Building the People Powered Movement
The Alliance for Biking & Walking is the North American coalition of more than 190 bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations in 48 states and four Canadian provinces. Alliance organizations represent more than 106,000 dues-paying members and interact with countless more residents in their communities. With the assistance of the Alliance and its network of leaders and experts, advocates have the tools to transform their communities into great places to bike and walk.
Why sponsor the Alliance? Because…
Your sponsorship is the catalyst for change across North America and gives your company repeated exposure in dozens of major markets. Your support builds brand loyalty among countless advocates and the hundreds of thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians they represent from coast to coast. Download our Sponsorship Invitation and select a level that fits your budget and meets your marketing needs.
Contact Jeff Miller at (202) 445-4415 or jeff@PeoplePoweredMovement to discuss your sponsorship — or work with us to create your own customized opportunity.
The Alliance plays a powerful and important role in supporting organizations on the ground that work for safety, accessibility, and expansion of walking and cycling. Their positive energy motivates, not only our company, but also the many travelers who ride and walk with us.
- Gregg Marston, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations
We support the Alliance because they are capacity builders. They nurture, network and coach their member organizations to ever-higher levels of effectiveness.
- Jay Ferm, Planet Bike
The Alliance does a remarkable job bringing cohesion to the nonprofit world of sustainable transportation. Their vision focuses the energy and passion of groups around the country, strengthening individual effort by creating a collective whole.
- Jenn Orgolini, Sustainability Director, New Belgium Brewing Company
Because the vast majority of Americans want their communities to be more walkable and bike friendly, CLIF BAR proudly supports the grassroots work of the Alliance. Aligning with our own values, the Alliance promote more vibrant communities, a cleaner environment and healthier, more active people.
- Elysa Hammond, Director of Environmental Stewardship, Clif Bar
The Alliance for Biking & Walking has over 180 member organizations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. We provide the following services to our members:
Our Online Resource Library provides over 1000 resources to Alliance members. Resources include template bylaws, workplans, budgets, and fundraising letters. You'll also find sample PSAs, annual reports, membership brochures, and a wealth of research on biking and walking issues. Search by keyword or category to find what you need.
We host between four and six Winning Campaigns trainings a year and a biannual Leadership Retreat in different North American cities. Our trainings are geared specifically for leaders of biking and walking advocacy organizations and are great opportunities for networking and resource sharing.
Our Mutual Aid series brings over 20 free educational conference calls a year to advocacy leaders. Call topics include capacity building for bike/ped advocacy organizations and topics of specific interest to biking and walking groups. Calls are facilitated by an Alliance staff member, last one hour, and typically draw between 10 and 30 Alliance leaders.
Alliance members have access to on-call coaching and consulting services from qualified Alliance staff. Need help with a campaign? Want advice on growing your organization's membership? Need help navigating a tricky board situation? Contact our staff for assistance. Special consulting services such as strategic planning and meeting facilitation are also available to members at special rates.
The Alliance Benchmarking Project collects, analyzes, and reports on bicycling and walking data for the 50 U.S. states and at least the 50 most-populous U.S. cities. The project provides vital data for advocates, planners, and researchers to evaluate progress and measure results of efforts to increase biking and walking.
Alliance members can post their job opportunities for free on the Alliance Job Board. We highlight our job board in our monthly e-newsletter, Streetside.
Alliance publications are geared towards helping grassroots bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations thrive. Alliance members receive discounts on all Alliance publications.
Advocacy Advance Grants are available to Alliance member organizations through a competitive application process twice a year. Grants fund start-up organizations, capacity building, and innovative programs to increase biking and walking.
Alliance members are kept plugged into national issues affecting bicycling and walking through our Action Center. From federal legislation like the Transportation Bill and Economic Stimulus Bill to Safe Routes to School, the Alliance plugs grassroots advocates into the national issues that matter most to them.
Alliance members receive discounts on the following
And
Contact an Alliance staff member for more details on these discounts.
Bike & Ped Advocacy Resource LibraryLooking for the recordings of Mutual Aid Calls or the materials from the recent training you attended? Find the latest resources for bicycle and pedestrian advocates. Over 500 resources in this library include sample documents and publications from Alliance member organizations, research and data on bicycling and walking issues, educational resources, public service announcements, models for organizing successful events, and more.PublicationsAlliance’s publications assist our members with their work including the newly released Fundraising Ride Guide and Benchmarking Report. Reduced prices are available for members. |
Starting An OrganizationTo help our organizations Just forming, we share some related resources that will help you on this new journey:HelpAlliance is working to develop a more comprehensive help system for our members and supporters. You will currently find details for using our Alliance listserve as well as general help information. |
The Alliance for Biking and Walking, formerly known as Thunderhead Alliance, is the coalition of grassroots advocacy organizations working together to promote bicycling and walking in North American communities. Alliance organizations come together to help each other grow their organizations and become more effective by sharing best practices and innovations.
Here you will find the latest resources for bicycle and pedestrian advocates. Over 500 resources in this library include sample documents and publications from Alliance member organizations, research and data on bicycling and walking issues, educational resources, public service announcements, models for organizing successful events, and more.
Feel free to browse the categories for resources of interest, or enter key words into the search tool to find exactly what you need. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Submit a request for a resource by clicking the button at the top of each page. You can also submit resources you would like to share with other bicycle and pedestrian advocacy leaders.
Most of these documents and resources are password protected for the benefit of our member organizations and supporters. If you would like your non-profit state or local bicycle and/pedestrian advocacy organization to become an Alliance member organization, or if you would like to become one of our valued supporters, please
America Walks’ guide to signals walks through some ways to increase the visibility of pedestrians and to alter roadways to be safer for pedestrians to cross. It includes descriptions and pictures of each method discussed. (PDF).
America Walks Signalized Intersection Enhancements that Benefit Pedestrians
It was a day or two into the 2010 Alliance Leadership Retreat when Alexis Lantz stood up during lunch. The Planning and Policy Director from Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition had a proposal that energized every female leader in the room: The convening of a Women’s Caucus (pictured above).
That gathering at the Leadership Retreat was short, informal — and incredibly inspiring. There was so much to talk about: issues we face as women within our own organizations and the broader movement; how we increase the number of women in bicycle advocacy and boost female mode share out on the streets; how we stay better connected in the time between retreats and summits, building community and sharing ideas to deal with collective challenges and opportunities. The Women’s Caucus carved out just a tiny window within the tight schedule of dozens of other sessions, but, at least speaking for myself, it was the most powerful and memorable moment from the entire weekend. With little time to develop specific next steps, we had to keep the outcome simple. The main consensus: Let’s keep the conversation going.
We knew we weren’t the only ones talking about these issues. Shortly before the Leadership Retreat, in mid-2010, the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals conducted a Women Cycling Survey — and participation was through the roof. More than 11,000 women in the U.S. shared all sorts of information about why they bike, what would make them bike more and a wealth of other opinions and experiences. The insight gained from the (non-scientific) survey was not only revelatory; it was also an incredible spark for a lively discussion at conferences and online.
Clearly, women want to talk about bicycling. And our voices are getting more numerous and more prominent.
According to the Alliance 2012 Benchmarking Report, women are still vastly outnumbered by men, accounting for just 24 percent of bike trips in 2009. But that trend is shifting. A growing number of women from all backgrounds and communities are beginning to ride and getting more involved in the bicycle movement. As female leaders and cyclists, we’re eager to learn from our peers, share our experiences and explore ideas to engage more women.
So, like we said at the Leadership Retreat, let’s continue the conversation. Attend the first-ever National Women Cycling Forum on March 20, 2012 from 2-4 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC.
Hosted by the Alliance and APBP, this forum will provide insight from a diverse panel of women in bicycle advocacy, engineering, government and industry. It will foster collective discussion about best practices, creative ideas and potential next steps in addressing the pervasive gender cycling gap at a national and local level. And it will invite input on the Women Cycling Project—a joint effort of the Alliance and APBP to create a new, interactive, online presence for women cyclists and advocates.
This event will be held in conjunction with the 2012 National Bike Summit—and your presence at this annual event has never been more important. Congress is making important and long-term decisions about the next federal transportation bill and women’s voices and stories are essential to preserving billions in funding for bicycling projects and programs across the country. We’re on the brink of losing the hard-fought progress of the past 20 years and we need a HUGE turn-out at this year’s summit. (Register by February 20 to save $100.)
When you make your DC travel plans, make sure you arrive in time for the National Women Cycling Forum on Tuesday, March 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. This event is open to all interested attendees—both women and men. Sign up for the Forum here, so you’ll get all the details in coming weeks, including the line-up of panelists. And, please, start sharing the link as widely as possible!
Plus, mark your calendars for a Women Cycling Social on Wednesday, March 21 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets, a very cool venue just a few blocks from the Summit hotel. Stay tuned for details.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Have additional questions? Contact Carolyn@PeoplePoweredMovement.org.
Click here to read this issue.
It’s so much worse than we thought.
Yesterday, the House released its transportation bill, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. We expected the bill to be bad news for biking and walking, but we didn’t think it would go so far as to reverse all progress we’ve made over the past 20 years. (Check out the Top 10 Reasons the House Bill is Bad for Bicycling and Walking from Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, on the right.)
If your member of Congress is on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, please take action TODAY. With a vote coming in the T&I committee TOMORROW, tell your Representative to preserve biking and walking. Click here to contact your Representative through the League’s Action Center.
House leadership is exerting pressure to completely cut bicycling and walking out of transportation. Lawmakers seem to have gone through the bill, line-by-line, to gut programs that make streets safer. The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act:
There’s still a chance to save biking and walking. Tomorrow, in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and Timothy Johnson (R-IL) plan to stand up to leadership by offering an amendment that restores dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Petri and Johnson can only be successful if everyone with a stake in safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways contacts his or her Representative today.
This is as urgent as it gets. Even if we win this amendment, there will be a long road ahead. But if we lose here, we risk losing decades of progress.
If members of the Transportation Committee are going to stand up to House leadership by supporting biking and walking, they need to know their constituents are behind them. Please contact Congress TODAY and ask your Representative to preserve dedicated funding for biking and walking.
If you have a Representative on the T&I committee, please forward this action alert to your members and supporters. Pass it along to all your local partners — particularly high-level contacts like mayors, school board members, and business leaders — and ask them to weigh in, too. And thank you for all you do to advance biking and walking!
In addition to the big Transportation Research Board meeting last week, there was another engaging gathering on bicycle and pedestrian issues — the Transforming Transportation conference hosted by EMBARQ. I attended the panel on ‘Bicycling: How to Achieve Greater Mode Share?’ which featured an international panel from the Netherlands, Cape Town, and China. While the three projects were vastly different in location, the underlying theme was the same: People want to use cycling as a mode of transport and want it to be made easy for them to do so.
Bram van Ooijen, a presenter from China, referenced a recent poll of residents in his province. When asked why they didn’t ride a bicycle anymore, an overwhelming number responded that it just wasn’t safe. China’s car infrastructure has grown exponentially over past decades, taking a nation that relied mostly on the bicycle for transportation to a nation that relies on single car use instead. Some roads in China are as wide as 80 meters and bike lanes are few and far between. But when they made bike lanes part of the new bus infrastructure, and found the money to build greenways around the city, people used them — and people loved them.
In South Africa, it’s a similar story. In Cape Town, panelist Brett Herron explained, the challenge is to integrate not just cycling and cars, but people as well. In a city and a country that has been deeply divided along racial and socioeconomic lines, it’s key to build a cycling infrastructure that can help to bridge that divide.
Luckily, in Cape Town, and South Africa in general, there’s is a law that cycling provisions must be included in new development plans. Because of this, Cape Town has included bike parking and storage facilities at many bus and train stations, and has added elaborate storage facilities (including showers) to all municipal buildings, as well. Herron’s work within the city government has really paid off—Cape Town now boasts almost 2 percent bicycle mode share.
The panelists agreed: If the infrastructure is there, if it’s easy for people to use, then they will cycle. Van Ooijen’s project in China made sure to incorporate the public bike share system with the existing public transportation system. Bike stations are located at BRT stations and can be paid for using the same card as BRT. It’s easy to use the public bikes within a multi-modal commute, and landscaped paths and greenways make it enjoyable to bike that last leg of the journey.
Community participation and ownership of the system is essential to making it work and keeping it working for years to come, as well. Working with the city government has helped to grow the projects in China immensely, especially now that the projects are being completed. City officials are bringing their peers to their town to show off their new greenways and bike paths.
For example, Tom Goderfrooij of Dutch Cycling Embassy, reported that, in the Netherlands, 27 percent of all trips taken are taken by bike. To get to that enviable mode share they slowly upscaled projects and made biking appealing and easy for all levels of society. They created a cycling culture that was not counter to using cars, but supported the mix of both. Goderfrooji’s key point: The best solution is to create an intuitive mix of cars, biking, and walking so that it’s easy and safe for everyone to get around.
Overall, the panel expressed that the key for moving cycling forward is to involve people, showcase the benefits of the system, and find champions in government. Learn from the examples of cities that are doing it well, and adapt their strategies to your own needs.
31 January 2012. Guide for organizations that gives characteristics of financially healthy nonprofits and an overview and samples of nonprofit financial statements. (pdf)
Navigating Nonprofit Financials 2 web.pdf
31 January 2012. Presentation from the ASF National Conference to help nonprofit organizations understand different types of financial reports including budgets, audits, and cash flow statements. (pdf)
Navigating Nonprofit Financials 1 web.pdf
31 January 2012. This guide will help teach you the basics of advocacy, how you can get started, and tips for communicating with your elected officials. (pdf)
How to be an effective advocate.pdf
31 January 2012. This fact sheet offers a look at how advocacy is defined, what kinds of activities comprise advocacy work, and what kinds of advocacy projects several tax-exempt groups are currently leading. (pdf)
A new report from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy dispels the commonly held notion that only residents of big cities bike and walk. According to “Active Transportation Beyond the Urban Centers” folks in rural areas travel by bike and on foot as much — and in some cases, even more — than people in major population centers.
“It’s a widespread assumption in popular media and politics that people in small towns and rural areas do not walk or bike for transportation purposes,” says Tracy Hadden Loh, co-author of the report and research manager at RTC. “This report demonstrates that, in fact, rates for walking and bicycling in rural areas are close to, and sometimes higher than, the national average.”
Some key findings in the report include:
The report couldn’t come at a more pivotal moment. Congress is moving on the next federal transportation bill and the current House bill guts all funding for biking and walking projects and programs. This report proves that short-changing biking and walking by eliminating programs like Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School affects all communities across the U.S.
“Small communities need safe and convenient walking and bicycling facilities just as much as big cities,” says Kevin Mills, report co-author and RTC’s VP of Policy and Trail Development. “To meet this need, Transportation Enhancements has provided twice the funding per capita in rural America than in big cities. This includes rehabilitating walkable main streets in small town that have been bypassed by interstates.”
According to RTC: “In coming years, active transportation can play an even bigger role in making small town America more attractive for young families and business investment — improving economic vitality, traffic safety and overall health in smaller communities in every region of the country.”
Read the full report and check out the interactive map here.
This 2012 report from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy — Active Transportation Beyond Urban Centers: Walking and Bicycling in Small Towns and Rural America — highlights that, contrary to common belief, bicycling and walking rates in rural regions are comparable to those in urban areas; that federal investment in active transportation in rural areas is significant; and this investment pays large dividends for local communities and economies. (PDF)
Beyond Urban Centers: Walking and Bicycling in Small Towns and Rural America
30 January 2012. An overview of the duties an organization’s board of directors and the activities of the staff that can support those duties. (pdf)
board duties and staff support.pdf
30 January 2012. Whether organizing the state’s first summit or reenergizing your existing event, this guide shares some of the ideas, lessons and best practices that have come from the National Bike Summit, as well as model state summits. (pdf)
State Bike Summit Guide (League).pdf
Advocacy Advance is offering $25,000 in Capacity Building Grants this year to member organizations of the Alliance for Biking & Walking and League of American Bicyclists.
Capacity Building Grants support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking. These matching grants, funded by Planet Bike, can be used for organizational development, hiring staff, building membership, and for other organizational tools to foster a sustainable advocacy organization. Inquiry applications are available online and are due by March 9.
In addition, Advocacy Advance is pleased to offer $35,000 of Rapid Response Grants in 2012 to help state and local organizations take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking.
Read more on the Advocacy Advance website.
As a former Des Moines resident and one-time RAGBRAI rider, I know bicycling is big in the state of Iowa. Now a new study from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition quantifies that enthusiasm and puts a big dollar figure on its impact in the Hawkeye State.
Last week, I mentioned recent research from Resource Systems Group and Local Motion on the economic impact of biking in Vermont, which revealed that, in 2009, bicycling and walking created at least 1,400 jobs, $41 million in personal income (wages) and $83 million in revenue. In Iowa, those numbers are even higher.
According to “Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling,” the spending of recreational cyclists generates $364.8 million in direct and indirect impacts to the State of Iowa. And that’s just the economic aspect. When it comes to health, bicycling saves the state $73.9 million in healthcare costs for those who cycle recreationally, while bicycle commuters cash in on another $13.2 million in health care cost savings.
The findings were so impressive they surprised even Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition: “The return on investment was much larger than expected.”
Released just before the Iowa Bike Summit, Wyatt used the data to urge continued investment in biking infrastructure, trails and programs. “More opportunities for Iowans to bicycle will help Iowa become the healthiest state,” Wyatt said. “We know a lot of Iowans have bicycles, but may not have ridden them in some time. We need to find ways to encourage more bicycle riding.”
Download the full report from the Alliance Resource Library.
Work from Resource Systems Group and Local Motion shows that, in 2009, biking and walking created at least 1,400 jobs, $41 million in personal income (wages) and $83 million in revenue. In addition, their research finds, the health and property value benefits could bump that up by more than $400 million in economic impact. (URL)
Economic Impact of Walking and Biking in Vermont
This 2011 study from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition estimates that bicycling saves the State of Iowa $73.9 million in healthcare costs and the economic impact of recreational cyclists’ spending generates $364.8 million in direct and indirect impacts. (PDF)
Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling in Iowa
Alliance > Member Services > Job Board
Bike Recycle Vermont (BRV) is a non-profit bike shop. We accept donated bikes, volunteers refurbish them, and we provide them to low-income Vermonters. We also have skills and safety trainings for both youth and adults.
BRV is a stand-alone program in the Local Motion family of programs (the shop is located a couple of miles from the administrative office and Trailside Center), so the Program manager has a great deal of both autonomy and responsibility. Weekly meetings with the Director of Operations, BRV’s founder, and the Americorps staff person help with big picture planning, and keep the program on track and integrated with other Local Motion operations.
The BRV Program Manager’s responsibilities range from customer service to building and fixing bikes to teaching to supervising to fundraising, all the while maintaining a warm and welcoming shop atmosphere.
The position requires the skills of an entrepreneur, yet has the support of Local Motion’s management team, website, access to funding, and other resources. The Manager must have very strong organizational and people skills, and be skilled at delegating and supervising.
BRV’s customer base is extremely diverse, including new Americans from around the globe, individuals who come from a background of generational poverty, the mentally ill, the recently incarcerated, and low income people from around the area. It is critical for the Program Manager to handle these individuals with sensitivity and in a culturally competent way. Training on cultural competence will be provided but previous experience dealing with diverse populations is expected.
Local Motion is a Greater Burlington VT non-profit organization promoting people powered transportation and recreation for healthy and sustainable Vermont communities. Founded in 1999, our membership organization is going through an exciting growth phase as we expand our popular initiatives such as Complete Streets and Trails, Bicycle Recycle Vermont, bike ferry service, our Trailside Center, the online Trail Finder, and
many outreach events. Building an active culture of bicycling and walking in Northwestern Vermont is the unifying passion of our 12 year-round and many part-time employees, our 14-member Board and our 1,000+ area members.
Burlington, Vermont, is a small vibrant city with great quality of life. It was recently awarded silver Bike Friendly Community status.
• Two years of previous social service work and/or work as an educator required
• Bicycle repair skills required
• Excellent communication and organizational skills required
• Proven experience working with diverse populations required
• Ability to work cooperatively with Local Motion management and Board of Directors required
• Previous experience in program management strongly preferred
• Competency in MS Office suite of programs & comfort using web based software programs
• Reliability and enthusiasm a must
• Ability to lead and empower co-workers and volunteers required
• Ability to deal with challenging customers and situations with sensitivity
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and engage in occasional sustained physical labor
• Valid driver’s license required (though other modes of transportation are encouraged and
supported!); ability to drive a 15-passenger van
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours—one evening per week, one to two Saturdays per
month
$35,000 - $37,000, commensurate with experience.
Review job description before applying, located at http://www.localmotion.org.
Send cover letter, resume, and short work-related writing sample to jobs@localmotion.org.
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled.
Alliance > Member Services > Job Board
The Outreach and Training Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day management of a wide range of Local Motion initiatives, all of them focused on giving a wide range of Vermonters the information, skills, and confidence they need to walk and bike more often. The position involves
both in-office work coordinating and scheduling events, trainings, and programs, as well as significant time in the field managing outreach work, assisting with trainings, and working with community partners. It is an exciting and rewarding job for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and loves working on a variety of different projects every day.
The Local Motion staff is a tight-knit and fast-paced team. We value everyone’s opinion equally and this is reflected in our decision-making processes. We are active recreation and transportation enthusiasts, and we are exploring creative ways to welcome and include culturally diverse communities in our outreach strategies. Our ideal candidate is someone who shares these values and who’s ready to join an evolving and highly collaborative team.
Local Motion is a small vibrant city with great quality of life. It was recently awarded silver Bike Friendly Community status.
Local Motion is a Greater Burlington Vermont non-profit organization promoting people powered transportation and recreation for healthy and
sustainable Vermont communities. Founded in 1999, our membership organization is going through an exciting growth phase as we expand our
popular initiatives such as Complete Streets and Trails, Bicycle Recycle Vermont, bike ferry service, our Trailside Center, the online Trail Finder, and many outreach events. Building an active culture of bicycling and walking in Northwestern Vermont is the unifying passion of our 12 year-round and many part-time employees, our 14-member Board and our 1,000+ area members.
• Excellent written communication skills, with an emphasis on fun and engaging writing
appropriate for blog posts and newsletter articles
• An enthusiastic, outgoing, friendly demeanor, with the ability to put people immediately
at ease and draw them in to Local Motion’s programs
• A can-do attitude and a willingness to do whatever is needed to get the job done
• A strong aptitude for managing a wide range of details and sticking to deadlines while
staying attuned to the big picture
• An infectious passion for walking and biking and for active transportation/recreation
generally
• The ability to recruit, train, motivate, and supervise volunteers for a variety of ongoing
functions
• Familiarity and ease working with people from a range of cultural backgrounds
• Strong proficiency in all the standard computer applications, including the Microsoft
Office suite, Google Docs, basic web content management, and so on
$30,000 to $35,000 commensurate with experience
Review full job description before applying, located at http://www.localmotion.org. To apply, send cover letter, resume, and short work-related writing sample to jobs@localmotion.org. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled.
As Carolyn wrote earlier this week, bike share systems are all the buzz among big city transportation officials as an effective, economical and even attractive means to increase mobility in their bustling urban cores. Not to be outdone by the likes of New York City and San Francisco, advocates in Kansas City — recipients of a 2010 Advocacy Advance Grant — have added Missouri to that growing list.
Yesterday, the City of Kansas City passed a resolution permitting the establishment of BikeShareKC and committing to increase the number of bike lanes along BikeShareKC routes.
The new B-cycle system is a joint effort of BikeWalkKC and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. According to the press release: “BikeWalkKC is partnering with Blue KC to bring bike share to Kansas City as a healthy low-cost transportation option. Blue KC will take the lead in driving development of BikeShareKC by enlisting other leaders in the business community to commit to sponsorships, advertising deals and/or augmenting their employee wellness offering by subsidizing memberships.”
BikeWalkKC and Blue KC aim to have 20 stations with 200 bikes up and running by summer 2012. Bikes will be available nine months of the year, with annual memberships that entitle users to unlimited 30-45 minutes trips around the city. The stations will even be equipped with a smartphone app that will allow riders to determine the availability of bikes anywhere in the system. Plus, using B-Cycle technology, riders will be able to track their miles traveled, calories burned and pounds of carbon dioxide saved.
“BikeShareKC will bridge the awkward distances that are too far to walk but too short to drive,” Eric Rogers, executive director of BikeWalkKC said. “It will also expand the reach of the transit system by providing new options for the ‘last mile.’ And it will help clear the air while giving Kansas Citians a new option for being healthy and active.”
“BikeShareKC offers a much needed alternative form of transportation around Kansas City, while also promoting physical activity to its residents,” added David Gentile, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.
Read the full press release here.
Invest in biking and walking advocacy where it matters most... on the ground!
Working with Your Members of Congress --Call on February 08
Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants Q&A Call --Call on February 16
Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grants Q&A Call --Call on February 17
02/02/2012 - Attend the National Women Cycling Forum
02/01/2012 - House Bill Erases Two Decades of Progress on Bike-Ped
02/01/2012 - Transforming Transportation Panel: Make Cycling Easy
01/31/2012 - New Report Highlights Biking and Walking in Rural America
