Marking the first time that a bicycling organization has ever been included, the League of American Bicyclists has been voted as a member of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD). The League joins 18 other organizations that make up this Committee, including the American Automobile Association (AAA), the National Safety Council, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
The NCUTCD is an independent organization that drafts the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices used nationwide. The Manual is published in the Federal Register and adopted by the Department of Transportation as the mandatory national standard for road signage, markings, and traffic devices on all roads, streets, and highways across the United States.
"This is a significant achievemen for the League, for bicycling, and for everyone who cares about promoting cycling in this country," said Jody Newman, Executive Director of the League. "It is vital that our roads and traffic patterns be set up to maximize safe and enjoyable cycling, and to promote sharing of the road by cyclists and motorists. Our acceptance into the NCUTCD marks our continued progress in making America more bicycle friendly."
The NCUTCD convenes twice a year, with the next meeting schedule for June 1999 in Orlando, Florida. In addition to the full Committee, League representatives will serve on the NCUTCD's Bicycle Technical Committee.