We are on our way to the best biking town around! On Friday, 14 people answered a random email and gathered to begin the discussions of an advocacy organization for bicyclists in the Minneapolis area. Now this site is the web home to chronicle these discussions. The gathering Friday was the beginning and we discussed that both the region has a strong bicycle community and that we want more of these people in on these discussions. We will reconvene in late January or early February (date and location not yet determined) watch this site for more information. We also have a discussion topic on Mpls Bike Love and an electronic mailing list advocate at minneapolisbikes.org to assist in disseminating the information.
Our Start
Back to the discussion on a bicycle advocacy organization: here are the main conclusions that we discussed:
(1) A bicycle advocacy group is needed in the area
(2) This organization needs to be independent of government
(3) A local organization can learn from other existing groups
(4) We need to improve awareness and education that bicycles belong on the streets
(5) Success will come with numbers, so participate!
Issues
We also discussed a number of issues that an organization could address such as funding sources, roadway design, showers and employer outreach, and the connection to other groups that deal with walking and transit. We will flesh these out in the near term with a dedicated page on this site.
Keep Riding!
If you want a better bicycle environment in the Minneapolis area, we need your help in this effort. The village will bring the strength and there are a number of opportunities to participate:
(1) Come to the next event
(2) Comment to this site or on Mpls Bike Love
(3) Join and participate on the mailing list
(4) Keep riding your bicycle!
The next event
We will meet again in late January or early February to dicsuss what an advocacy organization will be, what will be our geographic scope, who we will serve, our mission and purpose in adddition to meeting more individuals deadicated to a safe place to bicycle in the Minneapolis Area.
After that
In the coming months we will come together and build a bicycle advocacy that is equal to the tremendous strength of the bicycle community and the glorious bicycle system we enjoy everyday.
See you on your bike soon!