Bike Lobby Flexes Its Muscles

"All-powerful the bike lobby is not," note Tau and Emma. "Cars — and the infrastructure needed to accommodate them — still receive the overwhelming percentage of federal, state and local transportation dollars. But a scrappy band of bicycle manufacturers, smart-growth advocates and cycling nonprofits is increasingly fighting — and winning — battles at all levels of government."

"They’ve helped birth the proliferation of bike share systems across the country, thousands of miles of newly paved or painted bike lanes, new laws to protect riders and a vocal constituency of die-hard activists and voters. Now those activists are increasingly branching into politics — forming PACs, backing friendly politicians and donating money on behalf of their cause."