Why celebrate the bicycle and bicycling in Louisiana in 2012? Here are a few of the things going on around the state in support of bicycling:

• Louisiana Legislature enacted the Colin Goodier Protection Act (2009) mandating a minimum 3-feet passing separation distance when an automobile passes a bicyclist;
• Louisiana Legislature strengthened the Colin Goodier Protection Act (2010 and 2011);
• Work on getting the United States Bicycle Route 90 through Louisiana progresses;
  
• Louisiana Legislature passed Senate Concurrent resolute 110 establishing a Complete Streets Work Group (2009) to create a document defining Complete Streets and outlining the means of implementing Complete Streets throughout the state via the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development(LaDOTD);
• Louisiana Legislature modifies the Functions section of the Department of Transportation and Development to include Complete Streets wording (RS 48:21);
• Louisiana Legislature (2010 and 2011) modifies and strengthens many bicycling-related state laws;
• Louisiana Legislature (2010) modifies RS 48:163.1.D to say the amount spent on bicycle facilities "may be at least one percent of the total funds appropriated to the transportation trust fund in any given fiscal year"
• LaDOTD completes update of the Louisiana Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2009) ;
• Monroe Advocates for Safe Streets (M.A.S.S.) established in 2009, dedicate 2 bicycle paths the same year;
• Bike Lafayette begins to form (2011) and continues to grow;
  
• Shreveport holds its first Velo ride, fall 2009, its second Velo ride in fall 2010, its third Velo ride in fall 2011, and begins painting sharrows on selected routes;
• New Orleans continues rebuilding, installs bicycle lanes and sharrows on selected routes, continue the mapping project to rate all streets in the city, and is awarded Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly City by the League of American Bicyclists;
• Baton Rouge designated Bronze Level "Bicycle Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists; sharrows painted on select routes; Mayor's Bicycle Program Phase 2 public input meetings held to help shape the next phase of the Mayor's Bicycle Program in the city-parish;
• and much more around the state