Challenge or charity. Fitness or friendship. There are so many motivations to start riding.
For women, the social aspects of bicycling are often a key motivation and inspiration, making rides and races particularly important in engaging and empowering more female bicyclists. At the National Women’s Bicycling Forum this month, we explored ways to break down the road blocks and turn cycling events into gateways for participation.
Sarai Snyder (L) and Nicole Preston (R) shared their insight on the “Engaging More Women in Rides & Races” session (Credit Brian Palmer)
Moderated by Sarai Snyder, founder of Cyclofemme and Girl Bike Love, the panel touched on charity and social rides, as well as racing and charity events.
Nicole Preston, national campaign director for the Tour de Cure, discussed best practices from one of the nation’s largest charity rides — which engages nearly 25,000 women of all ages and abilities. Tara McCarthy, Race Director Certification Manager for USA Cycling, announced the work of her organization’s new “Women’s Committee” to increase the number of women members and riders from its current 13 percent. And the ever-inspiring and outspoken Jacquie Phelan shared some of her unique insight as a mountain biking champion and founder of the Women’s Mountain Bike & Tea Society.
As a take-away for Forum participants and folks around the country, the group also created a hand-out with 11 tips to engage more women in your cycling events. See below.
.
… And stay tuned for more recaps and resources from the Forum.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
On Wednesday night, we held the first Women Bike webinar on “How to Start and Sustain a Women’s Bike Club” and, wow, what a success.
With more than 150 registrants, the topic clearly resonated, and our three panelists — Liz Jose of WEBikeNYC, Veronica Davis of Black Women Bike DC and Sarai Snyder of Girl Bike Love — shared tips and advice that were both insightful and actionable.
If you missed the webinar live, don’t worry! For you visual learners, we recorded the event and, for folks who like words on paper, we created a written Tip Sheet incorporating the notes and slides into a mini-resource.
In preparation for the Women Mean Business theme for the National Women’s Bicycling Forum (and the Bicycling Means Business theme at the 2013 National Bike Summit), we’ll explore the results of the American Bicyclist Study with authors Elliot Gluskin and Jay Townley — and understand the tremendous economic impact of women on the current, and more importantly, the future of the bicycle movement.
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Born in rural Indiana in 1878, Taylor was a pioneer in American sport — not just in bicycling. Shattering cycling records even as a teenager, Taylor was the first African-American athlete to achieve the level of world champion and only the second black man to win a world championship. But, even more than his impressive victories on the track, Taylor was a trailblazer for equity in sport.
According to the Major Taylor Bicycling Club of Minnesota: “What made [Taylor's] accomplishments even more impressive was the fact that he was a black man who overcame open racism and overt threats of violence by those who did not want to see him succeed, because track cycling at that time was dominated by the Europeans. He established several world records during his 16 years of competition. In the 168 races in which he competed, he finished first in 117 and finished second in 32.”
As Taylor himself acknowledged in his autobiography: “In most of my races I not only struggled for victory but also for my very life and limb. Only my dauntless courage and the indomitable fighting spirit I possessed allowed me to carry on in the face of tremendous odds.”
That courage and spirit continues to inspire cyclists today, with dozens of Major Taylor cycling clubs in communities nationwide.
Let’s all take a moment today to tip our helmets to a true leader of our movement.
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Click here to watch the webinar recording. And click the pictures below to download the presentations from our panelists.
Presentation from Sarai Snyder, to be uploaded soon!
Register now for the next Club Leadership webinar on August 14 at 8 p.m. on Club Mergers. Learn more and sign up!
Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
As a companion piece, here’s a blog post I happened on the day after the webinar — Online Marketing Terms in Plain English. It’s a helpful primer if you’re just getting started in online marketing.
Griff also showed off the newsletter guidelines for the Bluegrass Cycling Club, which several attendees expressed interest in emulating. They can be found at the end of these meeting minutes. If you use them, please attribute to the Bluegrass Cycling Club.
Recordings and presentations from previous webinars on membership, budgeting, succession, and the League’s insurance, as well as dates of upcoming trainings, can be found on the club leadership training page.
Scott Williams League Director of Membership
Williams joined the League in April 2010. For the four years prior, he worked providing technology consulting and solutions to nonprofit organizations with Community IT Innovators.
Like a lot of the country, D.C. weather has been miserable this winter. Cold, wet and slippery. As bitter as the weather can get, commuting by bike is still my best option. Thanks to the D.C. Department of Transportation who has been doing a much better job than ever before in clearing snow from our bike network, winter bike commuting has been much easier. The noticeable increase in the number of additional year round bike commuters is a testament to that.
Many communities still have room for improvement in their winter maintenance. As northern cities continue to work to be more bike-friendly, better snow removal practice and policies from bikeways regularly finds their way into feedback to those who apply for BFC designation. Boulder, CO- one of three Platinum designated communities- brings us an often shared best practice:
Multi-use paths in the City of Boulder are maintained to high-level transportation standards. Separate snow removal crews begin plowing the city’s multi-use paths at exactly the same time that other crews are plowing city streets.
For those still waiting on their community to adopt such policies or for maintenance budgets to increase, is there anything that can be done?
Last winter Bike Pittsburgh! could no longer wait on the city to clear snow from a popular bridge path, and organized a snow clearing party of their own. We’ve also heard of trail friends groups organizing similar shoveling parties. For those of you with the same DIY ethic who want to take on this task alone, you can build your own pedal-powered snow plow with an old bike, a trip to the hardware store and a few hours in your garage. Enjoy the video below, and if you’re inspired to create your own machine, please share your hard work with us!
Jeff Peel State and Local Advocacy Coordinator
Peel joined the League in March 2008 as a Program Specialist for the Bicycle Friendly Communities program. Peel has a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Access to the League’s special insurance package is one of the key benefits for our member clubs. If your club is a participant in our insurance, or you’re considering it, you’ll want to be part of our December 7 conference call about the program. We’re putting together our 2011 insurance package, and the call is your opportunity to weigh in. Please visit our Club Corner for information on how to join the call.
We’ve also recently unveiled our Club Leadership webinar schedule for the first months of 2011:
January 11: 2011 insurance package
We’ll roll out the 2011 club insurance package and answer your questions. With Marla Peters of American Specialty.
February 8: Marketing
We’ll discuss website, newsletter, and other outreach, with a focus on the upcoming Bike Month and Bike to Work Day, in May. Panelists TBA.
March 15: Organizing Rides and Volunteers
Panelists to include Mary Derks, of the Twin Cities Bicycling Club
April 12: Bike Education and Group Rides
We’ll discuss how to train and deploy League Certified Instructors in your organization, and how Bike Education can improve your reputation and community exposure, while lowering your insurance exposure.
May 10: Club Leadership 101
We’ll cover issues fundamental to any bicycle club, including incorporation and nonprofit status. Panelists from new and growing organizations will share their lessons learned.
All club leadership webinars are free to member clubs, thanks to sponsorship by SRAM. Contact Scott Williams, scott@bikeleague.org, if you’re interested in being part of these or any upcoming panels. Dates and details are subject to change.
Williams joined the League in April 2010. For the four years prior, he worked providing technology consulting and solutions to nonprofit organizations with Community IT Innovators.
In just a few days I will be departing for Copenhagen to attend Velo-City Global 2010 – what an opportunity! Andy Clarke, Jeff Peel and I will join the 870 participants from 54 countries to participate, learn and share experiences of bicycling in the 21st century. We will take with us examples of the many different businesses, communities, organizations and people that are making the U.S. a better place to ride. Examples such as New Belgium Brewing Company’s Tour de Fat, which has raised more than $1 million for bicycle advocacy groups since 2000; Seattle Children’s Hospital which gave away 100 bikes outfitted with fenders, a rack, a lock and helmet in six weeks to employees that pledged to ride to work year round, a minimum of four days a week; and the non-profit bike reuse and repair shop Hub of Detroit that is thriving as the city rebuilds from collapse of its auto industry. These are great stories and ones that we share continuously through our Bicycle Friendly America program. They represent small victories happening throughout the U.S. to make communities more bicycle-friendly.
The conference will be a professional highlight of my year, learning first-hand what is happening in the bike capitol of the world and throughout other continents. I will no doubt be envious of the 36 percent bicycle mode share Copenhagen boasts; however, I won’t be traveling there to focus on what we as cyclists don’t have. Rather, I will be celebrating what we do have – a growing amount of communities adopting a Complete Streets policy, the Bicycle Commuter Benefit for employees, the National Bike Summit, and statewide bike summits happening throughout the country, and the list goes on and on. The world’s bicycle leaders need to know that, while America has a lot to learn, Americans have a lot to offer. After nearly seven years in bike advocacy, I realize we have to appreciate the progress we have made. Our small victories are what will eventually get us to a 36 percent mode-share and beyond.
Alison Dewey League Program Manager, BFB & BFU
Dewey joined the League in 2008. For four years prior to that, Dewey worked for Massachusetts- based Landry’s Bicycles and served on the board of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition. Dewey has a MA in International Relations and Communications from Boston University and is a graduate of St. Olaf College. She spent three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.
May is National Bike Month; and in that spirit, we encourage you to support and maybe even join a bicycle club in your area! If you’re not involved in a club – or perhaps there isn’t one in your area – we have a great new manual that will help you and your bike-loving friends get underway with the organization and planning process. The manual explains how to start a new club, as well as how to manage your existing club more effectively.
Contents include:
Selecting Officers
Developing By-Laws
Obtaining Federal Identification Number & Non-Profit Status
Liability Issues
Club Meetings
Membership & Retention Strategies
Fundraising
Communications
Organizing Rides & Volunteers
If you’re more interested in starting a bicycle advocacy organization, go here for useful tips on how to get started.
Bill Nesper League Vice President of Programs
Nesper directs the Bicycle Friendly America Program, which includes the Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly University and Bicycle Friendly Business recognition programs. Bill first joined the League as a Membership Assistant in 2002 and moved in 2005 to manage the League education programs and Bicycle Friendly Community Program.
Blog
Subscribe
