The League of American Bicyclists was founded in 1880 (as the League of American Wheelmen), to protect and advance the rights of bicyclists. The League was the first transportation organization in America, and at one time the most influential lobbying interest in the country with more than 100,000 members (1890's). So broad was the League's scope that it spawned many of today's well known institutions, including the Federal Highway Administration (formed as a result of the League's Good Roads Movement), the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the United States Cycling Federation. With the exception of two brief dormant periods, one in the 30's and one in the 50's, the League has been promoting the same mission for 114 years.
Currently the League has more than 28,000 individual members and 475 affiliated bicycle clubs (including the GCC) and advocacy groups. By working with individual members and affiliated organizations, the League directly represents more than 150,000 bicyclists nationwide. The typical member is an avid road-rider who logs anywhere from 50 to 200 miles per week, commonly uses the bicycle for transportation purposes, and believes that significant improvements can be made in our transportation system and the attitudes of motorists to make bicycling a safer, more enjoyable activity.
The ability of the League to represent bicycling interests when dealing with governmental officials and agencies is directly affected by how many bicyclists are members of the League. The bigger the numbers, the more the politicians and bureaucrats listen. While a lot has been accomplished over the last twenty years, a lot yet needs to be done to bring the bicycle up to a widely recognized form of transportation, and what has been gained needs to be defended. As this is being written, the League is engaged with the Consumer Products Safety Commission which is recommending that development of bicycle facilities be concentrated on providing off- street side paths. Many studies, and our own experiences here in Gainesville, have shown side paths to be dangerous places to ride a bicycle, with crash rates up to twenty times that of cyclists on the adjacent roadways. WE NEED YOU to help fight off such insanities of the bureaucracy.
The Gainesville Cycling Club is proud to have designated the Horse Farm Hundred a Bicycling for Bicyclists Event. This means one dollar of every riders' registration fee was donated to the League of American Bicyclists to support their efforts in the areas of bicycling advocacy and education. The Gainesville Cycling Club has been League affiliated for many years, working with them to help make bicycling safer and more enjoyable for all. Thank you for helping us help you by participating in the Horse Farm Hundred.