We advance trade policies for bicycle manufacturing that create stability in the global trade environment so that U.S. bike companies can proactively plan their supply chains, adjust their production to meet demand, use their capital to invest in business expansion, hire new employees and increase wages.

We fight bills and measures that would increase taxes and support those that decrease taxes on businesses. We support a taxation policy that recognizes the considerable potential of the bicycle to help achieve domestic goals and support other U.S. policies directed at improving the environment and advance incentives such as tax credits, tax deductions or interest-free loans for businesses.

We work to foster a positive business environment through state legislation toward progressive electric bicycle laws and state offices of outdoor recreation. Progressive electric bicycle laws ensure that consumers and retailers are not confused about their state’s electric bicycle laws and that electric bicycles are regulated similarly to traditional bicycles. States that have offices of outdoor recreation create new government positions focused on growing the outdoor recreation industry, managing the substantial contributions that this sector brings to their economies and defending the outdoor industry’s interests.

We closely monitor federal and state legislation that regulates the use of toxic chemicals, especially in children’s products, to ensure they don’t have a negative impact on the bicycle industry. While we understand the public health concerns related to the use of chemicals in bicycles and bicycle components, we work to exempt those products from legislation further regulating manufacturing, especially products that pose little or no exposure risk.

PeopleForBikes members directly employ a large workforce involved in all facets of the bike industry, but we understand that the pipeline of well-paying, professional jobs in research and development, design, engineering, marketing and sales requires more diversity. We are creating best practices to support workforce development and diversification.

Our goal at PeopleForBikes is to get more people riding bikes more often. Usually, this means working with communities, states, or the federal government to provide safer, more accessible places to ride so that every American has the opportunity and ability to bike where they live.

During the last five years, we’ve expanded our work in a variety of ways, including tackling international trade and tariff policy. In August 2017, the U.S. government launched an investigation into the trade practices of China — focusing primarily on the theft of intellectual property and forced technology transfers. This investigation and subsequent report became the basis for imposing heightened tariffs on imported goods from China, leaving many products and industries that have no connection to the underlying intellectual property or technology concerns, including bicycles, caught in the crossfire.

To maximize leverage in this trade conflict, the U.S. raised tariffs on products imported from China considerably— 25% above the normal rates for many goods, bicycles included. Unfortunately, most complete bicycles are already subject to a significant base tariff of 11% (well above the average weighted tariff for a U.S. import of 2%) and this increase brought the total tariff rate on most complete bikes to 36%. We knew there would be no way for bike companies to manage a cost increase of this magnitude without one of two consequences: 1) raising prices for consumers; 2) internalizing the cost and placing their businesses in jeopardy.

The vast majority of bicycle products sold in the U.S. are imported from China, including nearly 95% of all complete bicycles. As the U.S. Trade Representative began imposing the higher tariffs in 2018, we recognized the results would be harmful to all of our constituencies at PeopleForBikes:

Manufacturers and suppliers: Higher costs of importation and challenging searches to identify new potential suppliers outside of China.

Dealers: Eroded margins as brands and shops struggle to maintain sales in the face of more expensive imported goods.

Bike riders: Higher costs as the tariffs are incorporated into the retail price of goods.

None of these outcomes are good for American bike companies or people who bike. Even companies that manufacture frames domestically and build complete bikes in the U.S. rely heavily on imported components to create their finished products. By 2019, every bicycle product from China was slapped with a higher tariff— no business was immune to the effects of these policies.

The PeopleForBikes policy team has aggressively engaged at each stage of the tariff process. We objected to the higher tariffs at every hearing and public comment opportunity provided by the U.S. Trade Representative and explained the harm that new tariffs could cause. For nearly two years, these efforts provided nothing but frustration. Minimal tariff relief was provided. However, we stuck to our strategy and continued to seek tariff exclusions for bicycle products.

We knew from the beginning that the effects of the tariffs on certain product categories would be particularly dramatic from both an industry and customer perspective. Kids’ bikes were an area that became a primary focus of our trade advocacy.

97% of kid’s bikes sold in the U.S. come from China, so we were acutely concerned about the effect that higher prices could have on sales, and in turn, youth participation. Prices and margins on these products are relatively low, so the tariffs were likely to be passed on to the purchasers of bicycles quickly in the form of higher prices making them less accessible to many Americans. Bicycles also compete with an ever-expanding universe of electronic toys, gadgets, and screens to attract the interest and attention of our youth. Therefore, the cost of a bike is under constant comparison to an increasingly wide range of alternative forms of activity and amusement.

As this last point highlights, concerns regarding youth engagement in bike riding expand far beyond trade policy. Only 53% of kids ages 3-17 reported riding a bike in the last year, meaning we already lack a connection with nearly half of young Americans. PeopleForBikes has invested heavily to ensure that kids find safe, fun, and accessible places to ride. We have steadily supported the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, an organization focused on putting more kids on bikes through school-based mountain-biking leagues. We are partnering with USA Cycling, the national governing body for bicycling, to create a Youth Cycling Initiative specifically aimed at increasing youth participation and helping young Americans sustain bike riding throughout their lives. We know this is good for the long-term health of our industry and we believe it’s the right thing to do. More kids on bikes means more kids being active, engaging in healthy activities, and experiencing the outdoors. We saw the threat of higher tariffs posing new and unnecessary obstacles to achieving this vision.

Given these factors, we invested significant resources in filing exclusion requests for each category of kids’ bikes which fall under one of three different headings of the U.S. tariff schedule depending on their wheel size: less than 20”, 20”, and more than 20” but less than 26”. We filed an exclusion request for each of these categories and coordinated with bicycle brands to facilitate or assist in helping them file exclusion requests as well.

In December, those efforts were finally rewarded when all three of our exclusions for kids’ bikes were granted. The exclusions are retroactive to the date on which the tariffs were first imposed, Sept. 24, 2018, and will remain in effect until August 7, 2020. While this reprieve is not permanent, we estimate it will save the U.S. bike industry $120 million in extra duty payments that can either be reimbursed or completely avoided in the future. Bike purchasers will save even more.

While trade issues may seem outside the traditional work of PeopleForBikes, ensuring that Americans can affordably and easily access bicycles is critical to the future of bike riding in our nation. Currently, only half of Americans have access to a functional bike. This is one of the largest obstacles to people riding bikes more often, and it is a particularly significant barrier for women, older people, and lower income populations. If we want bike riding to thrive, we must maintain easy and unrestricted access to bicycles.

This battle does not end with kids’ bikes. We’ve made several other exclusion requests that remain pending, including those for adult bicycles. While each circumstance is unique, the reasons for providing relief to these products is equally as compelling as kids’ bikes in many ways. We’ll keep working to achieve similar positive results on these requests to further our mission of ensuring all people in the U.S. can bike easily and conveniently.

Tariff relief for kids’ bikes – a big win for young riders, family budgets and the bike industry

2019 started with 11 states using the model three-class e-bike definitions. As of June 19, 22 states now define e-bikes within the three classes, effectively doubling the total in just six months. These eleven new states are: Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

A few major themes can be attributed to this success. First, states follow each others’ leads and seek regional consistency in how they treat e-bikes, so there’s momentum. Second, the e-bike market is booming and states recognize that riders need consistent and common-sense rules for where they can be ridden.

Last but not least, the unwavering support from the industry led directly to these wins. Without the above and beyond contributions raised by the BPSA E-Bike Committee to build on-the-ground teams in each of these states, making this much progress in one year would not have been possible. The companies that supported the e-bike initiative in 2019 are: Accell North America, Allegion/Kryptonite, Bosch, Brose, Bulls, Cycling Sports Group, DT Swiss, Envelo, Fantic, Felt, Foldaway Solutions, Fox, Genze, Giant, GM, Harley Davidson, Hi-Power Cycles, Ohm Cycles, Oregon E-Bikes, Pacific Cycle, Pedego, REI, Riese and Muller, Rocky Mountain, Shimano, Specialized, Sport Technik/M1, SRAM, Suzhou Bafang, Taioku, Tempo Bicycles, Tern, TranzX, Trek, Yamaha and Yuba.

In 2015, the BPSA and PeopleForBikes began this national campaign to pass clear e-bike legislation in all 50 states in order to create stability in the marketplace. E-bike manufacturers put aside competitive differences to develop the three class system around critical issues like motor assist, pedal assist, wattage and operational rules.

Good e-bike laws are completely changing business models and customer bases. In states where the three class system of e-bikes has passed, suppliers report that sales of e-bikes more than double. On the local level, bike retailers in states with this law report that having a statewide three class e-bike system helps their team clearly explain where e-bikes are and aren’t allowed, and e-bike sales help offset the loss of revenue due to other declining categories.

Most importantly good e-bike laws are leading to better e-bike access. For example, after Wyoming legislators passed the state’s three class e-bike law in February, Wyoming State Parks decided to allow Class 1 eMTBs anywhere a traditional mountain bike is allowed, and even opted to conduct a Class 2 pilot project. A number of local trail access wins from Virginia to Arizona can be attributed to land managers recognizing the increase of eMTB use and creating consistency with the three classes of e-bikes and state laws.

22 States Now Follow the Three Class E-bike System, Doubling Total in Six Months

At PeopleForBikes, we believe we can all do more to grow the cycling community. We’ve been doing the work for nearly 20 years and we want to keep the momentum going. We’re committed to improving inclusiveness in our messaging, broadening the audiences we reach, and increasing our staff diversity. Join us as we learn from various voices in the cycling community. Together, we can turn what we learn into action.

Beth Morford, owner and lead mechanic at Frontier Bikes in Eudora, Kansas, spent a lot of time on bikes before she decided she wanted to learn the ins-and-outs of how they work. So she took one apart — and then put it back together. It was tough — she needed help. Eventually, she found a shop that would teach her how to “wrench” properly. But not before getting turned away by several people who thought she would just get in the way or quit. Now she owns her own shop, and all of her employees are women.

“A lot of people make it really complicated, but it’s not,” Morford says. “Hire women: give them responsibilities, make them visible and heard.” But her shop isn’t just for women, it’s for everyone. And the thing she’s noticed is that when you create a welcoming place for all people, you automatically create loyal customers.

Morford encourages industry events and gatherings to acknowledge women who are doing great things. Recognition goes a long way. Not just for the ones receiving it, but also for those who are observing. People want to reciprocate what others are being rewarded for. She says, “Even where it seems like a small gesture, we can all do more to celebrate and encourage representation.”

“If you’ve already got women working in the shop,” Morford says, “boost their presence and personality. Trust them. Give them more responsibility.” She suggests letting the women in the shop spearhead new programming, lead rides, teach classes, and promote the items they really enjoy. “Let the women take some pride in and control over how the shop is operated. People will take note. The customer base will grow.”

For women and riders of all ages, it comes down to infrastructure. A wider demographic is more likely to ride when they feel safe. Thus, infrastructure projects should always start using an equity lens. Morford says the more that people see others who look like them, the more likely they’ll feel like they belong. “When it comes down to it, inclusiveness is good for business, and good for communities.”

All areas of the industry can do more to put diversity at the forefront of what they’re doing. At PeopleForBikes, we’ve put together some ways that retailers can reach out to an even wider audience, and ultimately get more people on bikes.

How to Grow the Bike Community: 3 Ideas from Bike Shop Owner Beth Morford

At PeopleForBikes, we believe we can all do more to grow the cycling community. We’ve been doing the work for nearly 20 years and we want to keep the momentum going. We’re committed to improving inclusiveness in our messaging, broadening the audiences we reach, and increasing our staff diversity. Join us as we learn from various voices in the cycling community. Together, we can turn what we learn into action. 

James Huang, Global Technical Editor at the respected international website Cycling Tips, grew up on Long Island, New York. When his bike broke, his father bought him tools so they could figure out how to fix it together. He eventually spent more than a decade working as a mechanic in various bike shops across the country. These days he reviews bikes and bike products, and rubs elbows with all kinds of leaders in the bike industry.

Representation through imagery matters throughout the bike industry

Huang recently wrote about the importance of representation, and why moves like SRAM’s use of athlete Yewande Adesida in their new product campaign need to be the norm. Adesida is an amateur track racer from London, and up until SRAM’s launch, wasn’t a familiar face in the bike world. She’s since also appeared in Rapha’s launch of a new line of bibs, aimed at women of different sizes and experience levels. According to Huang, change is good and there needs to be more of it. “I would love for images like [SRAM’s] to be unremarkable, but right now, they stand out.”

Sell bicycling from point A to point B to broaden the appeal

Huang thinks it’s time for the bike industry to stop marketing biking only as a sport, and instead focus on it as an activity and a means of transportation. “When you stop portraying cycling only as a sport, you’re automatically going to move away from the current ‘cyclist’ demographic to include more people.”

Huang says it’s time to embrace the bicycle as a means for everyday function. Beyond riding recreationally, Huang does as much as possible using a bike. “Out of all the bikes I have, the one I would miss the most is my cargo bike. I can do almost anything on that bike that a person can do with a car.”

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Huang recognizes how lucky he is to live in a place that has the infrastructure to make errands by bike possible. And he’s sure that if the industry put more energy into the everyday cyclist instead of the athlete, more people would ride. More people would discover the magic and freedom that bikes give.

Cycling has a rich history of being exclusive — cliquey. “If I don’t know anyone at a shop, over and over I have the experience of, ‘oh yeah, this is what walking into a bike shop is like.’” Even as someone who has worked extensively as a mechanic himself, Huang says he still endures an overwhelming bro-culture when he enters a bike shop he’s not familiar with. Huang encourages everyone in the bike industry — in bike shops and behind office desks — to think about what growing the pie really means. “What would it look like if bike shops truly catered to all people of all abilities?” According to Huang, it’s something we should strive for.

How to Grow the Bike Community: 3 Ideas from Cycling Tips Editor James Huang

At PeopleForBikes, we believe we can all do more to grow the cycling community. We’ve been doing the work for nearly 20 years, and are proud of our Better Bikeshare partnership. But we want to keep the momentum going. We’re committed to improving inclusiveness in our messaging, broadening the audiences we reach, and growing internally as an organization. Join us as we learn from various voices in the cycling community. Together, we can turn what we learn into action. Follow our series on inclusiveness.

Marley Blonsky lives in Seattle and works as a sustainability manager for a logistics company. Blonsky describes herself as a fat activist and body positive bike rider. She doesn’t ride bikes to lose weight, and believes in the healing power of ice cream. Blonsky has been featured in Cycling Tips, and is an advocate for the “with these thighs” movement.

Not everyone who rides a bike is a cyclist

When people think about representation in the bike industry, they often think about gender and ethnicity, but they rarely think about size — different kinds of bodies. Blonsky says this has to do with biking being thought of and marketed as a sport. “The mentality is that cycling is something you have to be the best at — you have to record on a device, you have to post to Strava, you have to impress — so it automatically excludes people who aren’t athletic.”

According to Blonsky, the industry could do more to include people who are on bikes because it’s the quickest, safest, cheapest way to get around their city — and people who are just out to get some fresh air and enjoy themselves, but aren’t necessarily looking for a suffer-fest. “We’ve even seen it in gravel riding. It started out as a way to get outdoors and enjoy country roads without as much traffic, and now even that has turned into a lot of epic races.” Blonsky isn’t against racing or endurance riding, but she thinks there’s a huge group of people left out when those are the only images we see. “There are plenty of people out there who don’t consider themselves cyclists, but who enjoy riding their bike.”

Blonsky gets to travel quite a bit for work, and her experience on a bike in places outside of the U.S. is very different. “I don’t know if it’s just hyper-American to compete at everything, but in Europe you see all kinds of people on bikes, not because they’re athletes, just because it’s part of their everyday life.” Blonsky has had the opportunity to bike in Amsterdam, Germany, Belgium. “Riding a bike in a lot of places isn’t a big deal: it’s just a function of life, and everyone does it.”

The cycling market has been slow to include larger body sizes — both for endurance biking and everyday commuting. But the hiking world has been making some significant strides. “There’s a lot of advocacy happening on the hiking side. There’s a group called Fat Girls Hiking and another one called Unlikely Hikers, and they’ve both been really good about pushing the conversation and expanding product lines at various companies.” Blonsky says that representation matters so much when people are trying new things, or even considering trying new things. “I would love to see an ad with a fat person riding a bike. I would love to see a fat mom on an e-bike riding her kids to school.” Blonsky encourages people of all sizes to get on a bike. “Just go at your own pace — find your people because they are out there— but also don’t be afraid to ride alone. Do your own thing, have a good time, know that you belong.”

How to Grow the Bike Community: 3 Ideas from Marley Blonsky

Creating and marketing safe, convenient places to ride isn’t just good for the community, it also boosts a bicycle retailer’s bottom line. Sales increase when cities make streets, paths and trails better for people on bikes. In fact, we know that retail sales through the Independent Bicycle Dealer channel are nearly double the average in cities with good bike networks — communities that have better places to ride have more people who ride and more people who buy bikes and gear. We’ve created a detailed guide for retailers to help facilitate both better biking and better business. This guide focuses on five ways to make a real difference.

Here are some things every retailer can do to grow ridership:

Speak up when your community is discussing building bike lanes and trails. Connect with local advocates, show up when public meetings are being held.

Engage with other businesses to connect biking to the local economy. As a business owner and community leader, you have an important voice in how local projects and funding are prioritized.

Encourage your customers to get involved. Give your customers opportunities to contribute their voice, time and money to support biking in your community. Together, you’ll magnify your influence. And you’ll win your customers’ loyalty.

Get new people on bikes. When your customers feel comfortable in your bike shop, they will continue to ride — and to shop with you. Offer maintenance 101 classes, host events for women, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and intersex individuals, and sponsor local cycling events geared at getting the whole family riding.

Help your (new and not so new) customers ride more.

There are 25-35 million Americans who ride their bikes just a few times per year. We’re launching a new app to help more people feel comfortable on bikes, and to help retailers better serve their customers. Ride Spot aims to get more people riding, and keep them riding.

PeopleForBikes Ride Spot

The biggest barriers that prevent people from getting on a bike are:

The Ride Spot app helps overcome these common barriers so that more people feel like they belong on a bike.

Our platform addresses these barriers by working with bike shops, advocacy organizations and others to provide great, safe routes that are easy to navigate with the free app or a printed “Ride Card.” We provide people with turn-by-turn directions to get them from a local Ride Spot Affiliate (a bike shop in most cases), out on a great ride. Retailers can set up events so that new riders can connect with riding buddies at a central location. With fun, safe routes, new riders will feel more comfortable exploring by bike.

Another barrier to biking is uncertainty. People might ask, “How do I change a flat?” or “What are the hand signals I should use while riding?” These are basic 101 bike riding questions, and for this barrier, the Ride Spot app gives a series of videos to help out with unexpected snags in a ride. These videos are simple, short, and easy to understand. They’ll walk you through how to change a tube, how to put your chain back on if it falls off, and general bike basics.

We encourage bicycle retailers to take advantage of our guide, to get involved with Ride Spot and to help make bicycling and business better in their community. Together, we can overcome the barriers to biking and get more people on bikes.

How bicycle retailers can help grow ridership: foster the community

Policy

Growing the Bike Industry

Proactively Addressing Trade and Supply Chain Challenges

Decreasing Tax Burdens on Bike Businesses

Passing Progressive Electric Bicycle Legislation and Establishing Offices of Outdoor Recreation in All 50 States

Protecting the Industry from Troublesome Chemicals Legislation

Advancing Progressive Workforce Development Practices