Politicycle: Should your senator be booted from the Senate Bike Caucus?
The National Bike Summit, the biggest bicycle lobbying event of the year, kicked off tonight in Washington. This is the 10th summit, and it's the largest on record. Bikes Belong unveiled a new campaign and petition drive, and Google's planning a major announcement tomorrow (most likely the launch of the much anticipated "bike there" feature).
The lobbying frenzy begins on Thursday, so I checked up on whether the members of the Senate Bike Caucus have stood up for cyclists. Some, such as Charles Schumer and Richard Durbin, have fought hard to make cycling a more viable transportation option over the last few years. Others, such as Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Orrin Hatch, seem to be bicycle supporters in name only. Here's the full run down:
Kay Bailey Hutchison R-TX
Voted against the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors zero bicycle-friendly pieces of legislation. Voted against funding the Cash for Clunkers program. Has voted with Republicans 89.1 percent of the time. Voted against a fringe benefit for bicycle commuters. Her minimal web footprint about bicycling suggests Hutchinson's support of bicycling is superficial.Bottom line: She's done little to support cycling and may well deserve to be booted from the Caucus.
Kay Bailey Hutchison R-TX
Voted against the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors zero bicycle-friendly pieces of legislation. Voted against funding the Cash for Clunkers program. Has voted with Republicans 89.1 percent of the time. Voted against a fringe benefit for bicycle commuters. Her minimal web footprint about bicycling suggests Hutchinson's support of bicycling is superficial.Bottom line: She's done little to support cycling and may well deserve to be booted from the Caucus.
Sherrod Brown D-OH Voted with the League of Americans Bicyclists in two key votes and cosponsors zero pieces of bicycle-friendly legislation. He voted against requiring the full Senate to consider cap and trade. Has voted with Democrats 97.1 percent of the time. Voted yes on fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Is pushing hard to include bicycle infrastructure for for a key bridge in Cleveland. Also has a light web footprint. Bottom line: Brown has done some to help cyclists, but it would help if he cosponsored more bills beneficial to cyclists.
Ben Cardin D-MD
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors three pieces of bicycle-friendly legislation. Has spoken out about the in opposition to America's auto-centric lifestyle. Has voted with Democrats 97.1 percent of the time. Light web footprint. Bottom line: Cardin supports cycling, but he ought to speak out more.
Ben Cardin D-MD
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors three pieces of bicycle-friendly legislation. Has spoken out about the in opposition to America's auto-centric lifestyle. Has voted with Democrats 97.1 percent of the time. Light web footprint. Bottom line: Cardin supports cycling, but he ought to speak out more.
Susan Collins R-ME
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted yes on the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted to fund the Cash for Clunkers program. Voted with Republicans just 62 percent of the time, a low percentage compared to most senators. Light web footprint about bicycling. Bottom line: Collins has been a quiet supporter of bicycling, though she could do much more to convince many of her Republican colleagues that cyclists deserve a seat at the table.
Christopher Dodd D-CT
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors two bicycle friendly pieces of legislation. Voted against requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Democrats 98 percent of the time. Has vowed to pass the Livable Communities Act. Has argued that bikes belong on trains. However, he plans to retire soon. Bottom line: You won't catch Dodd out riding, but he values the role bicycles can play in our transportation system. It's unfortunate that he's on the way out.
Richard Durbin D-IL
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle friendly pieces of legislation. Voted against requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Democrats 97.3 percent of the time. Defended bicycling as a form of transportation when Senator Coburn charged it was only a form of recreation. Earmarked some $2,850,000 for bicycle improvements in Illinois in 2009. Proposed a bill, S.808, to encourage bicycling. Bottom line: Durbin is one of the most dedicated and vocal supporters of bicycling in the Senate. Thank him.
Orrin Hatch R-UT
Voted against the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors zero bicycle-friendly pieces of legislation. Voted for requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Votedagainst the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted against funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Republicans 86.1 percent of the time. Has a minimal web footprint suggesting he supports bicycles.Bottom line: Hatch appears to be a bicycle supporter in name only.
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted yes on the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted to fund the Cash for Clunkers program. Voted with Republicans just 62 percent of the time, a low percentage compared to most senators. Light web footprint about bicycling. Bottom line: Collins has been a quiet supporter of bicycling, though she could do much more to convince many of her Republican colleagues that cyclists deserve a seat at the table.
Christopher Dodd D-CT
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors two bicycle friendly pieces of legislation. Voted against requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Democrats 98 percent of the time. Has vowed to pass the Livable Communities Act. Has argued that bikes belong on trains. However, he plans to retire soon. Bottom line: You won't catch Dodd out riding, but he values the role bicycles can play in our transportation system. It's unfortunate that he's on the way out.
Richard Durbin D-IL
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle friendly pieces of legislation. Voted against requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Democrats 97.3 percent of the time. Defended bicycling as a form of transportation when Senator Coburn charged it was only a form of recreation. Earmarked some $2,850,000 for bicycle improvements in Illinois in 2009. Proposed a bill, S.808, to encourage bicycling. Bottom line: Durbin is one of the most dedicated and vocal supporters of bicycling in the Senate. Thank him.
Orrin Hatch R-UT
Voted against the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors zero bicycle-friendly pieces of legislation. Voted for requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Votedagainst the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted against funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Republicans 86.1 percent of the time. Has a minimal web footprint suggesting he supports bicycles.Bottom line: Hatch appears to be a bicycle supporter in name only.
Maria Cantwell D-WA
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors zero pieces of bicycle-friendly legislation. Voted for requiring the full Senate to vote on cap and trade. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Democrats 94.2 percent of the time. Was an early supporter of the Bicycle Commuter Act. Light web footprint about bicycling. Bottom line: Supports cycling in some ways, but why isn't she a cosponsor of more bills?
Daniel Inouye D-H
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and sponsors zero pieces of bicycles friendly legislation. Voted against requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Voted to fund the Cash for Clunkers program. Voted for the bicycle fringe benefit. Minimal web footprint. Bottom line:Inouye should be doing more.
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and cosponsors zero pieces of bicycle-friendly legislation. Voted for requiring the full Senate to vote on cap and trade. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has voted with Democrats 94.2 percent of the time. Was an early supporter of the Bicycle Commuter Act. Light web footprint about bicycling. Bottom line: Supports cycling in some ways, but why isn't she a cosponsor of more bills?
Daniel Inouye D-H
Voted with the League of American Bicyclists on two key votes and sponsors zero pieces of bicycles friendly legislation. Voted against requiring that the Senate consider cap and trade. Voted to fund the Cash for Clunkers program. Voted for the bicycle fringe benefit. Minimal web footprint. Bottom line:Inouye should be doing more.
John Kerry D-MA
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers. Votes with his party 97 percent of the time. Enjoys cycling on his $8,000 Serotta Ottrott. Has raced road bikes competitively. Also rides a mountain bike. Bottom line: Kerry's a strong supporter of cycling with first-hand experience in the saddle.
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers. Votes with his party 97 percent of the time. Enjoys cycling on his $8,000 Serotta Ottrott. Has raced road bikes competitively. Also rides a mountain bike. Bottom line: Kerry's a strong supporter of cycling with first-hand experience in the saddle.
Robert Menendez D-NJ
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors three bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes to require the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers. Votes with his party 97.1 percent of the time. Helped get stimulus funds for Camden. Bottom line: A solid supporter of bicycling. It should be interesting to see what this first term senator does in the future.
Bernie Sanders I-VT
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors three bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes to require the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on the bicycle fringe benefit. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers.Took a Saturday ride with Senators Schumer and LeHay. Votes with Independents 92.5 percent of the time. Minimal web presence. Bottom line: Sanders is a solid supporter of bicycles, but he's somewhat reticent.
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors three bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes to require the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers. Votes with his party 97.1 percent of the time. Helped get stimulus funds for Camden. Bottom line: A solid supporter of bicycling. It should be interesting to see what this first term senator does in the future.
Bernie Sanders I-VT
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors three bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted yes to require the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on the bicycle fringe benefit. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers.Took a Saturday ride with Senators Schumer and LeHay. Votes with Independents 92.5 percent of the time. Minimal web presence. Bottom line: Sanders is a solid supporter of bicycles, but he's somewhat reticent.
Charles Schumer D-NY
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors four bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted against requiring the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on the bicycle fringe benefit. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers. As I've blogged about before, he's a dedicated cyclist that's unusually vocal about his support for cycling. Bottom line: He's probably the most bicycle-friendly senator in office.
Olympia Snowe R-ME
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted for requiring the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has chaired the Senate Bike Caucus since 2008. Minimal web footprint. Bottom line: For a co-chair of the Senate Bike Caucus, Snowe has been remarkably quiet.
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors four bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted against requiring the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on the bicycle fringe benefit. Voted yes to fund Cash for Clunkers. As I've blogged about before, he's a dedicated cyclist that's unusually vocal about his support for cycling. Bottom line: He's probably the most bicycle-friendly senator in office.
Olympia Snowe R-ME
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors one bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted for requiring the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Has chaired the Senate Bike Caucus since 2008. Minimal web footprint. Bottom line: For a co-chair of the Senate Bike Caucus, Snowe has been remarkably quiet.
Ron Wyden D-OR
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors two bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted against requiring the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Spoke to cyclists on Bike to Work Day in Washington. Introduced the Bicycle Commuters Act. Has voted with Democratic colleagues 97.1 percent of the time. Bottom line: Wyden is a reliable supporter of bicycles, though that's to be expected since he hails from Oregon.
Voted with the League of American cyclists on two key votes and cosponsors two bicycle-friendly piece of legislation. Voted for the fringe benefit for cyclists. Voted against requiring the Senate to consider cap and trade. Voted yes on funding Cash for Clunkers. Spoke to cyclists on Bike to Work Day in Washington. Introduced the Bicycle Commuters Act. Has voted with Democratic colleagues 97.1 percent of the time. Bottom line: Wyden is a reliable supporter of bicycles, though that's to be expected since he hails from Oregon.
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