AMERICAN BICYCLIST DELIVERING ON CAST YOUR VOTE STORIES THAT OUR MISSION FOR THE BOARD INSPIRED US Creating a Bicycle Help determine who Celebrating the Friendly America will serve for the next positive impacts of for everyone p. 2 three years p. 4 bicycling in 2014 p. 6 November - December 2014 WWW.BIKELEAGUE.ORG AMERICAN BICYCLIST CONTENT November - December 2014 “Tornado of Fun” and other stories that inspired us this year, page 6. THINK BIKE IN EVERY ISSUE 10 STORIES THAT INSPIRED US IN 2014 Celebrating the positive impacts of bicycling 6 02 VIEWPOINT in the lives of many different people from 03 INBOX many different backgrounds. 03 COGS&GEARS AMERICAN BICYCLIST MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED AS A BENEFIT TO MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS. IF YOU’RE NOT A MEMBER, AND YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THIS MAGAZINE AND SUPPORT THE INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY DESCRIBED WITHIN, JOIN THE LEAGUE AT BIKELEAGUE.ORG/JOIN. ON THE COVER: JIM SILCOTT, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, WAS AN INSPIRATION TO HIS STUDENTS IN THE NATIONAL BIKE CHALLENGE VIEWPOINT DELIVERING ON OUR MISSION This year marked my 10-year anniversary our membership numbers have remained program and Equity Initiative are shin- as CEO of the League. We have twice the steady, we have more than doubled the ing a light on some of the most creative, budget and staff we did back in 2004 and number of club and advocacy groups that innovative and powerful people and 2005, which is a nice metric — but one are affiliated with the League and have ideas in our ever-expanding movement that doesn’t begin to describe the impact added tens of thousands of engaged sup- — people who will in turn provide the and value of our work over that time. porters through our social media and ac- roadmap for the next great transforma- In the past decade, we’ve tripled the tion alert networks. tion of our movement. number of League Cycling Instructors Behind every one of these numbers, Long-time members will recall that and dramatically improved the materials though, are amazing — and inspirational I was actually on staff at the League 25 they use to deliver critical skills training — personal stories and anecdotes. Last years ago when we still hosted rallies, had in communities across the country. The month, I was thanking Salt Lake City a hospitality homes network and sold an outcome of two federal transportation Mayor Ralph Becker for his leadership extraordinary number of patches every bills has been directly affected by the an- on quality of life initiatives, including year. There were only a couple of other nual National Bike Summit lobby day biking, and he graciously replied: “We’re national bike groups back then, and al- and our year-round national advocacy just following your roadmap. You tell us most no state or local groups with paid staff. Our movement has changed and grown a lot over the past quarter century — as has the role of the League within I’m excited and proud to say that I believe we’re that movement. I’m excited and proud to say that I be- delivering on our mission — leading the movement to lieve we’re delivering on our mission — leading the movement to create a Bicycle create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone — more Friendly America for everyone — more powerfully than at any point in the last powerfully than at any point in the last 25 years. 25 years. I can’t wait to carry on that work and begin that transformation of our or- ganization and movement into a valuable, relevant and inclusive force for good — work — resulting in billions of dollars what we should be doing next.” That’s a not just in the world of bicycling, but for of investment in bike infrastructure and powerful endorsement of the work we do. society at large. programs and the creation of initiatives Many of the remarkable stories in this Thank you so much for your support such as Safe Routes to School and the issue of American Bicyclist arise from of the League and our work over the proliferation of Complete Streets poli- programs we’ve added more recently. years. It means the world to us. cies. Our blueprint for a Bicycle Friendly We are so proud to have launched the America has resulted in more than 300 National Bike Challenge, which has in- community designations, 811 business spired so many stories of life-changing awards and recognition of 100 universi- behavior among the 47,000 participants ties at Bronze or higher levels. And, while this year. Our pioneering Women Bike Andy Clarke, League President 2 AMERICAN BICYCLIST COGS&GEARS GIVING Thank you to the following organizations and individuals who contributed to the League, above and beyond membership dues, in July and August 2014. ORGANIZATIONS Tom Engstrom John Fetzer $5,000+ Michael Flueckiger 3M Ralph Garboushian Advanced Sports Inc. Elliott Gartner American Diabetes Lynne Goldsmith Association James Goodwin TRIBUTE Federal Highway Peter Hallson Administration Havenga Family QBP Joel Hoback Trek Bicycle Corporation TO DAD Robert Hoel Eric Holtz $2,500+ Diane Houslanger The League was honored this fall to receive a $250 donation from the Alta Planning + Design Howard Family children and grandchildren of Colorado resident Jerry White. As Rebec- George and Laura Ivey ca White explained, the gift was made “to honor [White] as he biked to $1,000+ Jack Johnson work when he was in town, renting a bike to cycle to conferences when Florida Freewheelers, Charles King & Family he was traveling, vowing to not use the car on weekends (of course you Inc. Edward Kleinbard can bike to the symphony!) and working to keep the travel ways safe for Amy Kristoff all of those on two wheels.” $100+ Peter Lee Bike Walk Connecticut Kathy Lenzmeier Laurence Lieberman Patrick Marek INDIVIDUALS Shirley Martin $1,000+ Laura McCarthy INBOX Jane Schnell Donna McMillen James Mees $500+ Jennifer Melot REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Chelsea Gomez Michael Miller Diana and I had a great time participating in the National Bike Chal- Steve Sanders Mylene Mogendorff lenge. Neither of us had ever tracked our miles before, and we’ve been Anonymous Paul Moul astounded to realize how inspiring it is just to know how much we’re Ted Sweeney Bill Nesper riding. We definitely find ourselves striving for new milestones — a Barb Walsh Gene Oh higher daily total, more miles in a week, the most miles we’ve ever Lisi Oliver $100+ Lauren Parker done in a month — and we’ve both reached new levels of stamina Monty Andrews Chad Pickard and strength this summer. We’ve had a blast, and we’ll look forward Susan Barrows David Pines to doing the Challenge next year. - Syd Davenport-Fey, St. Paul, MN Thomas Bayard Paul Quick Larry Beane Steve Rankin David Berning Samantha Reis PUSHING EMPLOYEES TO THE NEXT LEVEL Bruno Boettcher Ralph Robinson When I cruise the leaderboards for the National Bike Challenge, B. Bowers Deb Salls I’m encouraged to see how high our participation rate is compared Bradshaw Family Judd Schechtman to other workplaces. And I can say that we would not have achieved Robin Brandt Janet Segall our Silver Bicycle Friendly Business award and such a popular sum- Jim Burns Walter Seifert mer of cycling bike program if we hadn’t jumped on board with the Max Buten John Seyfarth inaugural Challenge back in 2012. I’m really proud of my co-workers. Joseph Calandra Jim Sheehan Louis Carson Meredith Slaughter It’s very rewarding to be the “bike champion” here. Thanks for of- Vinny Celenza Richard Slaymaker fering this program. - Sue Hewitt, M.S., Health District of Northern John Clement Stephen Strasburg Larimer County Richard Cronemeyer Thomas Talley Clint Culpepper Thompson Family GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK Email your comments to [email protected]; send a Bruce Day Claudia Trapp Wendell Dilling Dorothy Wallace & Family letter to 1612 K St NW, Ste 308, Washington, DC 20006; or chime in on Facebook (facebook. James Duba Thomas Williams com/leagueamericanbicyclists) or Twitter (@bikeleague). C. Eric Eades Jim Yglesias AMERICAN BICYCLIST 3 COGS&GEARS CAST YOUR VOTE FOR LEAGUE BOARD The League’s Board of Directors serves ence. As a League Cycling Instructor, Legislative Committee. Moore is also a critical role in guiding the organiza- Laurita has learned first-hand the con- a Director of the Minnesota Off-Road tion to a sustainable and vibrant future. cerns and needs of the League’s mem- Cyclists; a founder and past President The Board is made up of both board- bership base, including the continuing of the Minneapolis Off-Road Cycling appointed and member-elected seats — need for education and development Advocates and serves on the Legisla- and currently, there are three open seats of programs to empower all forms and tive Committee of the Bicycle Alliance and four candidates for those member- levels of cyclists to safely and legally of Minnesota where he helps formu- elected spots. We need YOUR votes to ride their bikes, regardless of dedicat- late changes to Minnesota’s bike laws. determine who will join the board for ed facilities or built infrastructure. As In addition to being a member-elected the next three years. a Coach, she has traveled the country League board member, Moore is also The League follows a preferential training new LCIs in the best cycling a Director of the bike-sharing system, voting system, meaning each voter will methodologies, while working to en- Nice Ride Minnesota. Matt, his fam- rank their choices from 1 to 4. Log in to sure a consistent training program ily and his bike collection have lived in bikeleague.org/vote to cast your vote across all modalities of cycling.