On March 19th the Alliance launched its first major grant program. Thanks to funding provided by SRAM, Planet Bike, Cannondale, and Bikes Belong, the Advocacy Advance Grant program will award a total of $250,000 in 2009 to support start-up organizations and innovative programs to increase biking and walking. 
 
Grants will be awarded in two cycles this year, June 2009 and October 2009. The deadline for first round inquires was April 2, 2009, and the deadline for the second round is September 9, 2009. All members of the Alliance and newly forming organizations are encouraged to apply.
 
Check out Advocacy Advance Grants for more details and application instructions.

The Alliance for Biking & Walking is thrilled to launch our new website at www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org. While the look and feel of our new site has definitely changed, you will find the same basic structure and content you came to know at our former site - www.thunderheadalliance.org. One thing we've added to our new site is an emphasis on celebrating the success of our 140+ member organizations. Our home page will feature rotating images of member programs and victories. We will also soon be transforming the Member News section of our website into blog format making this a go-to news source for grassroots biking and walking advocacy.

 

Please help us promote the great work you are doing on the ground throughout North America. We'd love to feature your success stories in upcoming issues of Streetside and on our homepage and Member News blog. Send your photos and stories to kristen@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. And please, check out our new website today!

The White House needs your help! America Bikes is pulling together success stories of the stimulus money going to bike / ped projects and creating jobs, stimulating the economy, etc. Obviously, the bike/ped project doesn't need to be complete, but
preferably it's underway. Opportunities for photos and press are a big bonus. Please send a brief description, location, any information on how the project will stimulate the economy, and contact information to Jeff@PeoplePoweredMovement.org and Caron@AmericaBikes.org ASAP. Thanks for your help!

On March 10th we announced the winners of our 2009 Advocacy Awards, which were given to organizations and individuals that made significant progress in advancing biking and walking through their tireless dedication, creativity, and overall successes. Congratulations to the following winners!
 
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association received the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award for its numerous achievements in the DC area, including a record 7,000 riders for Bike To Work Day.
 
Lloyd J. "Bud" Vye, Vice President of the Virginia Bicycling Federation and Advocacy Chair for the Richmond Area Bicycling Association, was honored with the Advocate of the Year Award for dedicating his life to various bicycle and pedestrian safety campaigns in the Richmond area. 
 
Planet Bike was awarded the Business Advocate of the Year Award for dedicating valuable resources to biking advocacy. Planet Bike has given $660,000 to various biking organizations, and currently 25 percent of its profits are donated to bicycle advocacy. 
 
Transportation Alternatives was honored with the Innovation Award for its creative Youth For Car Free Parks campaign in Brooklyn, NY. The campaign engaged community youth by choosing local high school students to lead the effort. 
 
Bicycle Colorado was honored with the Best Practice Award for its outstanding efforts and results. After doubling their staff and budget, they went on to grow the largest membership base of a state-wide bicycle advocacy organization in the U.S. 
 
Livable City was given the Winning Campaign Award for its work on the campaign to bring Sunday Streets to San Francisco. The two pilot events each attracted 10,000 residents to the 8-mile car-free route.
 
Randy Neufeld, Chief Strategy Officer of the Active Transportation Alliance and the founding chair of the Alliance for Biking and Walking, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. With his help, the Active Transportation Alliance grew from a small group of volunteers to having 5,000 plus members, a budget of more than $1.5 million, and a reputation as a leading bicycle advocacy organization. 

A major climate bill is expected in Congress any day and we need to push now to ensure transportation is accounted for in the bill. We are strongly urging Alliance organizations to schedule in-district meetings with their members of Congress during their April recess (April 6-17) and urge them to support, and even co-sponsor, CLEANTEA.

 

CLEANTEA, a bill offered by Rep. Blumenauer, would require that 10% of all revenue from a climate bill be given to local governments to reduce vehicle miles traveled. This is a great opportunity to generate media with letters to the editor and op eds. For more information on in-district meetings click here and for more information on CLEANTEA visit AmericaBikes. Don't hesitate to call Jeff at 202-445-4415 if you have questions or need some clarification.

Alliance organizations can play a key role in shaping the debate on the new Transportation Bill. One way you can bring your local strength to the debate is to co-host or participate in a Town Hall Meeting with T4America. Town Hall meetings will help bring your voice, vision, and goals for transport and living options to Congress and President Obama. To help develop your community's vision, we encourage you to hold a town hall or simple house meeting using the Transportation for America toolkit. Or, join in another meeting already organized for your community. Go to http://townhall.t4america.org for an excellent and complete packet of materials to make it happen.
 
You can also check out the T4America Webinar Series and raise your voice for biking and walking issues. Hear from experts about how reforming federal transportation spending is connected to reducing America's oil dependency, helping the nation compete and thrive in the 21st century, and bringing opportunity to all Americans. Get more info and register at http://t4america.org/webinars.

It almost didn't happen and Nancy almost didn't come to DC. Shortly after the Alliance for Biking & Walking moved into our new office at 1612 K Street, we noticed two dead trees marked for removal in front of the office building. Working with the local non-profit Casey Trees (a great group of bike commuting arborists), we made plans to plant two trees in memory of Susie Stephens. But despite months of planning, the stumps of the old trees remained an obstacle. 

 

On March 10th as we gathered in DC for the National Bike Summit, Eric Gilliland of WABA made a last minute call to the District DOT and within hours the stumps were finally gone. Final arrangements for a planting on the last day of the Summit after the Congressional Bike Ride were complete! 35 people showed up to help with the planting and remembering Susie. 

 

In addition to being one the founders of the Alliance, Susie was a dear friend and mentor to many in the movement who was tragically taken from us in 2002 when a turning bus struck her down as a pedestrian in St Louis. Her mother, Nancy MacKerrow, has become a huge supporter of the Alliance. Nancy is planting a forest of Susie Trees around the globe in places where Susie lived and visited.  Now two young and beautiful hackberry trees are taking root right on K Street where the Alliance staff can watch them from our office above. 

Be sure to check out what Alliance members have been up to in the right column of this e-newsletter and on our Member News webpage.

 

From Feet First's Footprints - Feet First is a partner in the Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets. During the summerlong program, streets will be opened for pedestrians and bicyclists, offering people a way to have fun, celebrate the spirit and personality of their neighborhood, and support local businesses. Each event is organized by a local group.

Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets is modeled after similar successful events held in New York; San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Bogota, Colombia.

For additional information and specific dates of events visit: http://seattlecan.org/summerstreets.