Alliance > Media center > People Powered Blog

Entries tagged: Blue Cross Blue Shield

In 2009, Dorian Grilley never would have put the small, upstart Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota in the same sentence as a corporate powerhouse like Blue Cross Blue Shield.

But just last month, the two organizations were sharing a press release and celebrating a mutual victory.

Last year, Grilley (pictured right) and another board member from the fledgling Minnesota nonprofit traveled to Denver to attend an Alliance Winning Campaigns Training. One hot campaign that the two considered was complete streets legislation; a bill that would ensure that DOT officials provide safe and accessible accommodations for all citizens, including bicyclists and pedestrians, in future road projects. “We spent a fair amount of time evaluating our capacity and, as a new organization, we really didn’t feel we had the capacity to take on complete streets all by ourselves,” Grilley said.

They didn’t have to.

In an effort to create safer, more active communities, Blue Cross Blue Shield, a major health insurance company, had dedicated itself to the passage of a state complete streets policy. Along with the AARP and other experienced environmental organizations, BCBS gave the new Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition a huge microphone. But they had a hole in their base of support.

“They realized that bicyclists could add significantly to the building of the coalition,” Grilley said. So the Bicycle Alliance ED joined the Coalition steering committee and, with 65 organizations making the case for complete streets, the Minnesota legislature took notice. Both chambers passed a measure that requires the Mn/DOT consider community needs and all likely users in planning future road projects. Last month, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the bill into law.

Kathy Mock, senior vice president for public affairs at Blue Cross, applauded the passage in the Coalition’s press release. “This is smart policy because it provides benefits on so many levels: safety, health, clean transportation choices, and makes transportation dollars stretch farther,” she said
. “
Blue Cross actively supported this effort because making it easier for people to get around on foot or by bike is a great way to encourage more physical activity and thereby improve overall health.”

It boosted the credibility — and pride — of the Bicycle Alliance, as well. Grilley said he was proud the group helped assemble and lead the successful campaign: “It ended up being a great relationship builder for a new, bike nonprofit organization and it really helped grow our membership.”

They’ll need that clout to continue the complete streets push.

“Our work has just begun, because the legislation applies only to state-funded roads,” Grilley said. “We will participate in Mn/DOT’s complete streets implementation committee. But, perhaps more importantly, BikeMN staff and members will need to continue our work of encouraging local units of government to adopt and implement complete streets policies.”

Read about other successful efforts in the Alliance’s recently released Guide to Complete Streets Campaigns, or learn more about the Bicycle Alliance and Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition.