Bicycle Friendly America Summer 2018 - 3

tional Bike Summit and articles that advance the
Summit theme - Grassroots Grow Together. At
a time when it is easy to be discouraged or cynical
about what is possible here in Washington, the Bike
Summit continues to provide a critical opportunity to share the local successes and the needs with
members of Congress. All politics is local, and as
we all know, a huge strength of ours is that we are
bike partisan and provide something sorely needed
right now - the message that bikes bring people
together!
So much of getting things done hinges on more
people, businesses and community groups seeing
bicycling (and walking) advocacy as a way to accomplish their own goals. The work in Washington, in state capitals and at city councils alike must
be broad-based to make bicycling infrastructure,
bicycling and driver education, the protection of
bicyclist and pedestrian rights, and safe streets for
all a reality.
We are proud to play our part in strengthening
your work and amplifying your voice to policy makers nationally and providing programs that increase
the effectiveness of your work at the ground level
in your workplace, in your community and beyond.
SUMMER 2018

A big highlight for me at the Summit this year
came before the official start. We hosted our first
Active Transportation Leadership Retreat, previously a project of the now-dissolved Alliance for
Biking and Walking. This event brought together
leaders from city and state-wide bicycling and walking advocacy organizations for networking and
workshops with the goal of increasing capacity and
effectiveness and mapping out a plan for better collaboration between local, state and national groups.
With all of the great development in bicycling advocacy, there are many good models to share from
professional organizations to volunteer operations.
The League will be investing more to bring advocates together to develop and share resources to
improve bicycling advocacy and education at all levels. Our movement is strong because of the people
who show up. Thank you for showing up in so many
ways and riding with us!

Bill Nesper
Executive Director
BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bicycle Friendly America Summer 2018