A US Congressman was on Newsnight talking about the debt crisis, but all eyes were on the bright green bicycle he was wearing on his lapel. What could it mean?

It's big, it's green and everyone wants one

On Monday night, viewers of BBC2's Newsnight were served an undoubtedly vital, but rather dry discussion between two US politicians about their nation's looming "debtaggedon". But the moment the satellite link-up patched through to the two men standing together on Capitol Hill, all watching eyes were quickly diverted to Earl Blumenauer, a Democratic congressman from Oregon.

Not only was he wearing a rather flamboyant bow-tie, but pinned to his lapel was a large, plastic, neon green bicycle. Twitter immediately lit up with comments such as, "What's with that man's bicycle?!"

Even Jeremy Paxman couldn't resist, ending the interview with the query: "Can I just ask you, Mr Blumenauer, what is that extraordinary green bicycle on your lapel?"

"Well, I am aggressively 'bike partisan'," replied Blumenauer, "and this is the congressional bike caucus membership pin."

When Blumenauer was elected to Congress in 1996 he continued the pro-cycling advocacy he had nurtured as city commissioner of Portland by establishing the House Bike Caucus, which now boasts 140 members from 43 states. Their mission is "to provide congressional leadership in complementing the efforts of the millions of cyclists actively working for safer roads, more bikeways, convenient bike parking and increased recognition of the importance of cycling for transportation and recreation".

Perhaps the biggest success to date is the Bicycle Commuter Act, which was promoted by Blumenauer and means, since 2009, that US employers qualify for a tax break if they offer $20 per month to employees towards the purchase of a bicycle and any repairs or storage costs. Every little helps in car-crazed America.