Washington, DC - February 13, 2012 - Sue Macy, author of Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flats Tires Along the Way), will appear as the keynote speaker at the inaugural National Women Cycling Forum. The forum will be held Tuesday, March 20, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the 2012 National Bike Summit.
Women still cycle at much lower rates than men in the United States -- making up just 24 percent of bike trips in 2009. But that trend is shifting. This Forum will be the first national gathering specifically dedicated to raising awareness about and discussing how to engage more women in bicycling.
 "This critical topic and rising energy is gathering momentum across the country as more women of all backgrounds are starting to ride or getting more involved in the movement," said Carolyn Szczepanski, Communications Coordinator for the Alliance for Biking & Walking. "We're eager to start a continuing conversation aimed at increasing the number of women who bicycle for transportation and recreation."
Sue Macy will provide unique inspiration to kick off that discussion. Among other accolades, Wheels of Change was named to the 2011 Best Books lists from the Washington Post and the San Francisco Book Review. "Ms. Macy wrote a captivating book about the bicycle's historic role in women's empowerment, and we hope this forum will be the catalyst to begin closing the gender gap in today's cycling environment," said Kit Keller, Executive Director of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.
In addition to the keynote presentation from Macy, other confirmed speakers include:
- Elysa Walk, General Manager, Giant Bicycles Inc.
- Marla Streb, former World Mountain Bike Champion
- Andrea Garland, Planner, Alta Planning + Design
- Veronica Davis, Founder, Black Women Bike D.C.
- Kimberly White, Youth Advocate, Recycle-A-Bicycle
- Nelle Pierson, Events Coordinator, Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Registration is free, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Sign up at www.nationalwomencyclingforum.eventbrite.com.
On Wednesday, March 21, the conversation will continue with a Women Cycling Social at Busboys & Poets from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both events are co-hosted by the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and are generously sponsored by Giant Bicycles Inc., CLIF Bar, the League of American Bicyclists and the National Center for Bicycling and Walking. About the Alliance for Biking & Walking: The Alliance for Biking & Walking is the North American coalition of more than 200 state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations working together to promote bicycling and walking. To learn more, visit PeoplePoweredMovement.org. About the Association for Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals: APBP is the only professional membership organization for the discipline of pedestrian and bicycle transportation, including leaders in engineering, planning, landscape architecture, safety, public health, Safe Routes to School and promotion. Learn more at APBP.org. |
