Thanks to support from our members, Bikes Belong achieved several significant goals in 2005, setting the stage for important work in 2006. We've developed a solid plan to improve bicycling in America and put more people on bicycles more often.
Click here to review our 2005 accomplishments. Click here to see what's in store for 2006.
The new trio replaces outgoing president Bill Fry (Bell Riddell Sports), vice president Lisa Robinson Falvy (Sportworks), and treasurer Chris Kegel (Wheel & Sprocket). The outgoing group of officers led Bikes Belong through a period of significant growth and new accomplishments. Click here to see a complete list of Bikes Belong's board of directors.
Bikes Belong has increased its support of the Bicycle Leadership Conference for 2006, becoming a lead sponsor and guiding a bike tour at the event. Slated for January 29-31 in Tempe, Arizona, this strategic conference attracts 250+ bicycle industry leaders, retailers, suppliers, and advocates for three days of learning, problem solving, and networking. Bikes Belong's Tour of Tempe group ride will showcase the bike-friendly facilities that earned Tempe a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community award.
If you haven't already done so, make your travel plans now. For more information and to register, visit bicycleconference.org.
Mark your calendar for the National Bike Summit March 1-3 in Washington, DC. Your presence at this event is important. Organized by the League of American Bicyclists and sponsored by Bikes Belong, the National Bike Summit combines valuable seminars, networking, and a coordinated lobbying effort on Capitol Hill. This is your chance to represent the bicycle industry and provide crucial input to members of Congress.
Previous years' efforts helped gain $4.5 billion for bicycling in the federal transportation law passed last August. This year, we'll focus on how to make sure this money is spent effectively on bicycle projects across the country, including in your area.
Bikes Belong has extended funding for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership through 2006. This fast-growing network of non-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional groups is working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding, and provide detailed policy input to agencies implementing Safe Routes to School, a new $612-million federal program. Bikes Belong initially committed funding to the partnership on August 10, 2005 - the day the new federal transportation law authorized the program. So far, 121 groups have joined.
The partnership's accomplishments to date include working with the Federal Highway Administration to implement the national Safe Routes to School program, hosting the first annual partnership meeting, developing guiding principles for states, and creating tips for starting a local program. Our continued support will ensure that the partnership can expand these efforts and maximize the success of the national program.
Click here to learn more about the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
In October, the League of American Bicyclists awarded Davis, California, the coveted platinum Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Davis is the first city to achieve this level. Bikes Belong is the primary sponsor of the Bicycle Friendly Communities program, which recognizes cities that support bicycling and works to replicate their successes in other communities.
We asked Andy Clarke, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, to share his thoughts on Davis' success and the value of the Bicycle Friendly Communities program (BFC).
How does the Bicycle Friendly Communities Program help bicycling in America?
Andy Clarke: "BFC inspires communities to do what it takes to encourage people to ride. As a direct result of the program, communities are building trails, striping bike lanes, fixing potholes, installing bike parking, training bike safety instructors, teaching kids to ride, promoting bike to work day, putting bike racks on buses, printing bike maps, organizing community bike rides, and planning a brighter future for bicycling."
Davis, California, is the one U.S. city that has achieved platinum status. What makes Davis so special and what can other cities learn from its success?
A.C.: "For 40 years, Davis has emphasized bicycles when planning, designing, and operating their transportation system and community. Every major road has high-quality bicycle accommodation, and every corner of the city is easily and safely accessible by bike. There are almost 30 tunnels and bridges carrying bicyclists across railroad tracks, interstates, and other barriers. Both the city and university have a dedicated staff person working on bicycling issues. And the bottom line is that everywhere you look, you see lots of people on bikes.
"In addition to having role-model facilities, Davis also demonstrates that encouraging bicycling requires commitment - to infrastructure, to maintaining the network, to keep people riding, and to avoid design mistakes that many suburban communities make.
If a local citizen wants to make his or her community more bicycle-friendly, what's the best way to start?
A.C.: "The first step is to learn about current efforts in your community. Check if there's an active bicycle advocacy group, club or shop, or if someone on city council wants to improve bicycling. If there's nothing, or folks are looking for direction, check out the resources at www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org and download the Bikeability Checklist, a simple tool to help you determine what your community needs. Then meet with your mayor or city council members to get their support.
"If your community has efforts underway, consider hosting a Bicycle Friendly Community workshop and/or use the BFC application form to help identify a comprehensive list of improvements and action items."
Bikes Belong has updated and moved our online media center, which offers Bikes Belong logos, banner ads, and membership decals. Please update your links to the new site.
We encourage all Bikes Belong members to display the Bikes Belong logo on storefronts, websites, catalogs, and other materials to advertise your support of our efforts. You deserve recognition for your important contribution to the future of bicycling in America.
Joining Bikes Belong is an investment in the future of bicycling. Please join or renew your membership today.