Young people kick out butts, II

Posted on Mar 1st 2013 | Advocacy, Blog,

I recently returned from the 2013 Youth Bike Summit. It totally rocked. On Friday night we heard from Enrique Peñalosa, the former Mayor of Bogota, Columbia. Mr. Peñalosa is the founder of the worldwide Ciclovia movement. He is the most gracious speaker on biking and walking issues I have yet heard. He can say the har […] read more...

National Bike Summit

Posted on Feb 28th 2013 | Advocacy, Blog,

The bike advocacy world is gearing up for the 2013 National Bike Summit to begin next week. “The National Bike Summit is the premiere advocacy event of the year. More than 800 advocates, government staff, and cycling enthusiasts of all types come together to tell Congress about the benefits of bicycling.” Planet Bike […] read more...

2013 Youth Bike Summit

Posted on Feb 8th 2013 | Advocacy, Blog,

The 3rd edition of Recycle-a-Bicycle’s Youth Bicycle Summit commences one week from today in New York City. This year’s summit will again build on the overwhelming success of the preceding two gatherings. The event is geared toward youth, bicycle education, and advocacy. The summit will be comprised of fifteen engagi […] read more...

Teenagers Kick Our Butts, Pt. 2

Posted on Dec 20th 2012 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Planet Bike was a proud sponsor of Recycle-A-Bicycle’s 2012 Youth Bike Summits. We are stoked that the Youth Bike Summit is returning and have signed on as a featured sponsor for the 2013 edition this February! In Recycle-A-Bicycle ‘s eighteenth year, they’ve celebrated some encouraging growth. The Inaugural Youth Bik […] read more...

Out of reach

Posted on Nov 6th 2012 | Advocacy, Better World, Blog, Video,

When you provide a bicycle to a student, healthcare worker or entrepreneur, you help reverse the cycle of poverty in rural Africa. With your help, World Bicycle Relief has provided over 115,000 specially designed, locally assembled, rugged bicycles and trained over 800 field mechanics ensuring access to maintenance […] read more...

NACTO Conference Off to a Bold Start

Posted on Oct 24th 2012 | Advocacy, Blog,

“We’re here to mark the flowering of urban design in our cities and to break down the institutional barriers that stand in our way.” NACTO President and New York City DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan kicked off he first ever conference of the National Association of City Transportation Officials with the preceding […] read more...

Support What You Love

Posted on Oct 19th 2012 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

We’ve had a wonderful response to our “Support What You Love” graphic we’ve been using this past year. We just got a small run of these shirts in, so you can let everyone know you’re a bicycle supporter!

Proud Supporter of Adventure Cycling Association

Posted on Oct 16th 2012 | Advocacy, Blog, Video,

Jay Ferm, our director of advocacy, shares why we support Adventure Cycling Association. We’ve been a silver-level corporate member of the organization for 5 years. […] read more...

Fundraiser Raises More Than $50,000 for U.S. Bicycle Route System

Posted on Jun 14th 2012 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Missoula, Montana — Adventure Cycling Association’s third annual Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It. campaign raised more than $50,000 for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) during National Bike Month (May 2012). Using a combination of social media tools and traditional fundraising methods, engaging a group of volu […] read more...

Last Day to donate to USBRS goal!

Posted on May 31st 2012 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Adventure Cycling Association is closing in on reaching its $50,000 National Bike Month fundraising goal for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). Today is the last official day in the campaign and your gift can make all the difference. Help Adventure Cycling accomplish some key things in the coming year to grow this […] read more...

The sun rises in Milwaukee

Posted on May 4th 2012 | Advocacy, Blog, Video,

Keith Holt from Milwaukee Bicycle Works stopped by this morning to collect a bunch of refurbished Planet Bike gear for the upcoming 6th Annual Bike Blitz in the Park, a neighborhood bike fair in Milwaukee’s Washington Park where people can get minor repairs done and even a whole new bike. We gave him a bun […] read more...

Bike Safe Boston

Posted on Apr 23rd 2012 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Planet Bike has formed a partnership with Bike Safe Boston for distribution of their Bicyclist’s Accident Report. Check out the Bike Safe Boston press release for more information…We are really excited to help out on this project! […] read more...

2012 Advocacy Award Winners Announced

Posted on Mar 22nd 2012 | Advocacy, Blog, News,

The National Bike Summit is always one of the most exciting times of the year for bike advocates. Our own Director of Advocacy, Jay Ferm, is currently on Capitol Hill lobbying. At the Summit, the Alliance for Biking & Walking released their 2012 Advocacy Award Winners. Congratulations to all the recipients. For co […] read more...

Ask Your Representative to Preserve Biking and Walking

Posted on Jan 26th 2012 | Advocacy, Blog,

From The League of American Bicyclists: On Thursday, February 2, we expect the House Transportation Committee to vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funds for biking and walking. As a Member of the Committee, your representative is in a key position to save dedicat […] read more...

Wisconsin Trails in Jeopardy

Posted on Jan 4th 2012 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

The trails at Upper Hixon Forest in La Crosse, WI, could be closed by a potential sale of city-owned property. Human Powered Trails, a member-based club in the La Crosse area, has put tremendous effort into creating a wonderful shared-use trail system on the bluffs above the river city. The club is fighting hard to sa […] read more...

Bicycle Tune-Up Bill Signed

Posted on Nov 17th 2011 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Yesterday, Wisconsin’s Governor signed a bill to implement various updates to bicycle laws. Among the updates were allowing the use of a rear red light in lieu of a reflector, adding handcycles to the definition of bicycle, allowing motor vehicles to pass slow moving vehicles in “no passing zones” when safe, and allow […] read more...

Nominations Open for Alliance 2012 Advocacy Awards

Posted on Nov 3rd 2011 | Advocacy, Blog,

The Alliance for Biking & Walking has opened the public nomination period for its 2012 Advocacy Awards. Now in its fourth year, the Alliance’s Advocacy Awards recognize excellence in bicycle and pedestrian advocacy. Award categories include: * Advocate of the Year * Advocacy Organization of the Year * B […] read more...

WORBA Merge With Wisconsin Bicycle Federation Still Pending

Posted on Oct 31st 2011 | Advocacy, Blog, News,

Looks like we jumped the gun. IMBA sent out the below correction to the WORBA news from last week. Yesterday’s Midwest Regional eNews misrepresented the timing of WORBA’s merge with the Wisconsin Bicycling Federation. “The conversations are underway, but no official decision has been made,” said Midwest Regional Direc […] read more...

WORBA Transitions to Wisconsin Bike Federation

Posted on Oct 27th 2011 | Advocacy, Blog,

The latest IMBA newsletter just popped into my inbox and was happy to see the headline ‘WORBA Transitions to Wisconsin Bike Federation’ halfway through. WORBA is the Wisconsin Off Road Bicycle Association. I see this transition as a positive given the Bike Fed’s proven track record of great results. Here’s the blurb i […] read more...

Cure for the Bicycle Ban

Posted on Oct 25th 2011 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog, News,

Over the past year, there have been several townships in the cycling headlines either banning or attempting to ban cyclists on their streets. I’m not sure where along the line this becomes a “good” idea. Perhaps it comes from some long-standing grudge or maybe it’s just plain ol’ easier than developing infrastructure […] read more...

What’s With the Pop-up?

Posted on Sep 29th 2011 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Over the last few weeks you’ve noticed a pop-up window asking you to sign the People for Bikes Pledge each time you visit our homepage. You may have noticed this same pop-up on many other bicycle websites. What’s the deal? We’re trying to gain support for bikes! It’s quick to sign up and there’s no fee.The bike industr […] read more...

Biking and Walking Funding Under Attack

Posted on Jul 8th 2011 | Advocacy, Blog, News,

In the last few days, federal funding for biking and walking programs has been under attack. We urge you to send a short email TODAY to your members of Congress. Tell them that you want to see funding for biking and walking programs preserved. If some Congressional leaders, like Representative Mica and Senator Inhofe, […] read more...

Catch and release on the bikepath

Posted on May 18th 2011 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog, News,

For many years, Planet Bike has sponsored light give-aways throughout the US to raise awareness of the need for bike lights when riding at night. Volunteers and sometimes police go to popular bike paths after dark and hail bikers without lights. They are offered a free set of lights and while they are being installed […] read more...

Moving Beyond the Automobile

Posted on Feb 22nd 2011 | Advocacy, Blog, Video,

Our friends over at Streetsblog are doing a series of videos on the changing face of transportation. This episode focuses on how bicycles are impacting the way people get around in American cities. Moving Beyond the Automobile: Biking from Streetfilms on Vimeo. […] read more...

Gasoline Tax Myth

Posted on Jan 11th 2011 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

A very interesting read on how roads are funded. Thanks to the guys at bikecommuters.com for turning me on to this one! Give it a read. […] read more...

Cycling Conservatives

Posted on Dec 13th 2010 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Our friends at commute by bike have an interesting article on how to talk about cycling to a conservative, written by a conservative. Definitely and interesting and insightful read. […] read more...

The Freak

Posted on Nov 23rd 2010 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

One of my favorite bike advocates is Kevin “The Freak” Freeman. Kevin has spent an enormous amount of time and effort making his community of Fayetteville, TN a more bicycle friendly place. From trail building to promoting a cyclocross series he pours his heart into helping others lead a healthy lifestyle. Kevin forwa […] read more...

Fixing Sprawl 101

Posted on Nov 2nd 2010 | Advocacy, Bike Life, Blog,

Most Americans live in cities built primarily for the automobile, and yet we ride our bikes. It took 50 years to build ourselves into this mess and it’s going to take some time to rebuild our cities and neighborhoods back into sustainable places in which the car is just one of many options for getting around. But how […] read more...

Giving lights instead of tickets

Posted on Oct 29th 2010 | Advocacy, Blog, News,

Madison, WI police have been working hard the last few years to incorporate biking into their policing efforts. This includes using bikes to patrol the city and engaging bicyclists as the legal vehicle operators they are. In Wisconsin, bicyclists are required to have a front bike light between dusk and dawn. Many rider […] read more...

100,000 Americans sign bike pledge

Posted on Oct 11th 2010 | Advocacy, Blog,

Planet Bike ally peopleforbikes.org is on a mission to sign up 1,000,000 Americans in support of better biking in the US. We are well on our way with more than 100,000 pledges made. Here’s the meat of the pledge: “I am for bikes. I’m for long rides and short rides. I’m for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, rid […] read more...