graff Prize for Advancing Safe Cycling, a $1,000 prize made possible by an ongoing annual donation from longtime League supporter, the late Jon Graff.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: BikeWalkKC

BikeWalkKC works to make the bi-state Greater Kansas City region a place where residents are no longer required to drive to thrive. Through advocacy, public policy, Safe Routes to School programming, urban planning, and bike share initiatives that support people living with transportation insecurity, BikeWalkKC is reshaping what mobility looks like in Kansas City and beyond.

Their leadership doesn’t stop at the local level. BikeWalkKC is a founding member of Missourians for Responsible Transportation — a collaboration of the state’s four regional mobility organizations — and has been a consistent resource and partner for advocacy organizations nationwide.

Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award

This award commemorates Susie Stephens, one of the Alliance for Biking & Walking’s founders and an enduring inspiration to so many in the bicycle and pedestrian movement. It honors an individual or group who carries on Susie’s passion for advocating for bicycling as a fun, joyful, and economical means of transportation.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Marley Blonsky, All Bodies on Bikes

Marley Blonsky is a nationally recognized cycling advocate, speaker, and educator whose work centers a simple but powerful idea: biking should be for everyone. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of All Bodies on Bikes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating welcoming spaces for people of all sizes to experience the joy of cycling — through community rides, industry education, and the kind of honest, generous storytelling that changes minds.

Marley has worked with brands including Shimano, Shredly, Ride with GPS, and Osprey Packs to advance size inclusion and accessibility across the bike industry. She is a columnist for Cycling Weekly, a sought-after speaker on inclusion in outdoor recreation, and was named a 2024 Outsider of the Year by Outside Magazine. Based in Portland, Oregon, she can usually be found on her bike, building community, and sharing the adventure.

Katherine T. “Kittie” Knox Award

This award recognizes champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the bicycling movement — individuals or groups who have led the work of making bicycling more inclusive and representative, and who have worked to remove barriers to participation for underserved and underrepresented communities. Learn more about Kittie Knox and her legacy here.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: MassBike and Plays in Place

This year’s Kittie Knox Award honors a remarkable collaboration between two organizations that are bringing Kittie Knox’s trailblazing story to new audiences in a genuinely unexpected way.

Since 2018, Plays in Place has partnered with diverse cultural institutions to develop and produce new site-specific plays rooted in the stories of overlooked and often-forgotten people — with a focus on race, slavery, abolition, women’s history, and the fight for woman suffrage. Their work has taken place in historic churches, iconic cemeteries, New England meeting houses, and the Senate Chamber of the Massachusetts State House.

In 2025, in partnership with MassBike, they produced The Kittie Knox Plays — a series of “bike” plays about the biracial barrier-breaker Kittie Knox herself. This spring, the two organizations will publish a book of the plays, complete with production photos, essays, and production tips, to encourage cycling and theatre groups everywhere to explore Kittie’s legacy. Plays in Place was also recently recognized with the 2025 Excellence in Consulting Award from the National Council on Public History.

Emerging Leader of the Year Award

This award celebrates a young person who is new to the bicycling movement and has already demonstrated exceptional, inspiring advocacy. Nominees have shown real leadership in their short tenure and the potential to keep shaping the movement for years to come.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Laura Pauls-Thomas

Laura Pauls-Thomas (they/she) is a storyteller, community organizer, and self-described joy-monger based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A League Cycling Advocate, Laura is the founder and director of Ride, Roll, & Stroll Laster — a young adult-led, intergenerational advocacy and community-building project that advances safe biking, walking, and better transit. They also serve as a transit organizing fellow with Transit For All PA, and volunteer in leadership and board roles across multiple transportation, land use, and urban vitality organizations in Lancaster.

Laura works full-time as a nonprofit communications director — and still manages to weave advocacy, connection, and genuine joy into everything they do. When they’re not any of the above, Laura enjoys knitting, sewing, traveling, and being outdoors with their spouse Andrew and their dog Pinto.

Gail & Jim Spann Educator of the Year Award

This award recognizes a League Cycling Instructor who has worked to elevate bike education in their state or community — someone who has been actively teaching in the past year, serves diverse communities, and has brought genuine innovation to their education work.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Fernando Martinez

Fernando Martinez’s relationship with bicycles began in the early 1980s in Mexico City, where he was introduced to the sport through the manufacturing of steel bikes and bike parts. He became a League Cycling Instructor in 2005, when he managed the Texas Safe Routes to School regional program in Amarillo — instructing and mentoring a new generation of young cyclists.

Now the head of the RideONE Bicycle Program at Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ office in Houston, Fernando has designed and led initiatives that have helped position Houston and Harris County as national leaders in cycling. He brings over four decades of bicycling experience to the role, along with certification as a professional race mechanic. His days are filled with bike rodeos, community rides, group rides, rolling meetings, and golden rider programming — work he approaches with the belief that the true power of bicycles lies in their ability to connect people and create lasting change.

Bicycle Friendly America Leadership Award

The Bicycle Friendly America Leadership Award recognizes civic, academic, and business leaders who have made significant contributions toward a shared goal: an America where biking is safe, comfortable, and accessible for all. From mayors and CEOs to public agency leaders, academics, and university presidents, this award honors changemakers whose leadership moves the whole movement forward.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Ken Rose

Ken Rose leads the CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation℠ initiative — a nationwide effort to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. A leading expert on how transportation and community design shape public health, Ken has spent nearly three decades at CDC advancing active, healthy communities. He is an everyday cyclist and a longtime leader in Atlanta’s bike community, bringing both national perspective and real-world experience to his work.

His career is a testament to what it looks like when public health and active transportation advocates work together — and the League is proud to honor his extraordinary contributions.

Citizen Advocate of the Year Award

This award honors a dedicated volunteer advocate who has made significant contributions to the promotion of bicycling and walking in their community — someone who selflessly gives their time and energy to improve local transportation options and sets a high standard for grassroots advocacy.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Rob Kadota

Rob Kadota is the Mayoral-appointed chair of the City of Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee and a League Cycling Instructor since 2023, with over 350 hours of instruction specializing in Adult Learn to Ride classes. He was also a proud participant in the League’s inaugural League Cycling Advocate (LCA) class.

Rob’s volunteer footprint is expansive: he staffs the Mar Vista Farmers Market Bike Valet and Repair Stand, supports SAFE, SFA, and Bike LA, and volunteers as a Tandem Captain with Wayfinder Family and Velo Club LaGrange, working alongside visually impaired stokers in one of the most meaningful dimensions of his advocacy work.

Professional Advocate of the Year Award

This award goes to a leader of a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who has shown extraordinary dedication to advancing active transportation — going above and beyond their job duties to inspire change, influence policy, and improve quality of life for the people they serve.

Our 2026 Award Goes to: Jacob VanSickle, Bike Cleveland

Jacob VanSickle has served as Executive Director of Bike Cleveland since 2012, growing the organization into Ohio’s leading safe-streets advocacy force. Under his leadership, Bike Cleveland has helped secure more than 160 miles of bike lanes and trails across the city and advanced model policies including Complete Streets legislation and Ohio’s 3-foot passing law. The organization has been central to major initiatives including Vision Zero, citywide Safe Routes to School planning, and Cleveland’s Midway protected bike lane network.

Today, Bike Cleveland’s programs engage more than 12,000 people on bikes each year, educate over 1,000 youth and adults in safe bicycling, and host the Bike Cleveland Fundo — the largest urban bike ride in Ohio.

A graduate of Spring Arbor University with a degree in sociology and community development, Jacob helped convene the founding leadership team that built Bike Cleveland from the ground up. He currently serves as board president of the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation and is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland (Class of 2021). He is also a generous resource for executive directors and advocacy organizations across the country looking to be more effective in their own communities.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate these outstanding leaders. And thank you to all of our past award winners — your continued dedication to this movement inspires us every year. Interested in nominating someone for a future award? Learn more about the Advocacy and Education Awards here.

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