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Skype Mia Birk into Your Living Room!

imageMia Birk was there at the dawn of the revolution.

Back when “bike lane” was a four-letter word, Birk was fighting to make streets safe and inviting for bicyclists. Her energy and vision propelled Portland, OR, to become the nation’s most bike-friendly city, making once-crazy ideas realities on the pavement. So, if you’re a bike history buff, Birk’s book, Joyride: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet is required reading. Luckily, Joyride doesn’t feel like a history lesson – it feels like your friend retelling war stories over a couple of beers at your favorite bar.

A conversational writer, Birk reveals her battles within the bureaucracy in an engaging narrative, not a dry, technical timeline. She recreates scenes – some tense, some hilarious – with character descriptions and internal dialogue that put us right there in the room, whether cajoling indignant suburbanites who love their SUVs or convincing policymakers to open their minds to the idea of healthier transportation options. She gives us a glimpse into our collective past and, from her unique perspective, provides inspiration for a better future.

And she wants to start a conversation with you and your friends — face-to-face.

Form a Joyride book club and you’ll get wholesale pricing ($12 plus shipping and handling) on the purchase of 10 or more books. Once your group has had time to read and digest, Mia beams into your living room, via Skype, to discuss lessons learned, obstacles faced, and strategies for success.

Folks across the country are raving about the content and impact of the book:

  • “What a fantastic book,” says Linda Crider in Florida. “It’s so well written and engaging….a must for anyone wanting to make bike-friendly communities.”
  • “Mia Birk really gets it,” says Kent Anderson, Director of the Columbus Area Metropolitan Planning Organization in Indiana. “Joyride was music to my ears, and served to recharge my batteries.” 
  • “Joyride has had a profound impact on my life,” says Bari George, who founded the BikeNewport.me blog and website.

Take advantage of the opportunity to start a conversation with one of the movement’s most influential, energetic and engaging leaders. E-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to set up your book order and Skype date with Mia Birk.

(Read my November 2010 interview with Mia in Momentum magazine here.)