A recent letter to the Des Moines Register called for bicycles to be licensed. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition thinks this is a bad idea for many reasons. Most of all, a tax on riding a bicycle (let's call it what it really is - a new tax) will cause many Iowans to permanently stop riding bicycles.

Think about it. If your kids want to ride a bike, but you need to go to city hall and get a license , you might say not today. At a time when Iowa's obese population has exceeded 28%, is this a good idea?

Susan Desotel has died from injuries sustained in a July 29th crash involving a bicycle and motor vehicle in Cedar Rapids.  News reports indicate that Desotel was traveling southbound on C Street SW and approaching Wilson Avenue Drive around 6:30 p.m., when an oncoming pickup turned in her path.

Susan died on Monday, August 3rd.  The Iowa Bicycle Coalition expresses sympathy to Susan's family and friends.

Today the Iowa Civil Justice Foundation and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition announce a joint Safe Cycling project promoting bicycle helmet use for Iowa kids. The groups will collaborate to outfit children with new bike helmets at community events across the state. This bicycle helmet project is a continuing commitment for the Iowa groups, who are currently accepting event requests.

At the May 11 meeting of the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission, the 5-year Transportation Improvement Plan was adopted.  This plan spells out the priorities for the Iowa DOT from 2011 to 2016. 

It is important to note that all the the projects in the plan could have bicycle accommodations, like paved shoulders.  It is still important to attend public meetings and communicate with your local DOT office to learn more.

Here is a list of the projects to be initiated in fiscal year 2011.  The projects selected are paving or rehabilitation projects that may include paved shoulders.  Interstate or freeway projects are not included in this list.