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National Bike Advocacy Groups Affirm Shared Goals; Decide to Remain Separate
After months of steady dialogue and face-to-face meetings, the leaders of the Alliance for Biking & Walking, Bikes Belong and League of American Bicyclists have decided not to pursue full unification at this time. The three groups continue to operate independently, in close collaboration, to make bicycling safer and more enjoyable for all Americans.
These unprecedented unification discussions were marked by goodwill and an open exchange of ideas. They helped U.S. bike advocacy leaders agree on a shared vision, goals and strategies that will advance the movement and improve bicycling coast to coast.
The three groups continue to work together and have committed to achieving the following benchmark goals by 2020:
- The nationwide percentage of trips made by bike will increase to 5 percent (from 1 percent in 2012), and the diversity of people on bikes will mirror the diversity of America;
- Traffic injuries and fatalities (in all modes) will decrease by 50 percent;
- Half of all Americans will have front-door access to a bicycling network that will take them to destinations within two miles exclusively on low-stress streets, lanes, and trails–protected from high-speed traffic.
The League and Alliance are developing plans to help state and local advocates get the most out of MAP-21, the new, two-year federal transportation bill, and will work with Bikes Belong on this, and other projects. Bikes Belong has initiated a strategic discovery process to review its overall goals and to refine its focus, and is engaging the League and Alliance to help shape its future direction.
The leaders of all three groups began the unification discussion fully aware of the challenges of blending unique legal structures, membership bases, project priorities, and headquarters locations. While these talks didn’t produce a merger, the groups will continue to work together to engage, represent and connect the many different elements of the bicycling movement. They will focus on federal, state, and local projects that best improve bike infrastructure and safety in the United States.
Contact:
Alliance for Biking & Walking: Jeff Miller, 202-449-9692
League of American Bicyclists: Andy Clarke, 202-822-1333
Bikes Belong: Tim Blumenthal, 303-449-4893
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
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August 16th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Is it asking too much to want to know why not? What happened to “uniting the three organizations would dramatically improve their effectiveness in increasing bicycle use in U.S. communities.” ?
August 16th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Sometimes a close relationship is better than a bad marriage. But I too am left wondering what happened.
As far as the goals, the devils will be in the details. The best thing to happen for a mode share increase is a rise in the price of gasoline because I doubt seriously that a punitive gas tax will ever make it through Congress, regardless of who is in power. Decreasing traffic fatalities has been a goal some of us have argued for a decade (and would also tend to get more people on bikes), as discussed in the Traffic Justice Institute (Madison, 2006) and will take close work with legislatures, prosecutors, and auto organizations like the AAA. As far as goal 3, I don’t know what percentage of people already have such access, but its a goal that will run contrary to the last half century’s development patterns of “arterial and cul de sac” suburban development. This too will be a sea change of sorts.
Aside from these grand goals, some of which are not entirely in our power, how about some League goals that are within our power? For example, expanding our educational mission, regenerating local advocacy, and reaching out to the poor and minorities with affordable transportation bicycling so that there are voices other than the usual ones at the table? The current model of bicycling in America tends to be dominated by high priced stuff sold to the affluent. As a recent LAB blog piece on Portland showed, there is a better model.
To some degree I am relieved. It wasn’t clear to me how a member-based organization of bicyclists would survive this merger with our identity intact. I was excited to think that it could be done by some pretty smart people in the three organizations, but the main job of our LAB leadership was first, do no harm.
August 17th, 2012 at 10:11 am
[...] National Bike Advocacy Groups Affirm Shared Goals; Decide to Remain Separate [...]
August 17th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
The central issue here, which has been almost completely ignored as far as I can tell, is who will represent the interests of cyclists–the people who are riding now, not the “I’ll ride only if…” crowd? The bike industry, bike facilities planners, and the anti-car advocates all have a different agenda, which is to increase the amount of cycling. No matter if the cycling is done well or poorly, let’s just have more of it. That is not, or should not be, LAB’s agenda, although sadly, since the move to DC, this has taken precedence over our historic mission to represent the interests of our members. So I think the abandonment of the merger is a good thing, although from experience I don’t expect LAB’s focus to change.
August 18th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Bill’s concerns echo mine. LAB should be an organization that represents cyclists. Not just could-be cyclists in an ideal world, but actual cyclists. Thunderhead used to represent cyclists but now is an amalgam represents alternative transportation.The Bike Biz wants to sell bikes and increase its market share.
While there is probably some commonality across the three, neither BB nor ABW is dedicated to people who actually ride their bicycles. LAB needs to be that entity.
I took an eight hour Motorcycle Safety Foundation Skilled Rider Course yesterday, since last fall I bought a motorcycle after a 24 year layoff. I was absolutely wasted after the class, seven of which was spent putting our own motorcycles (not the “learner motorcycles” but the ones we ride every day) through low and mid speed maneuvers. Many of the maneuvers were similar to the ones we teach in TS101 and some more elaborate. In my case, it meant learning to really KNOW how to ride a 600 lb BMW sport touring bike in traffic. The other hour, along with short discussions between drills, was spent on topics such as situational awareness, alcohol vs. riding, and SEE.
Imagine LAB getting students on their own bikes for seven hours straight of bike handling skills designed to keep you outa trouble in the real world rather than spending so much time trying to invent utopia! I’ve not seen the new TS Curriculum, but wonder what it looks like. Would be nice if LAB rolled it out to LCIs before we actually have to use it.
Got up this morning and my shoulders still are sore. Now THAT was teaching! Thank you, MSF.
August 24th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
[...] & Walking, Bikes Belong, and League of American Bicyclists) announced last week they have decided not to merge after more than a year of [...]