American Bicyclist - Fall 2021 by League of American Bicyclists

FALL 2021 ISSUE

b ik in g • for •

H E A LT H

IN THIS ISSUE FINALLY, WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE! WHEN HEALTHCARE IS YOUR BUSINESS, BICYCLING IS ESSENTIAL NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS & AWARDEES INCREASING THE INCLUSIVITY OF BIKE EDUCATION THE LEAGUE SAG WAGON RETURNS ...AND MORE!

H OW A F O C U S O N

PUBLIC HEALTH MEANS

better

biking

IN MEMORIAM

REMEMBERING MATTHEW GREEN It is with a heavy heart that the League informs our community of the passing of Matthew Green. If you have ever sent in a donation to the League, ever renewed your membership by mail, ever bought a pair of socks or a water bottle from us — if you’ve ordered a box of Quick Guides or registered for an LCI Seminar or attended a National Bike Summit, Matthew Green touched your life. Matt was an integral part of the League. He was a beloved son, an adored younger brother, and a light in the lives of all who knew him. On May 12, 2021, Matt’s light tragically passed from this world. Each of us feels his loss, and none feels it more starkly than his family. We are fortunate to have been able to know Matt, to share his joy in all things gaming and geeky, and to be uplifted by his big, bright smile and his gentle demeanor. Matt is survived by his mother and father, Lorna and Bill, his brother, Christopher, and his partner, Tenisha. The League staff will not be the same without him.

Matthew with Tenisha, his partner of over ten years. Matthew speaking at the National Bike Summit Arlington, VA rally.

IN THIS ISSUE

AMERICAN BICYCLIST • FALL 2021

We Have 04 Finally, Infrastructure!

The League continues to lead and build coalitions to push bike-forward policy and bills that will make bicycling safer, more accessible, and more comfortable for everyone. Here’s where we are on the Hill for better biking.

a Focus on Public Health 10 How Means Better Biking Bicycling is at the forefront of building a more active and healthy nation. Public health officials in Minnesota have become bike advocates, helping push the state to third place on our Bicycle Friendly State ranking.

Healthcare is Your Washington State Plans 16 When 26 How Business, Bicycling is Essential to Stay #1 For Biking There’s a joy in seeing businesses dedicated to healthcare recognize the impact bicycling has in building a healthier, more connected community. Learn how healthcare heroes are being champions for better biking as well.

You don’t get to be the #1 state for bicycling without leaving room for improvement. Read our breakdown of WSDOT’s new Active Transportation Plan and what other states can do to guide their planning.

Biggest National Bike 32 Our Summit Yet

the Inclusivity of 42 Increasing Bike Education

viewpoint 2 On Wellness, Climate & The Joy of The Ride Bill Nesper, Executive Director

smart cycling 22 Shining the Spotlight on our LCIs

Going virtual for the 2021 National Bike Summit allowed bike advocates and thought leaders from across the country to connect in ways not previously imagined possible.

44 What’s Keeping Us Moving: League Staff SAG Wagon Editors: Lauren Jenkins, Communications Director Raven Wells, Communications Coordinator

Everyone who wants to bike should feel represented by the bicycle movement. We’re expanding our Smart Cycling curriculum to reflect riders of all skill levels and extending opportunities for more BIPOC bike educators to become League Cycling Instructors.

clubs 14 The Return of the Century

Creative Direction & Design: Paul Halupka � ha-lup-ka.com // With thanks to Tara Sears for production support

VIEWPOINT

ON WELLNESS, CLIMATE & THE JOY OF THE RIDE BY BILL NESPER

T H E LO N G M E E T I N G S. THE WEBINARS. THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. The work that underpins our movement to build a Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone belies the magic that ties it all together: the simple joy of a bike ride. In my travels, in meeting local advocates and business owners to council members and mayors across the country, almost everyone remembers that feeling of flight when you begin to pedal – that first freedom of movement by bike. It makes us smile. It is visceral and it provides a foundation to build on and make the connection between the low-cost investments for better biking and the great returns of improved lives and communities. The theme of this issue of American Bicyclist is wellness. You will read how advocates, businesses, communities, educators, state agencies, and more are making bicycling safe, comfortable, and accessible for all - because it brings us together and makes us happier, healthier, and helps heal the environment. The magic of biking is more than a fleeting feeling. Studies show bike commuters are the happiest commuters and we know biking regularly helps protect people from chronic disease. There are also immediate benefits to biking. The Physical Activity Guidelines for

Americans issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services report that some benefits of moderate to vigorous physical activity are almost instantaneous “such as reduced feelings of anxiety, reduced blood pressure, and improvements in sleep, some aspects of cognitive function, and insulin sensitivity. Other benefits, such as increased cardiorespiratory fitness, increased muscular strength, decreases in depressive symptoms, and sustained reduction in blood pressure, require a few weeks or months of participation in physical activity.” Plus, wellness goes beyond our own health. Transportation is the largest contributor to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. With 50% of all trips in the U.S. being three miles or less, about a 15-minute bike ride, shifting some of these to bike trips would make a big impact in reducing these emissions and fighting climate change. As we pass through this pandemic and heal, I hope the people and organizations seen in this issue inspire you to keep up the momentum in your community. We have a historic opportunity to build back better and bicycle-friendly with new funding on the way, better policies in the works, and millions of people who have newly experienced the joy of bicycling over the last 18 months. Thanks for riding with us, supporting this work, and doing what you can to make a healthier now and a brighter future through better biking for all.

LCI Seminar participants completing drills at a Washington, D.C. seminar hosted in May 2021 by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Credit: Shalia Watts

“Wellness goes beyond

WABA’s Youth Learn to Ride class in May 2021. Credit: Shalia Watts

our own health.

With 50% of all trips in the U.S. being three miles or less — about a 15 minute bike ride — shifting some of these to bike trips would make a big impact in reducing these emissions and fighting climate change.”

CHECK OUT OUR INCREDIBLE LINEUP OF SPEAKERS AND SESSIONS FROM #BIKESUMMIT21 ON THE LEAGUE’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

YOUTUBE.COM/BIKELEAGUE LCI Seminar participants from a Washington, D.C. seminar held in May of 2021 gather around for a group photo. Credit: Shalia Watts

FEDERAL POLICY

FINALLY, WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE! B Y CA R O N W H I TA K E R

While the media has been focused on the negotiations between President Biden and Senators on a larger infrastructure package, Congress has been diligently working on a regular order transportation reauthorization bill to cover funding and policy for transportation for the next five years.

Where we are now

As of this writing, the Senate has passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. The House is set to vote on the bill at the end of September — and this process has been anything but predictable. However the fate of the IIJA, which focuses on physical infrastructure including transportation, water, and broadband, may depend on what happens with the larger reconciliation bill. What’s in the bill for bicycling and walking? While the bill is getting some mixed reviews from both ends of the political spectrum, biking and walking will be much improved if the IIJA passes. This was possible because, so far, investing in active transportation has not been a partisan or controversial issue.

Funding

Most of the funding for bicycling and walking flows through the Transportation Alternatives program through grants to local governments. The IIJA makes dramatic funding increases to Transportation Alternatives, and makes policy changes that make it easier for local governments to access funding: for instance it sets aside funds for states to offer technical assistance to local governments which will help cities and towns bring their projects from idea to construction.

Networks

The bill also emphasizes a need to measure and improve how well our transportation system works to get people where they want to go regardless of whether they are biking, walking, driving or taking transit. By providing better data and/or providing a test to measure accessibility, states and communities can improve the ability of their citizens to get where they are going.

Safety

Both bills also push money to fix areas that are dangerous for bicycling and walking. While overall traffic fatalities remained steady from 2009-2019, pedestrian deaths increased by 50 percent and bicyclists deaths increased by 30 percent. Traditionally, state Departments of Transportation spend on average 1-2 percent of their safety funding improving conditions for bicycling and walking. This bill will require states where 15 percent or more of their fatalities are bicyclists and pedestrians to spend at least 15 percent of their safety dollars on bicycling and walking. The bill also requires every state to do a Vulnerable Road User Assessment to identify dangerous corridors and to list potential safety solutions. Such an assessment will allow advocates to track how well states are doing fixing their dangerous areas. It is a common sense solution to address a problem where it exists. For the first time ever, the bill also takes steps to ensure vehicle safety standards address the safety of people outside of cars such as automatic emergency braking, and testing car hoods and bumpers.

Overall themes in the bills Climate change

We focus on the bicycling and walking provisions in the bill, but we’d be remiss not to mention that this is the first ever transportation legislation to include a Climate section and require states to set a goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Equity

The bill also takes a serious look at the inequities of our transportation system and works to address them. The bill includes a Reconnecting Communities program that funds communities to remove highways that divide low income communities and communities of color, and/or to mitigate the resulting disconnect. It also requires states to prioritize low income communities when addressing air quality and climate pollution. Advocates had hoped for stronger climate and equity provisions and we agree. However, this bill represents a step forward.

Is this the same as President Biden’s American Jobs Plan? This spring, President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan, a proposed $2.2 trillion investment in America’s Infrastructure. After negotiating with a group of 20 bipartisan Senators it became a $1.2 trillion deal, which included both the regular five-year transportation reauthorization bill plus significant new spending.

Most of the programs described here were in the original transportation reauthorization bill, but the additional funding includes $5 billion for bicycling and walking safety, and $5 billion for multi-modal grants.

The City of Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer on a Bike to Work Day ride. Photo Courtesy of The City of Orlando.

What happened to the House INVEST in America Act? Was that bill better than this one? Normally the House and Senate both work on their own transportation bill, and then the two bills are negotiated and combined into one bill. The House did pass a bill this year and when it comes to the themes of equity and climate it was a much stronger bill. It was also a partisan bill, passing the House with only two Republican votes. Usually transportation bills are some of the most bipartisan bills Congress moves. Unfortunately the House bill will not be negotiated with the IIJA. In order for the transportation bill to include policy changes it has to pass the Senate with 60 votes. The Senate negotiations were so tight that if the House were to make changes the bill wouldn’t pass. However, the House bill acted as a thought leader, and pushed the Senate to consider and include some aspects that would have been unlikely if the House had not done their bill.

Will this bill pass?

We expect it to pass, but Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said the IIJA will only pass the House if the House also passes a reconciliation bill.

Is there anything for bicycling and walking in the reconciliation bill?

At this writing, the League of American Bicyclists is advocating for transportation tax credits including reinstating a Bicycle Commuter Act, and a tax rebate for the purchase of electric bikes.

LEGISLATIVE TIMELINE SENATE

HOUSE

COMMITTEE PROCESS EPW - Highways Banking, HUD - Transit Commerce - Safety Finance - Funding

SENATE FLOOR VOTE

COMMITTEE PROCESS

Transportation & Infrastructure - Policy Energy & Commerce Vehicle Safety Ways & Means - Funding

HOUSE FLOOR VOTE

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

SENATE FLOOR VOTE

HOUSE FLOOR VOTE

PRESIDENT SIGNS

We are also advocating for environmental justice programs that would improve access for people who don’t drive and focus on improving transportation services for low income communities and communities of color.

What happens after a bill or bills pass? When will we see the difference on the ground?

The next step in this process will be for USDOT to write guidance to the states on how to interpret the new law. The way the funding works, states spend their own money upfront and then the USDOT refunds them the money based on if the state followed the guidance.

Our next step is to influence that guidance to be as bicycle friendly as possible — so next year we’ll be focused on working with Secretary Buttigieg and his department while asking for your help! Infrastructure changes in your neighborhood will still be a few years away even after the bill passes, but the tax changes could happen much quicker.

In Conclusion

Assuming a new transportation bill passes this year, it should be great news for biking and walking, and we have several members of the House and Senate to thank for their tireless support. When the time comes I hope you will join us in thanking them. 7

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COVER STORY

HOW A FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH MEANS BETTER BIKING

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H E A LT H

BY WILL WLIZLO

IF YOU SPEND ANY TIME IN MINNESOTA, you’ll discover that we natives

can be pretty insufferable in our exceptionalism (just ask us about our voter turnout rates!) And so, of course, we crow that Minnesota regularly ranks near the top of the Bicycle Friendly State list, despite our frigid winters. As of 2019, Minnesota is in third place. But our most effective bicycle advocates, the folks who keep pushing us toward the podium, are the humblest of all: public health practitioners.

Above: Riding along the Gitchi-Gami State Trail | Right: Community Wayfinding Signage Found in Downtown Winona, MN. Photo Courtesy of Winona.

3rd Grade "On-theRoad Day" Bike Safety Education Course in Grand Marais, MN. Photo Courtesy of Grand Marais.

Transportation planners get a lot of attention in bike advocacy, but there are potential allies for advocates in many state and local offices. In Minnesota, our public health practitioners flex their muscle through the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), a program of the Minnesota Department of Health. SHIP is tasked with finding “community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco-free living.” With annual funding of $17.5 million, SHIP operates in all 87 counties and 10 tribal nations.

Visit the opposite corner of Minnesota and you’ll find an equally opposite tactic. Jackson is a farming community where 23 percent of residents are in the 65-plus age-bracket, compared to statewide where 15 percent of the population is older than 65. Programming for seniors “is always going to be on our radar,” said Luke Ewald, Health Educator for Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services. That has included hosting “Bike Basics for Boomers” classes and starting a simple bike share system downtown.

Among SHIP’s dozens of strategies, many are dedicated to making Minnesota’s cities better for people who bike. The beauty of this model is that each hyperlocal practitioner uses public health interventions suited to the challenges and cultures of their service areas.

Knowing the local older adult community’s affinity for morning walks inspired Ewald to advocate for a winter snow removal policy. “There are tons of footprints in the snow, and it’s not just deer,” he said. This policy has been a boon to the entire community, including people biking through the winter.

For example, consider the North Shore getaway town of Grand Marais, where Lake Superior laps at idyllic bluffs.

In the southern Minnesota city of Faribault, installing a demonstration bike lane was a public health intervention.

“The fact that we have biking and hiking amenities is really great and it’s important that everyone can use them safely,” said Andrea Orest, Cook County’s SHIP Coordinator. Orest organizes bike education for third and fourth graders in Grand Marais. Local youngsters learn rules of the road and bicycle handling skills in class, then test their knowledge with an on-street ride around the city.

“Bike trails, bike paths, and sidewalks—they’re good for getting moving and feeling better,” said Josh Ramaker, SHIP Coordinator for Rice County. The infrastructure is one mile long and provides a safe connection from a mobile home park to a school and a city trail. The project cost $9,608 and connected 400 mostly Spanish-speaking Faribault residents to their education, jobs, and broader community. “In creating more equitable situations,” said Ramaker. “You help people feel more connected to their community. There’s a lot of value in that.” Good health outcomes follow if you pay attention to construction timetables. Just ask Patrick Hollister, Active Living Planner at PartnerSHIP 4 Health, which covers four

counties in west central Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has two lists he watches. First, there’s CHIP, the Capital Highway Investment Plan, which tracks state highways that will be reconstructed within a decade. Then there’s STIP, or State Transportation Improvement Program, which tracks projects in the 1-5 year range. “Once a road gets on the STIP list, its design can become carved in granite, fossilized,” said Hollister. To get ahead of the process, Hollister engages communities in the design process about six years out from construction with an aim of making roads more biking and walking friendly. For example, Hollister stirred up community input on the reconstruction of MN 87 through Frazee and scored a new multi-use trail along the highway. Active transportation improvements help residents prevent and manage chronic illnesses, including diabetes, which is a more common health concern in this part of Minnesota. “Safe, stable housing is a foundation of a healthy life and finding that stability allows you to look into the future,” said Betsy Christensen, Health Improvement Programs Coordinator of the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (STPHA). (STPHA has recently become independent from SHIP but operates in a similar manner.) Christensen serves about 20,000 people who live in Minnesota’s capital. Her forward-looking approach makes STPHA’s regular bicycle giveaway

A young rider at a bicycle giveaway in Saint Paul. Credit: Saint Paul Public Housing Agency

events among the agency’s most important programming. Empowering kids with bikes tightens social connections among residents, encourages parents to attend learn-to-ride classes, and fosters more diverse engagement in citywide transportation planning. For a community whose access to reliable transportation can make or break their health outcomes, working from the kids up makes a huge difference. Has bicycling been booming in Minnesota? You betcha. State and local advocates have built an ecosystem for people to thrive on bikes year in and year out. And with ongoing investments in better bicycling through public health, Minnesota has seen decreased rates for many chronic diseases. “Public health folks bring resources, leadership, and insight that provide biking and walking advocates with tools they need to be more effective in implementing sustainable change,” said Natalie Gille, Greater Minnesota Program Manager at the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota. While it’s too early to take a victory lap, collaboration among public health and bicycle advocates here is spurring more people to bike and making us healthier in the meantime. Will Wlizlo, LCI #4445, is the Safe Routes to School Coordinator for Richfield Public Schools in Richfield, Minnesota.

2017 County Commissioner of Cook County, MN assisting a child on a bike safety rodeo course

Mom and kids riding the paved trail at Cuyuna. Credit: Aaron W Hautala

WHAT IS ACTIVE PEOPLE, HEALTHY NATION? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is on a mission to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. The League is proud to partner with the Active People, Healthy Nation initiative through our work to build activity friendly routes to everyday destinations and create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

How Do We Get More People to be More Active?

Why Do We Need More Active People?

By moving approximately 15 million adults from inactive (no aerobic activity) to some moderate-intensity activity every day, like biking.

Increased physical activity can improve overall health, quality of life, air quality and reduce health care costs.

By moving 10 million adults from some physical activity to meeting the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline.

Physical activity reduces the risk of at least 20 chronic diseases.

By moving 2 million young people from some physical activity to meeting the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline by being physically active for at least 60 minutes every day. By promoting strategies that work, like Complete Streets policies, school physical activity programs, and communities with connected sidewalks, trails, bicycle lanes, and public transit—all based on a foundation of equitable and inclusive access.

Active and walkable places create more cohesive communities.

Join the movement at www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/ activepeoplehealthynation

CLUBS

THE RETURN OF THE

CENTURY

BY KEVIN DEKKINGA

WH O DOESN’T LOVE A GO O D C EN T U RY R IDE? The endurance challenge, visiting new

and scenic vistas, riding along country roads, and the feeling of a grand shared experience. While the pandemic may have pushed many of us to test our personal limits, we can’t help but sorely miss the camaraderie of a big cycling event.

This year, myself and several League staffers are breaking free of our lonely training routes with the Sea Gull Century on October 9, produced by Salisbury University. Now in its 33rd year, the Sea Gull Century features a traditional 100-mile course, a metric century (63-mile) course, and a virtual option, as well. Both in-person options offer a fun and encouraging vibe through the bucolic Eastern Shore: the 63-mile route visits downtown Pocomoke while the full century passes through Assateague State Park, home to a wide variety of marine bird species and the famed Assateague wild horses. Meet League staffers at the Tour of the Shore reception on Friday, October 8, from 4-6pm and join us for the ride bright and early Saturday morning.

In a typical year, up to 8,000 riders enjoy a relaxed pace on the relatively flat roads of the Eastern Shore’s seminal event. This year, following covid-19 protocols, ridership is capped at 4,000. The route is fully-supported by staff and volunteers at Salisbury University. Riders will pass through Salisbury, Worcester and Somerset counties, passing small towns, wineries and wellplenished rest stops.

If you can’t make it to Maryland this October, riders anywhere can register for the virtual century ride, which can be completed in up-to seven days, indoors or out. Riders will enjoy a virtual bib number, merch coupon, social media filters and rider resources. During the weekend, the Eastern Shore comes alive with concerts, the downtown Pocomoke Fall Festival, and even a lobster sale. What’s more, the Sea Gull Century is produced for the benefit of dozens of area charities, funding scholarships and grants at Salisbury University and non-profits like the Salisbury Zoo, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and even the League of American Bicyclists. More information about the Sea Gull Century can be found at www.seagullcentury.org. For low-cost and high-quality bike shipping, be sure to visit League sponsor BikeFlights.com

Did you know? Salisbury University is also a Bronzelevel Bicycle Friendly University, since 2018. Find where your alma mater or hometown college ranks at bikeleague.org/university

OTHER FALL RIDES TO GET EXCITED ABOUT

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B I C Y C L E F R I E N D LY A M E R I C A

WHEN YOUR BUSINESS IS HEALTHCARE, BICYCLING IS ESSENTIAL BY AMELIA NEPTUNE

Even in the midst of a pandemic, hospitals like these Bicycle Friendly Businesses are still prioritizing biking to work—because they understand what it means for public health.

Health District of Northern Larimer County’s 5th annual Hawaiian shirt group ride. Photo Courtesy of the Health District of Northern Larimer County.

T H E L E AGUE’S BIC YC LE F R I EN D LY BU S INE S S LIST INC LUDE S OV ER 9 0 HOSP ITALS, healthcare providers, and public

health agencies employing a collective 134,200 essential workers from across the country. During the covid-19 pandemic, when health organizations clearly had so much on their plate, bicycling has still been a priority for these employers, and for good reason: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physical inactivity contributes to 1 in 10 premature deaths, and inadequate levels of physical activity are associated with $117 billion in annual healthcare costs. This is why the CDC has promoted Activity-Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations as a core strategy for the Active People, Healthy Nation initiative, and why a hospital or public health agency would still take the time to encourage employees to bike to work, even during a global pandemic. Since Spring 2020, these new and renewing hospitals and health agencies in the BFB program have shown how bicycling can be a critical part of supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities, and one of our nation’s most essential workforces.

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic staff volunteering at annual Bike Safety Rodeo. Photo Courtesy of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic.

Bicycling can be a critical part of supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities, and one of our nation’s most essential workforces. 17

Our support in the bicycling community helps bring that organizational mission into the community creating greater awareness and support for active living and active transportation.

» In Platinum-level BFC Fort Collins, Colorado, the Health District of Northern Larimer County moved up from Silver to Gold BFB status in Spring 2021. “I’ve worked for the Health District since 2000, and for a small local government, funded by taxpayers, we’ve successfully integrated bicycling into our employee culture on a very small budget,” says Sue Hewitt, the Health District’s Evaluation Coordinator. “Although small, having a budget line specifically for promoting bicycling since 2013 shows that our uppermost management and our elected Board of Directors believes it fits within the Health District’s overall mission. That budget enabled us to be a model for other organizations to offer things like the National Bike Challenge, hosting Bike to Work Day stations, applying for BFB designation, having bikes for staff, investments in bike infrastructure, and more.” The Health District works closely with community partners across the county, including transportation non-profits and government agencies. When the Health District first became a BFB in 2014, Sue worked closely with Bike Fort Collins in a community-wide effort to encourage other local businesses and workplaces in Fort Collins to also become BFBs, resulting in over 60 BFB designations.

» Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, in Grand Marais, Minnesota, renewed their Silverlevel BFB status in Spring 2021. “As a Federally Qualified Community Health Center, we focus on equitable access for all,” reported Andrea Orest, the Clinic’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator, on their renewal BFB application. “Our support in the bicycling community helps bring that organizational mission into the community creating greater awareness and support for active living and active transportation.” The Clinic provides bike safety information to the community in multiple languages and hosts free bike safety classes for employees and the general public, including classes that specifically target women. Sawtooth also provides support for in-school bike education classes at local elementary schools and has supported the Workers on Wheels program, which provides bicycles to temporary seasonal workers who come from around the world to support the summer tourist season in Grand Marais. According to Orest, “these temporary workers are more often non-native English speakers with limited access to transportation.” READ MORE about Minnesota’s advocacy work in our cover story, featured on Page 10.

>> Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which renewed its Gold-level BFB status in Fall 2020, aims to make bike commuting an easy option for its staff, with over 300 secure dedicated bike parking spaces, as well as showers, lockers, changing facilities, and bike repair stations distributed across their Bostonbased campus. Dana-Farber also offers semi-annual free bike tune ups for their employees, and developed a Bicycle Reimbursement program, which reimburses eligible employees $240 per year for bicycle-related commuting expenses. Dana-Farber is perhaps best known in the cycling world for hosting the annual Pan Mass Challenge (PMC), the nation’s first and largest (in terms of fundraising) charity bike ride. “The PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers,

Free bike tune-ups held by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute during bike week by MASCO. Credit: MASCO.

corporate sponsors and individual contributors. Our hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber’s doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers,” said Olivia Mullen, Dana-Farber’s Parking & Transportation Program Manager. “ >> In Jackson, Wyoming, recently renewing Silver BFB St. John’s Health offers a $5/ day cash incentive to employees who bike, walk, take public transportation, or carpool to work. “Vehicle parking spaces are costly in this area due to the high price of land, so we have a financial incentive to encourage employees to not drive alone,” says Matteo Steiner, the hospital’s Guest Services Coordinator. And the program is working: since implementing the commuter incentive, St. John’s has seen an increase from 10% to 19% for bicycle mode share of reported commuter days.

Bike parking area right outside the main entrance to St. John’s Health hospital. Photo Courtesy of St. John’s Health.

St. John’s Health also has a public bikeshare station on its hospital campus and offers employees 25% off the cost of annual bike share memberships, allowing employees to easily use bikeshare for errands during their workday, regardless of how they got to work. In addition to making bicycling accessible and affordable for employees, St. John’s Health long-term care facility partners with Cycling Without Age so that long-term care residents can regularly go on assisted bike rides, which has been “very well received by residents, their families, and the staff.”

As the state’s only current Bicycle Friendly Business, Steiner reports that St. John’s Health would like to use their renewed BFB recognition “to inspire other businesses in Wyoming to follow suit.” For essential healthcare workers and organizations, bicycling has been essential to their wellbeing and mobility throughout the pandemic. As we all take lessons from this tumultuous time, let’s look to these healthcare-focused Bicycle Friendly Businesses as models for building back healthier and more bikeable.

BFB PROGRAM SUCCESSES HEALTH DISTRICT OF NORTHERN LARIMER CO.

DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

• Offers National Bike Challenges • Hosts Bike to Work Day stations • Offers loaner bikes to staff

• Offers secure, dedicated bike parking spaces • Provides showers, lockers and changing facilities • Offers semi-annual free bike tune-ups for their employees

SAWTOOTH MOUNTAIN CLINIC • Offers bike safety information to their community in multiple languages • Provides support for in-school bike education classes • Supports Workers on Wheels program for temporary seasonal workers

ST. JOHN’S HEALTH • Offers $5/day cash incentive to employees who bike, walk, take public transportation, or carpool to work • Offers employees 25% off the cost of annual bike share memberships

MAKING STREETS FOR PEOPLE. PERMANENTLY. OP E N STREETS. SLOW ST R EET S. FLEX STR E E TS. SH ARED STREET S. P L AY STR E E TS. STREETERIES. ST R EET S FOR VOTING. STREETS FO R P ROT EST. STR E E TS FO R PEO PLE.

The covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inequities of our transportation systems, as access and mobility challenges were amplified by service cuts and closures of businesses, transit, bike share programs, and more. But it also served as a powerful wakeup call to the untapped potential of our streets as public spaces. In 2020, as community leaders struggled with how to give residents safe access to outdoor space and opportunities for physical activity, many cities and towns turned to the original public space for a solution: the street. Now, those same community leaders are looking for ways to make these temporary solutions permanent. In San Francisco, which has just renewed their Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency established a Slow Streets program in April 2020 that has been so successful the city is now exploring how to make certain Slow Streets permanent beyond the pandemic.

U N TA P P E D POTENTIAL S F M TA E S TA B L I S H E D A S LOW ST R E E T S PROGRAM IN A P R I L 2 0 2 0 T H AT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THE C I T Y I S N OW E X P LO R I N G H OW T O M A K E C E R TA I N S LOW ST R E E T S PERMANENT

For many communities, the rapid response in establishing these temporary facilities and roadway changes last year has also proven that departments of transportation can be much more nimble and experimental than previously thought. In Massachusetts, funding from Lawrence & Lillian Solomon Foundation and the MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Program supported over $20 million investments in quick build shared streets infrastructure in cities and towns across the state in 2020. For the Town of Arlington, MA, which recently advanced from Bronze to Silver BFC status, this grant funding supported two shared street projects in 2020 and is now expected to lead to more temporary projects and eventually more permanent improvements and traffic calming measures in the future. 21

New League Cycling Instructors showing off their certificates at a seminar hosted by Bike Cleveland. Credit: Deltrece Daniels

SMART CYCLING

SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON OUR LCIS BY ALISON DEWEY

SMART CYCLING MANUAL SMART CYCLING MANUAL

SMART CYCLING GUIDE

T H E LE AG U E C E RTI F I E S HU N D RE D S O F LE AG U E C YCL I N G I N STRU CTO R S E V E RY YE AR and there are thousands of LCIs

around the country leading bike education efforts in their communities. You don’t have to be an extraordinary athlete or overachieving student to be a stellar LCI, all you need is the conviction that life is better for everyone when more people ride bikes. On our blog, we have been sharing the stories of League Cycling Instructors doing what they do every day: educating, mentoring, empowering – in their own words. Read some of our highlights below and visit bikeleague.org/blog to discover more stories.

Diana Hildebrand CLEVELAND, OH

I enjoy teaching because it gives me an opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life and skill levels. It also provides me the opportunity to partner and collaborate with organizations and schools and support communities by creating bike activities as a tool to educate while offering the bicycle as an alternative form of fitness, transportation, mental and emotional well-being more.

Richard Wezensky RICHARDSON, TX

Teaching Smart Cycling to adults is my main focus— with the occasional kid's bike rodeo when needed. My favorite and most rewarding class to teach is our Adult Learn to Ride class, that we teach through BikeDFW. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing an adult ride for the first time.

David Dennis

S A N TA M A R I A , C A

I’ve been a lifelong cyclist and I spent 27 years as a high school teacher and coach. I have never had a chance to teach second and third graders until I began working as an LCI with SBBIKE’s youth program at our local public schools. For me teaching bike education is the perfect mix of teaching the classroom content and coaching the riding skills.

Lisa Giacchino VA N C O U V E R , WA

I have such enjoyment riding a bike so when I had children, I couldn’t wait to share my joy in riding. I quickly realized the importance of teaching them safety first, even when toting them in the trailer. Thus began our family involvement in bicycle education. When kids feel safe on a bike, they are free to explore, gain independence and become connected with their community.

Dan Hernandez B E R K E L E Y, C A

I think that biking is a virtuous cycle...the more I bike the happier and heathier I am. I think that’s true for communities to countries. When I bike, I see people and neighborhoods and cities closer, they see me closer, too. The barriers come down along with pollution, time wasted in vehicle traffic, the extra weight I gained from sheltering in place, fossil fuel use, highways that divide cities etc... All that happens with a smile on my face on a bike, why wouldn’t you love doing bike education?!

Sarah Hadler S A N TA R O S A , C A

My brother gave my husband and I touring bikes for a wedding gift. We rode for 5 months, starting in Tucson, AZ and went down to Oaxaca in Mexico. I completely fell in love with everything bicycle and the freedom and connection it brought. Upon return, I was so excited about the bike that I took a non-paying internship at the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition so that I could share my love of bikes.

“I was so excited about the bike that I took a nonpaying internship at the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition so that I could share my love of bikes.”

Mitchell Williams K A N S A S C I T Y, M O

I am passionate about bicycling. It helped me to come out of a dark time in my life. I was recovering from drug addiction when I was reintroduced to the bike. It became my new drug. I was hooked. I met people who taught me about riding and planning rides. The bicycle let me establish a new relationship with my built environment and also to escape into nature. It was like having a good meal at a restaurant. If you enjoyed your meal, you will tell others about it. That’s where the teacher in me came in. I just taught others what I learned.

POLICY IN ACTION

HOW WASHINGTON STATE PLANS TO STAY #1 FOR BIKING BY KEN MCLEOD

Washington Oregon Minnesota

Since the League of American Bicyclists began its Bicycle Friendly State ranking in 2008, there has only been one state to earn the number one ranking:

Washington State.

ONC E-A- DEC A D E, T H E WASH I N GTO N STAT E DEPARTMENT O F T RA N SP O RTAT I O N EM B A RKS O N A N UPDATE TO I T S STAT EW I D E ACT I V E T RAN S PO RTATI O N PL AN. Having an up-to-date plan is one of our 5 Bicycle Friendly

Actions that we believe every state should do to improve bicycling. In May, WSDOT released part one of its new Active Transportation Plan. Reading over it, what stands out is how the only state to ever be called the most Bicycle Friendly State by the League is humble, realistic, and honest in assessing how difficult it can be to bike and walk in the state and how far they have to go as an agency to deliver a transportation system that works for everyone. If your state is patting itself on the back too hard, you should ask if they are setting their sights as high as Washington. Part one lays out the task that is facing Washington state. Part two will lay out the actions and performance measures that will allow the state to deliver a transportation system that works for all. Rather than a triumphalist celebration of the beautiful scenery of the state, or recent improvements like the 520 trail, the framing chosen by WSDOT is that their new Active Transportation Plan is a compass leading it to a future where there is an active transportation system that serves every person and makes a positive difference for pressing challenges such as climate change and the harmful legacy of racism. As a long-time leader in active transportation, Washington State has existing frameworks and policies that provide a basis for improvement – and a model for other states. Transportation equity and climate goals provide a mission and justification for improving bicycling and walking. Transportation equity is embedded in the state’s long-range transportation plan, “to ensure that all people have access to their daily needs with dignity and independence, regardless of their ability or income and without discrimination based on race or other identity.” Climate goals are found in state law, requiring a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from their 2005 level by 2030. Due to the availability of hydropower in the state, nearly 45% of GHG emissions in the state are due to transportation, significantly higher than the national average.

While not every state may have this existing framework to guide their planning, here are some key concepts that every state should learn from our long-time most Bicycle Friendly State:

A SAFE SYSTEMS APPROACH The Safe Systems Approach can be thought of as a follow-up to Vision Zero. A defining principle is that humans can survive low-speed crashes and are less likely to survive high speed crashes, so a Safe Systems Approach reduces the likelihood of high-speed crashes. In Washington state, this is done by focusing on: • Speed control and separation – either slowing speeds or separating users • Predictability and simplicity – so that everyone understands how to use roads and interact with others

• Forgiveness and restrictiveness – design so that mistakes do not result in death and so that likelihood of poor decisions is restricted • Functional harmony – making sure roads are suited to their context

HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS The hierarchy of controls originally comes from workplace safety. The hierarchy of controls emphasizes the most broadly effective measures that eliminate exposure to danger and stress. In it, individual actions, including protective equipment, are a last line of defense. It does not say protective equipment like bicycle helmets or lights are ineffective, but rather that policymakers should focus attention on changes to the system so that crashes where equipment is the difference between life and death are rare. MOST EFFECTIVE

Eliminate exposure to the crash before it can occur

ELIMINATION SUBSTITUTION ENGINEERING CONTROLS ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

PPE LEAST EFFECTIVE

Replace with strategy that lowers injury severity in the event of a crash

Make changes to how we design and operate the road system, vehicles, and programs

Change the way people use the system through, for example: education, legislation and policies

Personal protective equipment, e.g. motorcycle helmets, protective gear and bike helmets

Improve conditions for walking & rolling Reduce crash exposure, fewer collisions

DOWN: VMT, GHG, crashes, congestion, cost

EVERYONE WINS UP: Clean air & water, health

People feel comfortable & confident Mode shift redistributes demand: more active trips

POSITIVE F E E D B AC K LO O P As a plan for people and agencies interacting with WSDOT, it was good to see the plan include a theory of how improving walking and biking will improve conditions for everyone over time. This longterm and cyclical process helps ground ongoing projects to a broader goal.

IDENTIFIED NEEDS From a national perspective, that Washington needs $8.3 billion for active transportation is a reminder that we need more funding for active transportation – at local, state, and federal levels. That funding need is not insurmountable – the federal government spends $40 billion on roadways each year. But it is clearly more than the US currently provides, and it is likely that states without Washington’s history of investing in bicycling and walking, or who are larger, or have more extensive roadway networks, have even greater needs. Identifying needs is an important part of working towards the goal of a safe, comfortable, and functional active transportation network. If more states had similar estimates, the nearly $1 billion in federal funding spent on bicycling and walking would be more broadly recognized as insufficient. Ineastrucf Pramogr or Project Caegorty

Total Identi.ed Need

Speed management for safety

.,—121 million

Separated pedestrian and bicyclist facilities

.,—0ffff million

Crossing treatments

.21� million

Bridge retro-t/improvements for active transportation

.,—fl1ff million

Washington Bikeways network— regional trail system— route identi-cation & signage .2—02ff million ostanpriCl eTcvA

EVRYOOmilon

Reinventing the wheel, one mode at a time. Lyft is proud to support the League of American Bicyclists.

SUPPORT THE LEAGUE

THROUGH PLANNED GIVING Many of our members express their commitment to our longterm sustainability by naming the League in their wills or trusts. Reach out today to learn how your estate can help further the League’s mission—and build a prosperous future for American bicycling.

Contact Kevin Dekkinga

Director of Membership and Development Kevin@bikeleague.org | 202.621.5449

OUR BIGGEST NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT YET BY RAV E N W E L L S

“We’re just going to be a better, safer, cleaner and greener country the more people have great, safe options to get around on two wheels.” “We can definitely be more of a biking country — I can help — but the more bottom-up the better.” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said it best when he stopped by our 2021 National Bike Summit for a bike-side chat. Every year we invite bicycle advocates, professionals, researchers, and riders from across the country to Washington, D.C. to join us in our fight for safe streets for everyone. We had to reinvent our annual event back in 2020 by moving it online, but with that came a comforting realization — connecting voices for change can be just as impactful online as in person. At every summit, we see the same magic: different voices all gathering together and creating an exchange of ideas and inspiring

Rep. Adriano Espaillat of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, House of Representatives talks with League Executive Director Bill Nesper.

N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T R EC A P

action and this year was no different. It gave us the opportunity to amplify the voices of those doing the bottom-up work and creating lasting impact in the bicycle movement — like our 2021 Advocacy and Education Award winners — and opened the door to many bike advocates who may not have had the opportunity to attend the summit before. In fact, the 2021 National Bike Summit was the largest attended summit in our 21-year history! Making biking a safe, accessible, and easy option for all in America takes work by individuals and groups. Each and every one of our 2021 National Bike Summit Advocacy and Education Award winners are working either within their communities or on a state or national level to make streets safer and ensure equity is a key part of our collective efforts. As a matter of fact, equity conversations took the forefront at this year’s summit. There were a lot of stimulating and actionprovoking words from thought leader and

Keynote Speaker Charles T. Brown discusses allyship with Summit attendees.

“We’re just going to be a better, safer, cleaner and greener country the more people have great, safe options to get around on two wheels. We can definitely be more of a biking country — I can help — but the more bottom-up, the better.” A Bike-Side Chat with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

researcher Charles T. Brown, MPA, CPD, and League Cycling Instructor, who presented a keynote presentation on “Arrested Mobility: Exploring the Impacts of Over-policing (i.e., policy, police, and polity) BIPOC Mobility in the US”. He spoke to the urgency of bringing equity into all parts of advocating for better mobility. Key points from his discussion highlighted the social, political, economic, and health impacts of racial disparities in transportation and challenged us to “examine the ways in which our approaches to transportation research, planning, policy, and design can and must be reimagined to achieve greater mobility, health, and quality of life for all road users.” Like every year, we ended the summit with Lobby Day, a day for advocates to meet

—Transportation secretary pete buttigieg, on a bike-side chat with bill nesper

with representatives in Congress and ask lawmakers to support transformative investments in transportation. Lobby Day is a critical component in our shared mission to build a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone and the perfect way to ensure we turn all that we learned during the Summit into action and real change in Washington. This year, thanks to our virtual option, we had over 300 meetings attended by over 500 participants! With so many voices taking part in this year’s Lobby Day, we were able to call on Capitol Hill for federal action to make biking better with a more powerful, unified voice. As we continue to take action to ensure a Bicycle Friendly America for all, we hope you will join us in celebrating and uplifting those joining us in the movement and inspiring others at every level. Next year, we will continue expanding opportunities to participate in our Summit by hosting content online, and we hope to see some of our fellow bike advocates in person in D.C. as well!

Anita D. Collins, coach with the BRAG Dream Team, talks about empowering youth through training, preparation, and riding in the Bike Ride Across Georgia with moderator Alison Dewey, Education Director at the League.

READ ON to learn more about our 2021 Summit Awardees N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T R EC A P

N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T

MEET OUR 2021 AWARD WINNERS GROUPS WITH IMPACT

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Oaks and Spokes Sharing our vision of biking as a safe, easy and accessible option for all, Oaks and Spokes thrives on advocating for riders of all levels in Raleigh, NC. Their mission is to “foster the community of people who ride bikes in Raleigh” through supporting and organizing events, as well as taking on community improvements themselves, like pop-up bike lanes. “We hope to see access to biking, and areas that are bikeable, become a norm for our community in 2021. Everyone deserves a safe space to move and we hope to see continued investment and commitment to advancing people-powered places.”

N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T R EC A P

A D V O C A C Y O R G A N I Z AT I O N OF THE YEAR

Bike Newport Bike Newport, based in Newport, Rhode Island, is creating a place where residents and visitors of the “City-by-the-Sea” can safely and comfortably go by bike as a primary choice for transportation and recreation. In advocating for transportation equity, the group even hosts rides to encourage the opportunity to explore that biking brings in Newport. “This summer we rode with a bunch of kids to the beach. They all live here in Newport, ‘the City by the Sea’, but most had never been to the beach. (‘Why’ is another conversation that revolves mostly around transportation equity.) But there we were - riding bikes to the beach and then playing in the sand and splashing in the water. Now all those kids have bikes and know how to get to the beach on them. That is real bike joy.”

INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPACT A D V O C AT E O F T H E Y E A R

EMERGING LEADER OF THE YEAR

Sarah Clark Stuart

Joshua Funches

This award honors an exemplary bicycle or walking advocacy organization leader. Sarah Clark Stuart’s dedication to the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia helped them achieve key accomplishments in 2020: a proposal yielding Philadelphia and Camden a $23 million TIGER trail-building grant; naming and building out the Circuit; successful lobbying for legislation mandating the inclusion of bike parking in new construction projects and Philadelphia’s Complete Streets Policy; and advocating for Mayor Kenney to adopt a Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic deaths by 2030.

Co-founder and president of the National Youth Bike Council, Joshua Funches, has shown exceptional advocacy for other young bikers finding their voices in the movement. Joshua worked with the League to bring youth-directed programming to the 2021 National Bike Summit while also organizing a Youth Bike Summit held later in 2021. Officially started in 2017, the National Youth Bike Council was started by a group of youth motivated by the idea of connecting youth across the nation as leaders in the biking community.

“My biggest joy is going for a bike ride on Martin Luther King Drive, which the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia was instrumental in getting closed to motor vehicles in March 2020. It’s a glorious feeling to ride on four miles of an open road without fear or stress. I feel tremendous pride that we made it possible for hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy that glory over the past twelve months.”

“2020 has shown me that one of the most popular activities for youth is bicycling. I think that naturally shows our relationship with biking and I hope that in 2021 we can see that relationship grow through new attention brought to cycling. Seeing youth use bicycling as a means of self-improvement, development, and recreation fills my heart!”

N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T R EC A P

S U S I E ST E P H E N S J OY F U L E N T H U S I A S M AWA R D

Robin Woods Named in honor of Susie Stephens, one of the Alliance for Biking & Walking founders and an enduring inspiration for many members of the bicycle and pedestrian movement, this award goes to those carrying on Susie’s passion. Robin Woods often encourages others to hop on the saddle, for any and every reason, as the founder of Women and Work, a SHERO for the Pittsburgh chapter of Black Girls Do Bike, a Member of the Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club (PMTCC), and a Street Team Employee Pittsburgh Bike Share/Healthy Ride. “For 2021, my vehicle of change will be to make a difference in the lives of women by improving their health through cycling. Over the winter months, I have had several women reach out to me expressing an interest in cycling beginning in the Spring of 2021. An interest to start slow riding less than ten miles was voiced, which is my targeted audience. Some women advised me of ongoing health issues, others I believe are just new to the sport.”

INDIVIDUALS WITH IMPACT 36

N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T R EC A P

E D U C AT O R S O F T H E Y E A R

Iris Coronado & Victoria Cupis Iris Coronado, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, AZ, and Victoria Cupis, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, are empowering Indigenous people to join the bicycle movement through bike education. As co-founders of Indigenous Road Warriors (IRW), Iris and Victoria lead and plan rides with the hope that biking will help to build a healthier, more connected community and encourage those who ride along to uplift one another. “After a bike ride recently, a kid in our group said, ‘This was just what I needed!’, he was absolutely elated. We were both taken by his response, it was one of those moments that make you realize, I am creating something special.”

K AT H E R I N E “ K I T T I E ” T. K N O X AWA R D

Tamika L. Butler Named in honor of trailblazing “Kittie” Knox, this award recognizes those removing barriers and champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the bicycling movement. Tamika L. Butler uses her voice for change as a national expert and speaker on issues related to the built environment, equity, antiracism, diversity and inclusion, organizational behavior, and change management. As the Principal + Founder of Tamika L. Butler Consulting and a leader in numerous advocacy organizations, she focuses on not only shining a light on inequality, inequity, and social justice but on creating lasting change to combat these issues. “In 2021, I hope that all organizations that are related to bikes and care about people who bike make fighting inequities and antiBlackness a permanent and leading part of their work. This work is not new, temporary, or a fad. I would include the League on this list. I struggle to accept this award knowing the racist and sexist legacy of the organization—a legacy that the organization was founded on and continued to perpetuate in recent years.”

D R . P A U L D U D L E Y W H I T E AWA R D

Ginny Sullivan The highest honor the League bestows goes to those showing long-lasting and inspiring commitment to the bicycling movement. Ginny Sullivan has proven to do just that throughout her many years of service. “It’s hard to think of anyone in the bike and trails community who doesn’t know, love, and respect Ginny Sullivan and her 15 years of national bike travel advocacy at Adventure Cycling,” writes a colleague. “Whenever you see a U.S. Bicycle Route sign or board your bike on an Amtrak train without boxing it, or experience bike-friendly rural communities, or see a rumble strip that meets bike safety standards, you can think of and thank Ginny.” “There has been an awakening. The pandemic changed how Americans think about the quality of their time and revealed how prevalent systemic racism interwoven into our policies and actions. Cycling clearly has a role to play in all this and the bike community can be the tipping point for change. I see 2021 as a year of transition. It is a time to come together and work towards common goals: safety, equity, access.”

N AT I O N A L B I K E S U M M I T R EC A P

BIKE SIDE CHATS CHATS

WATCH ALL O UR C HATS W I T H T HE W I N N E RS :

BIKELEAGUE.ORG/BIKESIDECHATS

THE C E L E BRATI O N O F O U R AWA RD E E S

continued well into Bike Month when we had the pleasure of sitting down for virtual chats with some of our winners to get the story behind their awards and how they plan to keep the wheels turning.

2021 SUMMIT BENCHMARKS AGE Thanks in part to our Emerging Leader of the Year, Joshua Funches, encouraging and working with the League to bring youth-directed programming to the 2021 Summit, we saw more youth attendees: 4.7% of attendees were under the age of 21 – that’s a 481% increase from 2020! The median age range at the 2021 National Bike Summit was those aged 45-65.

49% 48% 1% MALE

RACE & ETHNICITY

FEMALE

481% INCREASE IN YOUTH ATTENDEES

GENDER

NON-BINARY

We saw a more balanced gender parity among attendees with 49% identifying as male, 48% identifying as female, and 1% identifying as non-binary.

74% 7% 4% 3% 12% WHITE

BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN

HISPANIC/ LATINO/SPANISH

ASIAN AMERICAN/ ASIAN

*OTHER/MULTIPLE ETHNIC IDENTITIES

*Those who identified as “other” or utilized the option to choose multiple ethnic identities, which was also offered.

SAVE THE DATE JOIN US ONLINE OR IN D.C. FOR THE

2022 NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT! MARCH 27–30, 2022

MORE DETAILS TO COME VISIT BIKELEAGUE.ORG/SUMMIT FOR THE LATEST UPDATES

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SMART CYCLING

INCREASING THE INCLUSIVITY OF BIKE EDUCATION BY ALISON DEWEY

WH E N MO RE PEO PLE RIDE B I K ES, L IF E IS BET TER FO R EVERYO N E. It’s a

common theme at the League, one that we use often when we talk about the need for better, more robust, and more plentiful bike infrastructure. But ensuring more people have the skills and confidence to ride is a huge part of realizing that better life for everyone. It’s why the League has been hard at work implementing ways to increase the reach of our bike education programs so that even more people can see themselves confidently riding a bike. Most recently, we were excited to add a 20-minute module to our Smart Cycling curriculum specifically designed for older adults looking to get back on their bikes after a hiatus or after changing circumstances. Smart Cycling Tips for Older Adults can be taken independently through our Learning Center or through your local League Cycling Instructor. The short course considers topics for older adults such as getting on a bike with limited flexibility, things to consider when starting out, stability on a bike and more! A big thanks to AARP for their support which enabled this project. As part of our mission to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone, the League is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all of our work. In order to meet the promise of a nation where bicycling is safe, comfortable, and open to all, we must build a more diverse community of cycling educators.

Over the past year, the League has been working to do just that. In 2020, we launched our LCI Equity Scholarship to train more people of color as League Cycling Instructors. With the help of our friends at Quality Bicycle Products and the Be Good Foundation, we have hosted two BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) focused LCI seminars: one in Lancaster, PA and one in Reno, NV.

Two additional BIPOC focused seminars are planned for Fall 2021 in Minneapolis and Denver. The League has also awarded 20 BIPOC focused scholarships to member groups and individuals. Groups such as Bike Cleveland, Bike Dallas Fort Worth, and New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation selected their local BIPOC scholarship recipients. The League has also awarded scholarships directly to individuals.

To learn more and apply for the LCI Equity Scholarship, visit: bikeleague.org/ bipoc-LCIs

New League Cycling Instructors from a BIPOC LCI Seminar in Lancaster, PA celebrate their certification. The seminar was led by League Cycling Coach Neil Walker, hosted by Common Wheel, and sponsored by by QBP.

LCI participants completing drills at a seminar in Washington, D.C. in May of 2021. Credit: Shalia Watts

LEAGUE SAG WAGON

WHAT’S KEEPING US MOVING:

THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO LEARN ON A BIKE Whether you’re new to riding or you’ve put more miles on a bike than most people put on a car, we believe there is always something new to learn. So we asked the League staff, “What’s the next thing you want to learn how to do on a bike?”

Raven’s favorite ride, the Ma and Pa Trail, in Bel Air, Maryland

R AV E N

S TA R T I N G F R O M S C R AT C H I started learning how to ride this year and would love to improve on my turns and bike my first ride on a nature trail. The feeling of being “too adult” to have to learn how to ride kept me from getting on the saddle for years, but now I enjoy the feeling of learning something new and it’s been fun using our own Smart Cycling videos to help along the way.

LO R N A

BIKE MAINTENANCE = INDEPENDENCE I want to learn general bike maintenance so I don’t always have to depend on others or take my bike to a bike shop, especially since some bike shops are by appointment only right now.

LAUREN

WHY SO SERIOUS? I want to learn to take biking less seriously. Where not every ride needs to be an hour and a half of sweaty riding. I want to learn to enjoy the bike for just being outside and moving forward. I let the idea that a bike ride is supposed to be a training exercise too often get in the way of just having fun. Lauren chasing a competitor at a cyclocross race, which has come to feel “too serious” these days.

ALISON

CURBING MY ENTHUSIASM I would love to learn how to jump a curb - a big city curb, with a 90 degree angle. Not one of those soft suburban ones. Alison with her daughter Marion on the Great Allegheny Passage trail.

KEN

CLEANER BIKES & CLEANER CLIMBING I want to learn how to properly clean and organize my bikes. I’ve neglected cleaning for too long and want to do a good job. Somewhat related—I also want to learn how to climb better on my mountain bike, and maybe even how to manual. I’ve yet to have a clean climb of Roanoke’s Monument Trail and it’d be a gamechanger for how I use Mill Mountain if I could do that regularly.

BILL

SKILL SHARE My older son, Tim, is now getting into mountain biking and BMX. I have been relearning how to bunny hop and may have even impressed him a couple of times. Still a work in progress.

Bill and his older son, Tim Amelia and Ruby AMELIA

BALANCING ACT This might be cheating, but I’m in the process of teaching our two-year-old, Ruby, to ride her balance bike. Her big sister transitioned from the balance bike to pedals seamlessly last year, and so this year we’re excited to get Ruby from just walking to really gliding on the balance bike!

CARON

BUILDING BACK STRONGER Pre-Covid most of my bicycling was for transportation. I rode almost every day but most days mileage was 5 to 6 miles mostly on bikeshare. During the pandemic, I’ve gotten back to riding longer distances as a workout, and the thing I really need to relearn is gearing up for longer rides and basic bike maintenance.

Caron riding from the White House to the League office

KEVIN

F A M I LY B I K E PAC K I N G E XC U R S I O N S

Kevin’s rig, above, and his family touring together, below.

My family is ‘all in’ on family bikepacking. I’m always looking for new ways to carry our kids, bikes, tents, food and gear on ‘off the grid’ adventures, as well as new routes to explore in the greater Midwest. Photos are from our five-day excursion on forest roads, gravel and ATV trails within the Superior National Forest near Grand Marais, MN in July.

LOCAL HERO

PELOTON

CLIMBER

SPRINTER

BREAKAWAY

ELITE

THANKS TO OUR 2021 CORPORATE SPONSORS

OUR MISSION is to lead the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. As leaders, our commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share best practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change.

STAFF Christian Damiana Federal Policy Intern

Kevin Dekkinga

Lorna Green

Operations Director

Lauren Jenkins

Director of Membership & Development

Communications Director

Alison Dewey

Policy Director

Education Director

Ken McLeod

Amelia Neptune

Bill Nesper

Executive Director

Raven Wells

Communications Coordinator

Caron Whitaker

Deputy Executive Director

Bicycle Friendly America Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ken Podziba Chair

Karin Weisburgh Vice Chair

Max Hepp-Buchanan Secretary

Torrance Strong Treasurer

Danielle Arigoni Jim Baross Maria Boustead At Large

Harry Brull Jackie Martin Kecia McCullough Ralph Monti

Bob Oppliger Vivian Ortiz Beth St. John Mike Sewell At Large

Chuck Smith A.J. Zelada

American Bicyclist magazine (ISSN 0747-0371) is published by the League of American Bicyclists, Inc. to help the organization achieve its mission to educate the public and promote awareness of bicycling issues. ©2021 League of American Bicyclists. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Article queries should be addressed to communications@bikeleague.org. Your submission of manuscripts, photographs or artwork is your warranty that the material in no way infringes on the rights of others and that the material may be published without additional approval. Opinions expressed by writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the League.

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