To shine the spotlight on the progress and victories of the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy movement, the Alliance announced its 2011 Advocacy Award winners to a packed reception during the National Bike Summit last month. This year, the Alliance honors the following winners:

Advocacy Organization of the Year- Bike Pittsburgh 

On its face, Pittsburgh is a tough place to ride a bicycle. The streets are steep and twisting, and the winters are long and brutal. But bicycle mode share is up and the Steel City is charged up with new enthusiasm for active transportation. Why? Bike Pittsburgh. The advocates at BikePGH have been working hand-in-hand with government officials to get new infrastructure on the ground, partnered with the local companies to get the business community on board and created innovative programs, like Car Free Fridays, that are getting more people on bicycles...   

Advocate of the Year: Jackie Douglas, LivableStreets (Boston) 

This award goes to an individual who has shown tireless commitment to promoting bicycling and walking in his or her community and serves as a role model for other advocates across North America. In 2010, there was no advocate more tireless or worthy of modeling than Jackie Douglas from LivableStreets in Boston. Having risen from the ranks of intern, Douglas never rests as executive director, working to improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians; increase membership for the organization, bring in grant funding for its programming and act as the face of LivableStreets at near-daily public meetings, volunteer gatherings and public speaking events...

Business Advocate of the Year: New Belgium Brewing Company

In 2010 alone, New Belgium Brewing Company raised more than $330,000 for bicycle advocacy organizations with a nationwide event that blew the minds of more than 70,000 residents in 13 different cities. The Tour de Fat festival is an ingenious way to celebrate and elevate bicycle culture - and give back to the bike-ped movement. In each Tour city, New Belgium selected area nonprofits to receive the proceeds from the beer sales, funneling thousands of critical dollars into local advocacy efforts to improve biking and walking...

Winning Campaign of the Year: Michigan Complete Streets

At the start of 2010, Michigan had just one local complete streets ordinance. By the end of the year, there were more than 20 communities with complete streets policies and the Governor had signed a new statewide complete streets law. That incredible and rapid transformation was sparked and spurred by advocates from the League of Michigan Bicyclists, who helped to create a powerful Michigan Complete Streets Coalition with 105 diverse member organizations...

Best Practices: Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

The Best Practices Award goes to an organization that serves as a model for other bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations. In 2010, countless individuals and a number of advocacy organizations drew information and inspiration from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. The LACBC's City of Lights initiative elevated the conversation about "invisible cyclists" - men and women who ride bicycles but whose voices aren't heard and needs aren't acknowledged because of language or economic barriers...

Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award: Stephanie Routh

The Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award commemorates Alliance co-founder, Susie Stephens, honoring her passion for biking and walking as fun and economical means of transportation and her commitment to creating a safe environment for all street users. This year we honor Stephanie Routh, executive director of the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition. In just two years, Routh has transformed the group from struggling-to-be-noticed to well-networked, in the news, and in demand for participation in regional active transportation forums. Stephanie has embraced this role with great enthusiasm, increasing the membership and volunteer base, building bridges to diverse communities and partnering with other active transportation organizations.

Innovation Award: Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

The Innovation Award goes to an organization that's pioneering or inventing new ways to promote biking and walking. In 2010, the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling released a groundbreaking new resource: Guide to Reviewing Public Road Design and Bicycling Accommodations for Virginia Bicycling Advocates. The 28-page booklet simplifies and streamlines the confusing road design process with easy-to-follow flow charts, handy check lists and explanations that make sense to folks who don't have a masters degree in urban planning. Almost immediately, FABB's innovative guide was in high demand...    

Click here to read the full press release. 

Advocacy Advance, the partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking is pleased to announce a new website and focus.  

Since 2009, Advocacy Advance has provided necessary resources, technical assistance, training, and more than $500,000 in grants and scholarships to bike/ped advocacy organizations around the country. In 2011, Advocacy Advance has a renewed focus: tapping into underutilized or new sources of funding with the overarching goal to double federal transportation spending on biking and walking at the state, regional, and local level by 2013. By working with agency staff, elected officials, and advocates, we aim to maximize the investment for biking and walking in states, MPOs, and cities where program choices are being made on how to spend safety, air quality, bridge, and local highway funding.

At AdvocacyAdvance.org you can learn more about our mission, mark your calendars for upcoming trainings, get updates on our grants program, and read all the past reports from the Advocacy Advance research team. While you're there, be sure to sign up for our e-mails and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, so you'll be in the know when we post new reports or open registration for our Action 2020 workshops.

The third year brings a new focus to the Advocacy Advance grant program. With support from SRAM, $125,000 will be awarded to organizations with campaigns aimed at maximizing transportation spending on biking and walking  at the state, regional, and local levels.

There are three types of grants. Model Grants provide multi-year support to state and local advocacy organizations with efforts to significantly increase federal investment at state, regional, and/or local levels for biking and walking infrastructure and programs. Rapid Response Grants help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. Capacity Building Grants support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking.

Inquiry forms are accepted now through April 25^th for the Model and Capacity Building Grants. Rapid Response will be awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year. Learn more about the grant goals, timeline, and application process on our website at AdvocacyAdvance.org/grants. 

If you have any questions about the Advocacy Advance partnership or the 2011 grants, e-mail Brighid O'Keane, Advocacy Advance Program Manager, and we will happily assist you in your application. If you're interested specifically in the Capacity Building Grants mark your calendars for a question-and-answer call on April 7 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Register for the call here.  

Our 2011 Mutual Aid Calls continued strong in March with more than 80 participants attending the three interactive discussions. You won't want to miss a single call in April, so register now for: 

• April 6, 2011- Fundraising Fundamentals: You may think you're not a fundraiser. You haven't met Andy Robinson. Having spent years as a successful fundraiser himself and now an expert consultant on the topic, Robinson will explain the nuts and bolts of raising money, where the majority of dollars come from and how to build a fundraising program that honors your mission.

• April 13, 2011- Expanding your Organization's Reach with Social Media and Web 2.0 Technology: Social media, like Facebook and Twitter, have become powerful and popular means to keep our members updated and to mobilize our supporters to take action. But how do you build and cultivate an online community and how do you leverage those contacts to advance your campaigns, engage more members and even boost your fundraising efforts? Attend this Mutual Aid Call to learn how to most effectively use social media and web 2.0 technology from advocates and experts in the field.

• April 27, 2011- Complete Streets: What Makes a Model Policy? The National Complete Streets Coalition has launched a new project to help communities develop Complete Streets policies and translate those documents into meaningful changes on the ground and within transportation agencies. The first of these tools is a new analysis of existing written policies to determine how they stack up against the 10 elements of an ideal Complete Streets policy. Get insight on what makes a strong policy and hear from communities that have implemented exemplary measures in this engaging Mutual Aid call.

All calls start at 2 p.m. Eastern and run for one hour. As always, be sure to register, so you'll receive the agenda and speakers' talking points before you dial in.  

Unable to attend the March Mutual Aid calls? We've got you covered! Be sure to check out our tips sheets that give the highlights of each call. Click here for the "Countering Resistance" tip sheet, and here for the "Planning Effective Bike to Work Day Events" tip sheet.

One of the most powerful tools to boost biking and walking in your community is a large, active membership.  

The 2011 Alliance Membership Development Training will give you the proven skills and innovative best practices to engage more people in your important work. Registration for this national event, July 20-22, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois, is now open. Sign up today!   

Is your organization looking to lay a strong foundation for its membership plan? Does your group already have a membership program, but want to take it to the next level? Attend this affordable training geared specifically for bike-ped advocates and learn from top experts in the field.  

Ellis Robinson has more than 30 years' experience serving more than 500 local, state, and national advocacy groups as a strategic membership consultant. She'll be joined by Kate McCarthy from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Lee Crandell of the Active Transportation Alliance  and other bike-ped leaders from around the country who will add their expertise.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insight, network with your peers and share your experiences on this critical topic! Click here for more information and to register.

Just this past weekend, advocates in the Midwest gathered in Davenport, Iowa, for the first Winning Campaigns Training of 2011. Have you registered for a training in your area yet? 

The Alliance's Winning Campaigns Training gives you the skills, strategies and advice you need to kickstart and turbocharge campaigns to improve biking and walking.  Led by longtime advocates and national experts, the training will teach you how to focus in on a winnable campaign, identify key decision makers, rally community members and the media, fundraise for the effort and much more. With guidance from facilitators and your peers, you'll leave the training with a detailed Campaign Blueprint that outlines each step to your ultimate victory.

But the Winning Campaigns Training is more than a workshop. It's a fun, interactive, inspiring experience that fosters collaboration and connection among your region's advocates. Sign up today for an upcoming training:  

• May 13-15 - Baltimore, MD (Early registration ends on April 13)
• June  3-5 - Seattle, WA (Early registration ends on 5/6)
• August 26-28 - Lansing, MI  
• October 14-16 - Los Angeles, CA
• November 4-6 - Columbia, SC 

Be sure to register for the Baltimore training by April 13 to get the early-bird rate of just $75 for Alliance members and $125 for the general public. That's 25 percent off the regular rate, so sign up today! 

Congress is in the thick of making important decisions that will affect billions of dollars in federal funding for biking and walking projects. To keep you informed of recent developments, the Alliance and America Bikes covered critical developments in our monthly Federal Policy Call, including:

• Report from Capitol Hill: We're waiting for Congress to pass a 2011 budget. The House is working on reauthorization of the transportation bill. We're working to reintroduce the Complete Streets bill and to get more Republicans to co-sponsor the bill.
• Categorical Exclusions: The Obama administration, including the US Department of Transportation, is looking at regulations and how to make them more efficient. 
• Equity Caucus: The caucus is proposing a National Conversation on Transportation Equity, with a series of local events to be held in late April and May 2011. 
• Urban Bikeways Design Guide: A new and helpful resource for advocates and professionals, thanks to the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

Click here for a full recap of the call.

Join us for our next Federal Policy Call:  

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2011 

Time: 2 p.m. EST

Register here.  

Register now for the 3rd Safe Routes to School National Conference, August 16 - 18, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Early bird registration ($300) is available until May 31. Interested in presenting at the conference? Presenter registration is discounted to $200. Deadline for proposal submissions is April 8.

The conference will strengthen your ability to influence the institutions, social norms and communities that shape the success of the SRTS movement. Come gain the skills and insights that will help you:  

• Advance the integration of SRTS into transportation, engineering and planning at the local, state and federal levels
• Infuse the teaching and promotion of safe walking and biking skills into the education curriculum
• Enhance your understanding of SRTS efforts as vital aspects of a livable community

Learn more at saferoutesconference.org.

A few months ago, we told you about an innovative idea from SRAM and Bikes Belong to award scholarships to Spanish-speaking elected officials to attend Velo-City 2011. Last month, the world's premiere bicycle conference brought together top leaders from around the globe and, thanks to nominations from Alliance member organizations, a handful of Latino officials from across the United States got a front row - and back room - ticket to the proceedings in Seville, Spain. The Boston Cyclists Union was just one organization that nominated a local, Spanish-speaking official for this unique opportunity. In early March, the BCU celebrated the Velo-City scholarship awarded to Felix G. Arroyo, a city councilmember with family roots in Puerto Rico. Pete Stidman, the BCU's executive director, said Arroyo has been a leader on issues related to asthma and a supporter of the BCU since its inception. Having Arroyo on the ground in Seville, talking to fellow city-level officials who have installed 75 miles of bikeways since 2007 and boosted its bicycle ridership from .6 to 6 percent, could plant the seeds of progress back home in Boston. Read the full story here.

Wearing his signature bow tie and Velcro strap around his pant leg, Congressman Earl Blumenauer arced his arms over his head and brought his palms together as if beginning a yoga workshop, not a plenary address. Looking out at the more than 700 bicycle advocates gathered at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC, the Democrat from Oregon barely cracked a smile as he asked the crowd to repeat after him. "How many people are stuck in traffic right now to ride a stationary bike in a health club?" To the general public that might sounds like a daily annoyance. To the attendees of last month's National Bike Summit, it sounded sadly ridiculous. Each year, the League of American Bicyclists orchestrates a convergence of hundreds of bike advocates from across the country. Each year the circumstances and politics are different but the aim is the same: Pushing for a nation where riding a bicycle outside is so safe and so conducive to daily transportation that the notion of spinning aimlessly inside is nothing more than the punchline of an ironic joke. Read a full recap of the opening remarks from Congressman Blumenauer and Janette Sadik-Khan here.

This year, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association set forth an ambitious plan to expand offerings to underserved communities lying east of the Anacostia River. While the District of Columbia has seen recent improvements to its cycling infrastructure, this area - Ward 8 - is critical because it is isolated and lacks safe areas for bicycling. In 2007, a housing study identified Ward 8 as financially burdened. Hampered by its image as a high-crime area, Ward 8 is comprised of a demographic that is 95% African American, primarily young working-age families, whose median income is only $28,120, just over half of the median income of the District.  With low-income families spending a disproportionate amount of their wealth on transportation, WABA recognized that this area's economic vitality and its residents' mobility would greatly benefit from a strong bicycle infrastructure. To begin, WABA aims to encourage residents to realize the positive outcomes of biking. The DC-based organization recently announced the "East of the Anacostia" initiative. Read more here.