NW Cyclist: News Briefs – Cycling Advocacy Organizations

“Dear Motorist” Campaign Promotes Bike Safety

Photo at right: Memorial site for 22-year-old Eric Ng who was killed by a drunk driver in December, 2006. Photo by Josh Taylor, courtesy of GreenRoomSocial

National

ENDEVR—a creator of health and wellness products—launched its Dear Motorist campaign to promote cycling safety and driver awareness leading up to National Bike Month in May. The company has partnered with various sponsors, including Bell Helmets, Camelbak, Shimano and others, to help educate and create more positive relationships among drivers and cyclists on the road.

“We want to reach a critical mass of cyclists and motorists that really want to make the roads safer for each other,” says ENDEVR VP of Marketing Josh Taylor. “If this message can save just one cyclist or motorist this year, think about the difference it will make for their family, friends and loved ones. Our goal is for people to walk away with a positive feeling of hope that together we can make a difference.”

Dear Motorist invites cyclists and motorists to the dedicated landing page www.dearmotorist.com to share their experiences by writing a letter or taking a pledge to be more aware of their surroundings on the road. The campaign also offers those who have lost a loved one to a road accident the opportunity to share their story.

For more information about Bike Month, go to www.bikeleague.org/content/national-bike-month

Bicycle Alliance of Washington’s New Name

Seattle, Wash.

The Bicycle Alliance of Washington has changed its name to Washington Bikes. This change was announced at the organization’s 21st annual auction last November, and is designed to inspire action and better describe the organization’s mission to grow bicycling in the state of Washington.

“The board has looked around the nation at advocacy organizations like ours and we see a growing trend,” writes executive director Barb Chamberlain. “They are choosing new names that embody the goal of the organization—the very reason it exists. Groups that were initially called a coalition or a federation or an alliance have been choosing new names­­—strong, active statements that inspire you with the vision of what happens when our work succeeds.”

For more information about Washington Bikes, go to www.wabikes.org

Washington Best Bike State for 6th Year; Oregon 3rd

It’s good to be a cyclist in Washington State. Among the League of American Bicyclists’ latest Bicycle Friendly State rankings, Washington comes in first, followed by Colorado, and then Oregon. North Dakota finished last.

This is the sixth year in a row that Washington has topped the list. The ranking takes in factors such as legislation and enforcement, infrastructure and funding, policies and programs, and education and encouragement.

“We are encouraged to see significant progress in top states like Washington, Delaware, Colorado and Oregon,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “But as the scores clearly highlight, there’s much work to be done in critical areas like infrastructure and planning in every state.”

For more information, go to www.bikeleague.org

New Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Chapter

Poulsbo, Wash.

Kitsap Mountain Bikers and Ride Kitsap, based in Poulsbo, Wash., have combined to form Evergreen West Sound—the newest regional chapter of Seattle-based nonprofit Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance.

“The riders on the greater Kitsap Peninsula are very active and engaged in protecting, building and maintaining trails, and in building a solid community of mountain bikers,” says Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance executive director Glenn Glover. “We’re thrilled to have them as part of Evergreen and look forward to supporting them in their efforts.”

This is the fifth chapter to be added to the Evergreen organization. The others are Central Chapter in Wenatchee, Eastern Chapter in Spokane, Cold Creek Chapter in Battle Ground and Methow Chapter in Winthrop.

To learn more about Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, visit www.evergreenmtb.org

PeopleForBikes Partners with Retailers for Bike Advocacy

Nationwide

PeopleForBikes – a national bicycle advocacy group, based in Boulder, Colo. – launched a new retailer membership program at Interbike 2013.

Retailer members will no longer pay annual dues; instead they can support PeopleForBikes by asking customers to join the organization for free and make donations through the Retail Roundup program. Customers who opt in to the program will round up their purchases to the next dollar with a donation to PeopleForBikes.

“The Roundup program has potential to bring a substantial amount of new funding to the advocacy movement without relying on additional industry investment,” says People for Bikes president, Tim Blumenthal. “PeopleForBikes is doubling every dollar raised through the program and distributing the funds back to worthy community bike projects through our Community Grants Program.”

There are more than 40 retailers participating in the Northwest. To find retailer members in your area and to read about local cycling projects that have been funded through PeopleForBikes, go to: www.peopleforbikes.org/get-local

Susie Stephens Scholarships

Jackson, Ore.

The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) awarded 22 scholarships in the biennial APBP Susie Stephens Scholarship program last summer. This allowed Jenna Stanke of Jackson, Ore., to attend the APBP Professional Development Seminar with other transportation planners and engineers last September in Boulder, Colo. Stanke is the bicycle/pedestrian program manager and parks planner for Jackson County Roads and Parks in Jackson.

“My experience at the conference was excellent,” says Stanke. “The sessions I attended gave me ideas for our upcoming work on the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update and for finding new ways to build support from elected officials, planners and the public. In all, I left the PDS inspired and motivated.”

Susie Stephens, formerly of Seattle, was an advocate for transportation reform. In 2008, APBP created the scholarship program to celebrate her spirit, enthusiasm and optimism. She received an APBP Scholarship to attend the 2000 Velo Mondial in Amsterdam. Less than two years later, at age 36, she was killed by a tourist bus in St. Louis while working on a project with the National Park Service.

Stephens was a founder and former managing director of the Thunderhead Alliance, now the Alliance for Biking and Walking. She also served as executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, now Washington Bikes. Her community continues to mourn her loss.

For more information about APBP, go to www.apbp.org

If you like this post, you might also enjoy:

Buzz Cycling Features Home Recent Articles The OutdoorsNW Blog