october 21, 2013
Greetings! 

We're excited to usher in a new batch of Bicycle Friendly Communities from across the country -- our biggest round of BFC applications ever!  One of the great challenges in envisioning a truly Bicycle Friendly America is the need to transform suburban communities. Well, that transformation is evidently underway and is being lead by this round of communities. 
 
Sincerely,  

 


Andy Clarke
League President
 
 league news 
suburbs join the rise of bicycle friendly communities

The national boom in biking has officially found a pedal-hold in a previously unlikely place: the suburbs. Last week, we announced the latest round of Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) -- and suburban towns are showing that large urban centers aren't the only areas making biking better for millions of Americans. In the largest round of applications since the program's inception in 2003, the League welcomes 32 new BFCs, growing the overall number to 291 BFCs in 48 states.  In fact, the League's own birthplace, Newport, R.I., became a Bronze-level community this round..  See the full list here. (Photo courtesy of Reston, Va.)

special summit discount for first 100

We're gearing up for the 2014 National Bike Summit, and if you're one of the first 100 registrants, you'll receive $50 off! The annual event will be held March 3-5, 2014, in Washington, D.C. This year's Summit will unite advocates, clubs riders, industry leaders and elected officials to begin the push for the next transportation bill. Our theme, "United Spokes: Moving Beyond Gridlock," showcases the momentum for bicycling at the local and state level and our collective impact in the halls of Congress when we unite our voices for a Bicycle Friendly America.  Register today!

capturing the journey: bikeswell

Last week, League staff were on hand for the premiere of "BikeSwell," a documentary by Jason Berry that captures Arlington's journey to become a truly Bicycle Friendly Community.  Jakob Wolf-Barnett, League COO, spoke on the panel at the sold out event. Watch the full 30-minute documentary above, or click here, to see interviews with Jakob and Andy Clarke, League President. 
choosing a magazine for your member benefit
A few months ago, the League added a choice of magazines that members can choose from when they join or renew. Not sure which to choose? Scott, our Membership Director, is here to help:
  • You might like Bicycling if: you're planning your pre- and post- century meals while swapping out a lighter cassette. 
  •  You might like Bicycle Times if: you've got a bike-gear-greasemark tattoo.
  • You might like Momentum if: you have a flask of latte in your water bottle cage, and groceries in your pannier

And we know you'll love American Bicyclist, our membership magazine that showcases stories from all aspects of the bicycle movement. Read more here. 

the league is moving!
The League's office is moving this week and next. Our office will be closed on Friday, Oct. 25, but staff will  be available via email. Monday, Oct. 28, will be our first day in the new office and we expect to have normal access to the phone lines. Please bear with us as we go through this transition. Our new address will  be: 1612 K St. NW, Suite 308, Washington, D.C., 20006.
support the league through combined federal campaign
Do you work for the  federal government? Make bicycling better through a workplace payroll deduction. Join the thousands of bicyclists who support the League through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Use CFC#: 11563. Thank you!
 
 advocacy
challenge inspires 3m to become bicycle friendly business
The National Bike Challenge left an impression on employees of 3M, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in St. Paul, Minn. Their participation in the Challenge has spurred them to apply  for the League's Bicycle Friendly Business award, continuing to strive for a more bike friendly environment for its employees and its greater community in St. Paul. Read more about their journey here.
georgia advocates beat back anti-bicycling bill
Our friends in Georgia successfully stopped an anti-bicycling bill, HB 689, in the state legislature earlier this month. The law would have required tags and registration for bicycles, remove the right to ride two abreast in the road, place strange requirements on group rides and make some unrestricted public roadways "off limits" to bicyclists. Georgia Bikes, along with other advocates, lead the charge in getting the bill pulled from consideration. Read Georgia Bikes guest post here, and read about the victory here.
league birthplace becomes a bicycle friendly community
Newport, R.I., has "returned to its roots" as a hub for bicycling. The birthplace of the League in 1880, Newport was named a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community yesterday. Newport is also now the first BFC in Rhode Island, growing the network of BFCs to 48 states. "It's an exciting ride -- and we've only just begun," said Bari George, Executive Director of Bike Newport. "We could not be more proud to see the birthplace of the League joining the Bicycle Friendly America movement." Read more here. 
building community: women bike atlanta
After rolling out our "Women on a Roll" report, we've been looking at the Five C's of women's cycling. We recently took a look at "Community," and nowhere is the power of community more evident than in the success of  Women Bike Atlanta, which has grown from a few members to a large and diverse group with regular rides in five different counties in less than two years. To get some insight on how they've done it, we checked in with Sonja Parham, the group's co-founder. Read the Q&A here!
 
 resources
twitter 101 tips

If your advocacy organization doesn't have a Twitter presence, you're undoubtedly missing opportunities to engage potential members and riders in your community. Last week, the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the League hosted "Twitter 101," the second in a series of webinars focused on using social media as a way to connect with your constituency and bolster your campaigns. Watch the video recording and view a PDF of the slides here
Women BIke: Trends in women's specific bikes
Women Bike is your hub of information for facts and figures related to female ridership. Earlier this month, we teamed up with Leisure Trends Group to give you an inside look at women's trends in the industry. Tom Jones, Senior Retail Analyst at Leisure Trends, explored retail sales trends and probed the numbers to illuminate new opportunities for cycling manufacturers and retailers. Watch the recording here. 
club leadership: CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
There are important reasons for cycling groups to establish strong connections with their communities, no matter what their goal.Earlier this month, we hosted a Club Leadership webinar with three local cycling leaders discussed their low-cost approaches to improving the relationship between their organization and the surrounding communities. Click here to watch the video recording and read the recap.
education video series: starting & stopping

It's pretty basic: How do I start and stop on my bicycle? But mastering these breeds confidence on two wheels.  Watch our quick 'how-to' video here, as part of our bike education video series. All of the videos in the series are available for download for you to use in your own communities -- click here to check it out!

Cycling in the African American Community:  Safety Training Guidelines and Findings
This new report, out of the Southwest Region University Transportation Center, is a user's manual for the Cycling in the African American Community safety training intervention. The CAAC safety training intervention was designed to "nudge" more African Americans, who are often beginning cyclists or non-cyclists, to participate in a physical activity that promotes health and builds community. Read the report in full here.
 
 partner news
register for 2013 national Bicycle tourism conference!

The Bicycle Tourism Network is hosting its 2013 conference Nov. 6-9 in Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa. The conference includes a diversity of workshops and topics and will also boast a number of high profile speakers, special guests and industry celebrities. Register now!

state summit spotlight: wisconsin
The Wisconsin Bike Summit will be held Friday, October 25, in Madison. Hosted by the Wisconsin Bike Federation, the Summit will feature a slew of speakers and panel discussions, including one on the Wisconsin locations designated by the League as Bicycle Friendly Communities. Read more here and register today!
Upcoming State and local bike Summits
Looking to connect with local advocates and make an impact in your community? Don't miss a state or local bike summit in your area.

Have more to add? Email [email protected] with the details!

 


Share this American Bicyclist Update with your cycling friends and fellow bike commuters. The generous support from the League's members make publications like this possible. Join the League today.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America's 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.
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