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THE LEADERSHIP RETREAT IS ON!

This weekend, over 120 leaders from nearly 100 grassroots biking and walking advocacy organizations are gathered outside Pittsburgh, PA for the 2014 Alliance Leadership Retreat. The venue: the gorgeous Antiochian Village Conference Center in the foothills of the Appalachians.

Scope out the full agenda here. 

Shoutout to the tweety organizations who are either already here or on their way: Georgia Bikes, Iowa Bicycle Coalition, Bike San Diego, Washington Bikes, and Cycle Toronto. 

Mark Wyatt from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, who has been to nearly every retreat since 2004, has been appointed emcee of the talent show. 

INFRASTRUCTURE INLET

Cities: the time to build protected bike lanes is NOW. A young mother was struck and killed by a turning truck driver on Second Avenue in Seattle – just over a week before the scheduled installation of a physically separated bike lane on that street. Cascade Bicycle Club advocates wrote that the new bike lane with separate bike and motor vehicle signals likely would have prevented this tragedy. The club has organized a memorial ride in response.  

Arlington County, VA just installed their first protected bike lane. Congrats, y'all! 

Houston will build a 3/4 mile protected bike lane -- its first in the downtown area. 

Thanks to advocacy efforts, Brookline, MA is considering a protected bike lane along a stretch of the busy Route 9 corridor. 

Pittsburgh will unveil a new protected bike lane just in time for Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place.  

BIG PICTURE BOULEVARD

We were sad to hear that David Watson, longtime executive director of MassBike, is stepping down. Under David's leadership, MassBike launched a Safe Routes to School Program, helped to pass numerous bike-friendly bills, and won increased funding for biking and walking infrastructure. We'll miss you, David, but are sure that Massbike will continue to thrive with the strong foundation you've built. 

Nicholas Mirra is also stepping away from his communications role at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Good luck in Seattle, Nicholas! 

Barb Chamberlain's latest think piece: there's really no god-given right to speedy travel. 

Colin from the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition has a dispatch from uber-bikey Copenhagen. 

Will Hartford, CT soon get a bikeshare system? 

Bicycling Magazine created a stir this week with the release of its best bike cities rankings. 

• With a massive new bikeshare system rolling, New York City topped the list at #1. 
• Chicago advocates were pleased that Chi-town jumped to #2. 
• Bike Cleveland was not at all displeased that their city ranked 50 out of 50 – advocates are happy to have cracked the ranks.  

ADVOCACY AVENUE

Evanston, IL's updated bike plan could help make the Chicago suburb one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country.

BikeWalkKC is working to pass an ordinance that defines and prohibits street harassment. 

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association issued an action alert in response to the Washington, DC department of transportation's proposed bicycle ban on any street where a streetcar travels. 

After a cyclist was struck and killed by a sheriff deputy who was driving while distracted, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition submitted a letter to District Attorney Jackie Lacey asking that she reconsider the decision not to file charges.  

12-year-old Wisconsinite Dennis Taylor broke his arm after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in his neighborhood. His family is already advocating for lower speeds, and the Wisconsin Bike Fed got him a new bike.  

ELECTION ESPLANADE

Candidates for governor in Rhode Island answered questions about their views on bicycling.

People Power of Santa Cruz County has released their endorsements for the November 4 elections. 

PROGRAMMING PROMENADE

It's hard to believe, but the days are getting shorter and it's almost fall. Oregon's Bicycle Transportation Alliance reminds us how to stay visible on the streets when it's dark. 

We love seeing more profiles of bike-friendly businesses around our member organizations' blogs. This week, Bike Cleveland interviewed Joy Machines Bike Shop.

Max Hayes, who spent the summer supporting bike-friendly businesses in Philadelphia, reflects on the economic benefits of biking. 

Westbrook, Maine will hold an Open Streets event this Saturday. 

Farther south, the next Atlanta Streets Alive open streets will be on September 28. 

Oregon's Bicycle Transportation Alliance conducts outreach to people to bike through River View Cemetery, a privately owned property with a bike route through it. 

BikeTexas is already getting ready for International Walk to School Day on October 8. 

TRAILER

Let's talk about shoaling.