Federal Cyclists – Let’s Organize to Make Bikes Belong!

Recently we invited Ed Findley, a daily bike commuter and employee of the EPA, to write about his efforts to expand the network of federal cyclist commuters in and around Washington DC.  Read on to hear about an exciting opportunity for this important commuter cycling group.

As a civil servant and activist cyclist for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen a number of DC-area Federal facilities improve bike access. But we’ve got a long way to go before every Federal office recognizes the economic, environmental and health benefits of cycling — and further still until the Federal government is the model employer for making bikes belong. So, my fellow Federal cyclists — here’s your chance to help! Along with several other Feds, I’m helping to reconvene an interagency task force to promote cycling among Federal offices throughout the DC region. We’ll be meeting on February 8 at 3 p.m. at the EPA West Building, and if you’re a Federal employee or contractor interested in promoting active transportation, we’d love for you to join us! Among the things we can consider are the 2010 guidelines, “Implementing a Successful Bicycle and Active Commuting Program in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.” http://www.fedcenter.gov/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=15046&destination=ShowItem These were an important step forward, and we need to find out what agencies are doing in response, hold up the positive examples and coax the laggards. We could work with OPM and other agencies to consider o Bike share participation at the agency level o Health and wellness among Federal employees and links to cycling. o Sharing information on commuter cycling benefits. o Working with the National Capital Planning Commission and the National Park Service – two agencies of particular importance for cycling in our area. We can also talk about how to move the conversation on cycling facilities beyond us activists and ensure that Federal facility managers and human resource offices are working to make bike programs and infrastructure an integral part of their work. Who’s in? Ed Fendley Fendley.ed@epa.gov