| Alliance Releases Call for Proposals for Advocacy Grants |
The Alliance for Biking and Walking is soliciting inquiry applications for the second round of the Advocacy Advance Grants. Inquiry applications are due by Thursday August 20, 2009. Advocacy Advance Grants are one-year grants, awarded twice a year (spring and fall) to startup organizations and innovative campaigns to dramatically increase biking and walking.
This grant program funds work that is:
· Action and outcome oriented
· Builds organizational capacity (i.e. hiring of key staff, membership development, etc.)
· Strategic to increasing biking and/or walking
· Accomplishes clear goals and measurable objectives
· Builds public support, inclusion, and involvement
· Replicable to advance the movement
Visit the Alliance website to view the types of projects we fund.
To minimize time invested on proposals, the application is administered in two phases (inquiry and full proposal). The inquiry phase is a simple application that provides a basic overview of your project. The Alliance will review all inquiries and invite the most promising to submit a full application.
For more information on the Advocacy Advance Grant Program, including the complete timeline and application instructions, please visit www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/grants.
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Take Our Funding Survey, Enter Our Raffle
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Complete the Alliance's Grants and Contracts Funding Survey and enter for a chance to win a $50 voucher towards an Alliance training or publications. The brief survey will ask about your organizations experience with grants and writing proposals. The survey closes September 1st so don't delay! This summer, we have been busy researching for the Alliance's Guide to Winning Proposals for Biking & Walking. This highly requested guide will be the newest addition to the Alliance's library of guidebooks. The Guide will help you navigate government and private funding sources and include sample successful grant proposals so you can see what a winning proposal looks like. It will be a great resource in your efforts to secure funding for biking and walking; however, we can't do this without your help! Besides completing this survey, we are also looking for samples of your successful proposals to include in this Guide. Use your experience and success with grants and contracts to benefit biking and walking advocates across North America. Take the Grants & Contracts Funding Survey today!
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Alliance and Planet Bike Grant $30K to Green Mobility Network
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The Alliance for Biking & Walking awarded a $30,000 Advocacy Advance Grant to Miami-based Green Mobility Network. The matching grant, was made possible by additional support from Planet Bike, allowing the Alliance to fund another Advocacy Advance Grant application. Green Mobility Network's mission is to make Miami-Dade County a healthier, more livable community by promoting bicycling, running, and walking for daily transportation, leisure, and fitness. In its short history, Green Mobility Network has been a key leader in Miami's efforts to improve conditions for bicyclist and pedestrians by crafting the city's first bicycle master plan, orchestrating six successful "Bike Miami Days," and beginning the development of a Safe Routes to School initiative. The grant will help fund Green Mobility Network's "Complete the M-Path" campaign. The Mobility Path, or M-Path, is Miami-Dade County's most important multi-use path. Currently, however, there exists a 1.25 mile "Dadeland Gap" which prevents bicyclists and pedestrians from safely and easily connecting with the area's wider network of paths. Once the goal of closing the gap is realized, there will exist a seamless 30-mile bicycle-pedestrian corridor running from downtown Miami to the county's southern border. According to John Hopkins of Green Mobility Network, "This will be a major step in offering alternatives to the historically car-centered community of South Florida." |
| Are You Following the 42 Ride? |
The Alliance is asking all Alliance members and supporters to encourage their friends and followers to follow the 42Ride on Twitter - it could mean as much as $42,000 for the Alliance! In June, 42 cyclists rolled out of New York and split into two groups of 21 riders, one touring the North and one touring the South. Their goals include raising awareness of cycling and the success of Alliance organizations. The ride is also pedaling a challenge: If 20,000 people sign up to follow the 42 Ride on Twitter, 42BELOW will donate $42,000 to Alliance programs that strengthen and unite Alliance organizations. We need your help to reach this goal. Follow the ride on Twitter and encourage your friends, supporters, and members to follow the ride.  The 42 riders have events planned in Salt Lake City (August 2), Phoenix and Sacramento (August 13), San Francisco (August 15), San Diego (August 19), and Los Angeles (August 21). The Alliance is working to engage our local member organizations to take part in the festivities that are coming to their cities. Publicity generated around these local events is a great opportunity for you to promote your organization and gain new supporters. If your organization works in one of these cities, we hope you'll connect with the ride. Let's secure the $42K donation to Alliance programs, raise awareness of biking and walking advocacy, and promote the success of Alliance organizations. If you have any questions, please check out http://PeoplePoweredMovement.org/42below or contact jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org. |
Top 10 Reasons to Come to SF this September
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1. It's the Alliance's Membership Development Training - September 17-19th 2. Trainer Ellis Robinson, author of "Non-Profit Membership Toolkit", is a membership-development expert with over 25 years of experience working with bicycle and pedestrian groups. 3. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has more members per capita that any other major city, and Kate McCarthy, SFBC's Membership & Volunteer Director will be there to share their secrets with you! 4. You'll leave SF with a customized membership plan to put into action when you return. 5. Rickshaw Bagworks is throwing a party for Alliance leaders at their headquarters - and, they're giving each participant a Rickshaw Bag to take home (an $80 value!). 6. September typically has the nicest weather in San Francisco. 7. Homestays are available with SFBC members. You can travel cheap while getting to know a local bike advocate and the city better. Or, take advantage of the SFBC preferred rate of $69/night at the Good Hotel. 8. The training is at the Women's Building in SF's Mission District. This a beautiful place for a training, accessible to transit, and a short walking distance to Dolores Park and a number of taquerias and cafes. The Mission is the flattest, most bike-friendly SF neighborhood. 9. A limited number of 1-on-1 coaching sessions are available with Ellis and Kate. (Register early to reserve your spot!) 10. Snacks are provided Thursday evening, breakfast and lunch Friday, and breakfast on Saturday. All this and networking with fellow advocacy leaders from across North America, do you need any more reasons? Deadline for the early registration price is August 17th. Register online today! |
Winning Campaigns Training Coming to Little Rock
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 This October 16-18, the Alliance is partnering with the Bicycle Alliance of Central Arkansas, and other local Alliance organizations, to bring our signature Winning Campaigns Training to North Little Rock. Join your fellow bicycle and pedestrian advocacy leaders to learn from expert coaches and each other through the Alliance's proven curriculum on choosing, directing, and winning campaigns to increase bicycling and walking. After three days, you will have a detailed campaign blueprint that will assure a victorious campaign and set up your organization for greater victories in the future. Registration includes all meals during the training, a chance to network with other local advocates in the area, and an opportunity to see some of North Little Rock's latest innovations. Early registration ends October 2. Don't miss the early registration price; Register Today! In addition to the Alliance Membership Training in San Francisco, the Winning Campaigns Training is also coming to Denver and Richmond this fall. For details including registration information, click here. |
Alliance Seeks Fall Interns
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Are you, or someone you know, looking to gain real-world experience with a national non-profit promoting cycling and walking? The Alliance is now seeking to fill two fall internship positions. Communications Intern: The 2009 Fall Communications Intern will have a unique opportunity to assist in the implementation of a new photo library for the Alliance, and will work on development and design of Alliance print publications. In addition, the internship will provide plenty of opportunities to assist with on-going communications needs of the Alliance. This internship may involve creative and engaging tasks such as drafting and editing web and print communications, coordinating and assisting with promotional mailings, and outreach and research for Alliance publications. Find more info here. Member Services Intern: The 2009 Fall Membership Services Intern will gain firsthand experience working with the member organizations of an international coalition of biking and walking advocacy organizations. This internship involves assisting with membership outreach, national campaign coordination, prospect acquisition, annual donor and member appeal, database development, website updates, and resource development. Find more info here. Deadline for applications is August 21st. Please see the Alliance Job Board for detailed internship descriptions and application instructions. |
| Alliance Members Receive Discount at Walk 21 Conference |
Join the world's best urban planners, leaders, and visionaries, at Walk21 in New York City October 7-9. Register today at:  http://walk21nyc.eventbrite.com/. Alliance members who register by August 7 receive a $75 discount, that is 20% off the price of registration! Contact jeremy@PeoplePoweredMovement.org for details. This three-day conference will feature a dynamic mix of plenaries, workshops, poster sessions and "walkshops" which will showcase New York's most innovative new projects - from the new pedestrian spaces in Times and Herald Squares to projects in neighborhoods in all five boroughs. Also, APBP is co-hosting Walk21 and has additional workshops that will interest bike and ped advocates This year's conference themes are: More footprints, less carbon: walkable communities are sustainable communities. Paving with gold: investing for a successful city. There is more to walking than walking: design strategies for urban quality. Fit cities: community design for active living. Register early for best rates! Find out more about Walk21. |
Find us on Facebook!
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 The Alliance for Biking & Walking has joined Facebook. We hope this means more ways to connect with our advocacy leaders and supporters and that it provides a virtual place for Alliance leaders to connect, comment, and see each others faces! Many Alliance organizations are making Facebook work for them. To learn how visit the Alliance's Online Resource Library at www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org/library and search "Facebook". Find us on Facebook and become our "fan" to receive occasional updates from the Alliance. |
Coming Soon:
Bike/Walk Photo Library
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 Have you ever found yourself needing quality images of biking and walking to communicate your organization's message on your website, in presentations, and in print materials? Have you had trouble finding such images, especially ones that are free or low-cost? If so, you're in luck! Come September, the Alliance is launching its first-ever People Powered Movement Photo Contest to collect such images for its Biking & Walking Photo Library - a new resource for Alliance organizations to use free of charge. Stay tuned and be sure to take some great pictures. More details coming soon.
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| Alliance Member News |
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 Blog. | |
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SFBC Wins 45 New Bike Lanes. |
 According to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, "After years of SFBC advocacy, on Friday June 26, the SFMTA Board unanimously voted yes on an ambitious Bike Plan and gave the green light to 45 new bike lanes. This is a momentous time for better bicycling in San Francisco, as these changes will dramatically improve bicycling and increase the number of people riding in San Francisco."
For more info, see photos, watch a video, and read what the media had to say about SFBC's victorious day.
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Philadelphia Reserves Lane for Bicyclists on Two Major Streets in Center City. |
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The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia was instrumental in the City of Philadelphia's plan to reserve one lane for  bicycles on two major streets. The lane designation is a trial until next spring when the streets are resurfaced. Although cycling in Philadelphia has doubled over the last three years, there are currently only four miles of bike lanes in Center City and cyclists cannot safely ride from the East to West sides of the city. For more information, visit here
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Bike Racks on Buses Roll-Out in Milwaukee. |
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The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin spoke during the Milwaukee County Transit System's launch of the Bikes on Buses program in Milwaukee. According to the Bike Fed, "After five years of working on the campaign, Shea Schachameyer from the Bike Fed was pleased to load her bike onto one of the two buses and enjoy the ride to O'Donnell Park where others where able to try loading and unloading their bikes from the racks. Throughout the summer the Bike Fed, MCTS and 91.7 WMSE will collaborate on promoting the program through on-site demonstrations like those which took place during Milwaukee's Bike to Work Week." Click here for more information on MCTS' Bikes on Buses program.
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Consider Biking's Advocacy Earns Columbus Rank as Sustainable City |
 Smarter Cities, a Natural Resource Defense Council project that examines cities' progress towards environmental sustainability, ranked Columbus in its top fifteen because of its commitment to being bicycle friendly. The Bicentennial Bikeways Plan calls to double the city's 50 miles of bike lanes and trails by the city's bicentennial in 2012 and sets goals for 200 miles of paths connecting greenways and activity centers by 2018 and 1,000 new bike racks by 2028. The plan is a result of the advocacy efforts of Alliance organization Consider Biking. For more information, see here. |
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Connecticut Declares 1% for Biking & Walking
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In a huge victory for the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance (CCBA), Governor M. Jodi Rell has signed into law a bill intended to improve access for pedestrians and bicyclists. Under the bill, beginning October 1, 2010, a minimum of one percent of future highway and street funds must be directed to biking and walking projects. An advisory board will be established to work with the Governor, the Department of Transportation, and the Legislature. This bill was a key advocacy priority of the CCBA. Read the full press release. |
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Bicycle Colorado Watches Leaders Break Ground on Stimulus Bike Path |
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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Governor Bill Ritter, and other additional state leaders broke ground June 30th on the 26-mile reconstruction of the C470 bike path. According to Bicycle Colorado, "This $7 million Recovery Act funded project nearly doubles Colorado's annual budget of federal funds for bike and ped projects." Bicycle Colorado worked at the state level to add this to the recovery-funded projects after bike projects were omitted from the original list.
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Marin's North-South Bikeway's Becoming Complete |
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Years of advocacy by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) has lead to 2009 being what they call a "banner year for San Rafael bicycle and pedestrian projects being completed or nearing completion." Projects include the opening of the Cal Park Hill Tunnel in late 2009, opening of the Los Ranchitos bikes lanes in fall 2009, downtown bike and pedestrian improvements, and the Lincoln Hill Pathway. According to MCBC, "When these projects are finished, it will be possible to ride from north San Rafael all the way to Larkspur using bicycle facilities almost the entire way. This segment of the Marin County bicycle network, known as the North-South Bikeway, is rapidly becoming complete!"
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LACBC Lights Up LA |
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According to the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), "LACBC has worked steadily to increase bike safety among low-income cyclists at the Carecen Day Labor center in Macarthur Park. We have distributed over 100 front and rear bike lights, taught 2 bilingual bike safety workshops and will be hosting bilingual bike maintenance workshops in July and August. We plan to host bike rides and other events for the summer, in the hopes of expanding to another day labor center." Learn more about the City of Lights Program.
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VA Bike Trails Fare Well With Stimulus Funds |
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According to the Virginia Bicycle Federation, "A number of Virginia's bike and pedestrian paths will now be completed thanks to the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
- the "Stimulus" package. The Virginia Department of Transportation's Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) acted swiftly to approve and submit a number of shovel-ready projects to the federal government for approval." Projects include over 250 miles of trails for biking that might not have been funded without ARRA monies. For more information to the specific project see here.
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BTA launches Eye to Eye Campaign for Summer 2009 |
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According to Oregon's Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), "The BTA and partners launched this summer's Eye to Eye campaign activities with a press conference and bike bell giveaway on Thursday, June 25, with the theme "Room to Breathe." As more people take advantage of summer weather to bike and walk, we're reminding everyone to give each other some extra space on our streets and paths by slowing down when necessary, increasing passing distance, using turn signals, and giving pedestrians and other cyclists an audible signal (like the ring of bike bell!) before passing." Check out the Eye to Eye PSA video and BTA's summer calendar of events at www.SeeingEyetoEye.org.
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