"A bicycle-friendly world is a very good thing."
"You have to go talk to lawmakers ... government leaders will listen to you."
"I believe that the industry really needs to redirect resources away from traditional spending to advocacy."

In the following YouTube video, watch John Burke, CEO of Trek Bikes, USA, speak at a bike trade show in Taipei on March 25, 2007 on the importance of bicycles, how bicycling can help us face challenges ranging from obesity to traffic congestion to the environment, and how industry must increase its involvement in bike advocacy. This follows a similar presentation at the the League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit in mid-March. (23 minutes.)

California has more than 8 million regular bicyclists. With rising gas prices, and concerns about obesity and other inactivty-related illness, the California bicycle industry is experiencing booming sales. More and more industry leaders, like John Burke, are making the connection between California's investment in infrastructure for bicyclists (including bike lanes and paths and parking facilities) and their bottom line.

In 2005, CBC hosted its first Pedal Power Lobby Day, a two-day event to demonstrate the strength of the bicycle movement in California. In addition to bike advocacy groups and clubs, participants included members of bicycle industry such as:

• Retailers
• Manufacturers
• Distributors
• Trade organizations

Bicycle industry leaders and statewide advocates at the State Capitol during Pedal Power 2006 (click to enlarge.)