LAB and LEVA to Build a Bridge of Cooperation and Communication
The League of American Bicyclists was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880. Bicyclists, known then as "wheelmen", were challenged by rutted roads of gravel and dirt and faced antagonism from horsemen, wagon drivers, and pedestrians. In an effort to improve riding conditions so they might better enjoy their newly discovered sport, more than 100,000 cyclists from across the United States joined the League to advocate for paved roads. The success of the League in its first advocacy efforts ultimately led to our national highway system.Today the LAB has 300,000 members in the USA and plays an important role in working with Congress on legislation to make roads and pathways more accessible to the bicycle rider. LAB members work with local communities to establish bike lanes and bike routes. The LAB efforts for pedal cyclists can be also helpful to the electric bicycle rider who uses the same roads and pathways. In that spirit, Frank Jamerson had a conversation with Andy Clarke, Executive Director of LAB, in December 2008 to develop a “bridge” between LAB and the newly formed Light Electric Vehicle Association.
Here is Andy Clarke’s observation from that conversation. “The League sees the electric bike market and electric bikes as an important and growing part of the incredible variety of vehicles that make up bicycling today. Electric-assist and battery technology improves every year, making electric bikes more appealing and practical to ever-larger numbers of people – and that’s a good thing. There are going to be important and unique issues for the new Light Electric Vehicle Association to address on behalf of electric bicycle riders – just as there are for mountain bikes, BMX and competitive riders and bike-mounted police – and you can be sure that the League is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of cyclists whether they have an electric assist or not.”
Ed Benjamin, during one of his many trips to Asia, responded in this manner. "The LEVA membership is largely from the world bicycle industry, and many regard themselves as bicycle companies or bicycle people that have expanded the definition of bicycle transmissions to include assistance from an electric motor - making human electric hybrids. As an association that focuses on the manufacturers, distributors, designers and component makers for these vehicles - the support and input of rider focused organizations like the League of American Bicyclists is valued and sought after."
Thus it is evident to EBWR, as the LEVA achieves organizational success, it will be working with the LAB on issues of common interest to the bicycling community. Thus the world will see the expanding evolution of bicycling, both human and electric powered, as an important contributor to sustainable transportation in the future.
