We make sure that bikes are considered in new projects, encourage communities across city lines to pursue funding together, support ballot initiatives dedicated to outdoor recreation, andlobby for federal funding for path and trail development.

We support local groups focused on increasing outdoor participation, help cities rethink how to provide more opportunities for close-to-home bike riding, foster the development of pocket bike parks and force the prioritization of bike trails and parks in underserved communities.

We work with state departments of transportation to add or improve shoulders on major county and state arterial roads, work to require that funding for highway projects is contingent on adding/improving shoulders, and ask state departments of transportation to prioritize road improvements that improve bicyclists safety and benefit bike riders.

We help prioritize projects that serve historically underserved and disinvested communities, advance bills that provide financial incentives to recreate by bike, connect bike riding with health and wellness outcomes, force equity considerations in planning and value electric bicycle access on the same level as traditional bikes.

Bike riding opportunities in rural, non-urban areas are revenue raisers for local communities through tourism. We support funding and policy measures that help build out trail systems, connected bike networks and the infrastructure needed to cater to visitors and residents alike.

UPDATE: On April 9, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the EXPLORE Act. PeopleForBikes celebrates this historic win for outdoor recreation policy alongside our many partners in advocacy. The legislative package, outlined below, now heads to the Senate, where it will be considered alongside the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA). PeopleForBikes endorses both bills and looks forward to working with outdoor recreation champions in the Senate to ensure the best possible version of both bills land on the president’s desk.

The bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) to improve and expand America’s outdoor recreation economy while delivering sustainable economic boosts to rural communities. The EXPLORE Act recently unanimously passed through the House Natural Resources Committee. The comprehensive package contains several ground-breaking recreation bills, including the Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act, Outdoors for All Act, Outdoor Recreation Act, Biking on Long Distance Trails Act, and many others.

If signed into law, this bipartisan outdoor recreation legislation, which complements the Senate’s America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), will significantly improve and expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities on our public lands and waters. PeopleForBikes strongly advocated for the passage of the EXPLORE Act and the companion AORA to expand access to the great outdoors for all Americans.

The EXPLORE Act will facilitate greater access to outdoor recreation by:

Modernizing permitting for guides and outfitters on public lands

Building adaptive trails for veterans and people with disabilities

Improving access to recreation on public lands and waters

Ensuring access to green spaces in underserved communities by prioritizing funding for local outdoor recreation projects

Developing, improving, and completing long-distance trails

A recent assessment by the U.S. Department of Commerce found that the growth of the outdoor recreation industry is outpacing the broader domestic economy and its economic impact totals $1.1 trillion. There has never been a better time to invest in outdoor recreation and show that access to our public lands and waters is a priority for millions of Americans.

Diving Equipment and Marketing Association

International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association

Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

National Marine Manufacturers Association

Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

EXPLORE Act Passes House Natural Resources Committee

UPDATE: On April 18, 2024, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a new Public Lands Rule adding "conservation" to the agency's mandate of multiple uses of public lands. The rule recognizes conservation as an essential component of public lands management, putting the preservation, protection, and restoration of the natural environment and wildlife on equal footing with other uses of these lands. PeopleForBikes will remain involved in the implementation of the rule, stay in touch with our partners across BLM field offices, and provide the industry with any updates as they become available. 

The Bureau of Land Management oversees 245 million acres of land, the most of any governing entity in the United States. That expanse, spread across all 50 states, spans diverse communities and ecosystems that offer spectacular vistas, irreplaceable cultural resources, critical wildlife habitat, sources of clean water, world-class recreational opportunities, and the potential to combat climate change. 

To protect that land for future generations, the BLM opened a public comment period on March 30, 2023, for the newly proposed Public Lands Rule. If enacted, this rule would add "conservation" to the agency's mandate of multiple uses of public lands, elevating conservation — or the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment and wildlife — as legitimate use. The proposed rule strives to address shortcomings in management related to land health to better ensure the "health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." 

On the millions of acres that BLM oversees, year-round recreational opportunities entice more than 80 million recreation visits annually. This land also boasts some of our nation’s most iconic mountain bike trails and a large and growing number of electric mountain bike trails. Recreation and tourism on BLM lands contribute $11.4 billion to local, often rural communities, and the overall national economy. The BLM offers unique and unparalleled access as a land management agency for mountain bikers and recreationists of all stripes.

PeopleForBikes backs the conservation efforts needed to slow the effects of climate change, which could alter or prohibit current and future generations from enjoying the benefits of biking and other forms of outdoor recreation on public lands. A report from our partners at Protect Our Winters highlights the damaging effects of climate change on mountain biking trails, ranging from pest infestations to erosion to wildfires.

With climate change increasingly affecting our nation’s public lands and the growing importance of these spaces for recreation, the proposed rule would help protect abundant and well-connected wildlife habitat, world-class recreational access, as well as tourism and recreation-related revenue for local economies. 

PeopleForBikes believes conservation and outdoor recreation are intricately linked and are compatible for the following reasons:

Recreation paired with conservation supports the health and vitality of outdoor spaces and contributes to ecosystem services such as clean air and water, as well as long-term access to beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy. 

Recreation is conservation, as well-built and maintained outdoor recreation infrastructure such as mountain bike trails can help protect sensitive ecosystems and conserve the surrounding land. 

Recreation allows more people to enjoy the outdoors, which in turn can promote lifelong sustainable behavior. We know from medical science that being outdoors is good for your physical and mental health, but research has also increasingly found that it can be good for the outdoors as well. Increasing emotional affinity towards nature motivates behaviors that protect nature — the more time people spend outdoors, the more our community of outdoor advocates grows. 

Recreation in tandem with conservation preserves the spaces in which we love to recreate, as outdoor recreation requires space for trails and outdoor amenities for people and wildlife to enjoy together.

PeopleForBikes supports the adoption of regulations that put watersheds, cultural resources and landscapes, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation interests on equal footing with other land use priorities. Only by doing so can we safeguard our public lands from the consequences of climate change while ensuring their health and accessibility for future generations. 

In our comments, we’re asking the BLM to take a balanced approach to ensure recreation and an expanded focus on conservation go hand in hand. We have a few uncertainties on how the new rule could affect recreation access on BLM-managed lands and specifically, on how mountain biking will fare in this process over time.

You can read PeopleForBikes’ full comments in support of the Public Lands Rule here. 

PeopleForBikes had the opportunity to comment on the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the use of electric bicycles within the National Park System. PeopleForBikes supports the proposed action (preferred alternative) outlined in the PEA because we support allowing electric bicycle use where regular bicycles are allowed and more specifically, we support Class 1 electric mountain bike access where regular mountain bicycles are allowed on natural surface trails. 

You can read PeopleForBikes' full comments in support of the proposed action here.

New Framework Aims to Conserve Our Public Lands

PeopleForBikes works to empower businesses, suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers across the bike industry to help grow opportunities for more people to ride bikes more often and shape a better future for the next generation of riders. By working with PeopleForBikes, you can help build a more connected and bikeable world right in your own backyard.

Know your community’s City Ratings score. PeopleForBikes’ City Ratings program measures communities' progress in creating safe and connected bike networks. The score’s recreational component measures access to parks, trails, and pump tracks. 

Champion infrastructure projects in your community. Our National Bike Project Tracker, part of the Great Bike Infrastructure Project, highlights planned bike projects across the country. Identify nearby projects you’re passionate about and help get them across the finish line. If you know about a project that isn't in our tracker, let us know.

Connect with state and local advocacy groups in your area and ask how you can help projects get funded and built. Find your nearest advocacy group here. 

Consider giving your employees a volunteer day to support local advocacy groups or encourage them to attend important public meetings to advocate for better bike infrastructure.

Sponsor an event like a community bike ride or an open streets event to support the efforts of your local advocacy group.

Join a local business association to emphasize the economic benefits of bikeable communities and encourage their support of bike projects near you. 

Ask your employees and customers to join PeopleForBikes’ newsletter to receive advocacy alerts to support bicycling projects and pro-bike policies in their communities.  


Cultivate local donors to support PeopleForBikes’ work improving bicycling nationwide.

Host a fundraiser and encourage your network and customers to donate and help PeopleForBikes advance bicycling in your community.

Send a fundraising email to your customers on behalf of PeopleForBikes. 


PeopleForBikes’ has numerous valuable resources to help guide your advocacy efforts:  

The PeopleForBikes Bike Advocacy Playbook provides 15 arguments for better biking with links to dozens of talking points and studies. 

PeopleForBikes’ Guide to Effective Local Bike Advocacy offers strategies to ensure your advocacy efforts have a lasting impact.

PeopleForBikes’ Legislative Guide for Safe and Connected Infrastructure highlights the most effective legislative strategies to improve local bike infrastructure:

Passing state and local funding for bike infrastructure 

Adopting Complete Streets mandates that require safe bike infrastructure as part of road projects

Advancing bike infrastructure through climate legislation

Use talking points from our supplemental guides for each policy area to help push for change in your community.

If projects or policies are at risk, let us know. We can rally support through letters to local officials, PeopleForBikes Advocacy Alerts, and our VoteForBikes campaign. 

Your involvement as a member of the bike industry is crucial in shaping bikeable communities. Thank you for being an essential part of the movement to transform the U.S. into the best place in the world to ride a bike. Together, we can make biking safe and accessible for everyone nationwide and welcome more people to the joys and benefits of riding.

For more information and support, reach out to a PeopleForBikes expert:

Martina Haggerty, Senior Director of Local Innovation — martina@peopleforbikes.org

Dave Snyder, Senior Director for Infrastructure — dave@peopleforbikes.org

Own Your Backyard: An Industry Guide to Supporting Local Bike Infrastructure

A historic piece of legislation is currently being considered in New Mexico. Signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2023, the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund is the embodiment of years-long, bipartisan collaboration to invest in New Mexico’s public lands and waters. This fund will provide a dedicated and steadfast stream of resources to programs focused on conservation and recreation in all 33 counties and tribal communities. The fund will also enable the ability to leverage untapped federal dollars to maximize its impact. 

The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will support programs focused on outdoor recreation so that every New Mexican, present and future, as well as the state’s blossoming tourism sector, can easily access and enjoy the outdoors. At a time when interest and participation in outdoor recreation is higher than ever, sustainable, long-term investment is necessary to protect New Mexico’s biodiversity and natural resources, preserve the scenic landscapes the Land of Enchantment is famous for, and maintain the proper infrastructure for residents and visitors to safely and responsibly recreate. 

An initial $100 million dollars was invested into the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund in 2023 and split evenly across two funding mechanisms to support existing conservation programs. The first $50 million will provide direct financial support to programs through annual disbursements. A permanent trust was created with the remaining $50 million to fund existing programs through interest incurred on the principal, as to ensure a sustainable source of funding for conservation that transcends generations.

In 2024, state legislators and Governor Lujan Grisham have the opportunity to invest New Mexico’s budget surplus to meet the $350 million minimum threshold required for the fund to become self-sustaining. If these additional funds are not appropriated, the fund will run dry within the next five years. With full endowment, the fund will be able to support programs that safeguard New Mexico’s natural resources, bolster the state’s outdoor recreation economy and infrastructure, improve the collective health of both the environment and communities across the state, and leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy the lands and waters of New Mexico for decades to come.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates when we are working on an issue in your community.

New Mexico Considers $350 Million in Funding for Conservation and Recreation

On December 12, the PeopleForBikes Coalition Board of Directors approved our 2023 Industry Community Grants recipients, totaling $100,000 in funding across 13 grants. The grants will help fund projects that support our focus on building infrastructure that makes communities great places to ride a bike. The projects include several pump tracks, efforts to build safe routes to schools, demonstration projects to promote the importance of protected bike lanes, innovative solutions to combat bike theft in college towns, and mountain bike parks in flat urban areas.

2023 PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grants

Delmont, PA | Trail construction and intersection improvements for a connection to the Westmoreland Heritage Rail Trail. Our funds leverage an additional $18,000 to build a new and vital bikeway for residents and visitors in Delmont.

Sandersville, GA | Funding to construct the first 3 miles of a 250-mile trail system in Georgia, leveraging $6 million in other funding.

Los Angeles, CA | One in a series of “CicLAminis,” a neighborhood-focused open streets event celebrating new neighborhood bike infrastructure. This grant will highlight the specific trail extensions and protected bikeways that improve bicycling locally. 

Ann Arbor, MI | Demonstration project to install and evaluate permeable surfaces on a segment of the Treeline-Allen Creek Urban Trail to create a safe and accessible bike path through a floodplain.

Durango, CO | Demonstration projects of fully protected bike lanes on key portions of a proposed citywide network of low-stress bikeways.   

Saint Johns, AZ | A collaboration with the Legacy Teen Center to build a new pump track that will help launch the Legacy Bike Club. 

Jersey City, NJ | Demonstration project to install and evaluate protected bike lanes in Jersey City to leverage $670,590 in state funding for permanent construction.

Clear Creek Off-Road Bike Association — $7,650

Pearland, TX | Initial construction costs for an innovative mountain bike trail system in an urban park, using shipping containers to create hills in an otherwise flat, low-income neighborhood.  

Providence, RI | Community rides and organizing to win community support for protected bike lanes in low-income communities and leverage $28 million in federal grants.

Tempe, AZ | A "bike bus" to highlight the need for infrastructure that’s safe for children to enjoy on a bicycle and support its construction.

Eugene, OR | An innovative solution to prevent bike theft with a strategy to expand the use of public funding and provide an example for other college towns where bike theft prevents people from relying on a bike for transportation.

St. Louis, MO | Support for the construction of a quick-build protected bike lane on Compton Avenue, a key connection to existing bike boulevard projects in the citywide network.

Kearns, UT | An upgrade to the Lodestar XC Bike Park to enhance the trails and add skills features including adaptive features. Open to the public, the park provides the only training opportunities for students from six high school mountain bike teams.  

PeopleForBikes' Industry Community Grants Program provides funding for projects that make bicycling better in communities across the U.S. Since 1999, PeopleForBikes has awarded more than 400 grants to nonprofit organizations and local governments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Our investments total more than $3.5 million and have leveraged $775 million in public and private funding for bike-related projects nationwide.

PeopleForBikes' 2023 Industry Community Grants Recipients

From recreational amenities like pump tracks and singletrack trail systems to on-street protected bike lanes and bike parking, we know that safe and accessible bike infrastructure is critical to helping people of all ages and abilities enjoy bicycling in their communities. With the goal of getting more projects over the finish line, PeopleForBikes is proud to announce the opening of our 2023 Industry Community Grant applications.

Our grants are intended to support infrastructure that improves a community’s City Ratings score by building connections in low-stress bikeway networks or by improving opportunities for close-to-home recreation. Grants should support the material costs of infrastructure construction or non-material costs directly related and necessary to getting infrastructure built. PeopleForBikes’ industry grants range from $5,000 to $10,000 and our priority is to support efforts where grants of that magnitude make a difference, especially in support of communities impacted by historic disinvestment. 

Previous awards supported the construction of a bike park in El Paso, TX; the conversion of a tennis court into a bike garden in Flint, MI; the organization of protected bikeways in Durham, NC; the building of trails in Gorham, NH, to connect a mountain bike network to the downtown area; and an advocacy campaign in Salem, OR, to create safe, direct, and protected bike infrastructure.

Investments that build or result in permanent physical infrastructure such as protected bike lanes, neighborhood greenways/bike boulevards, bike paths, pump tracks, bike parks, recreational trail systems, or public bike parking.

Investments in temporary physical infrastructure, such as “quick-build projects” that demonstrate potential infrastructural improvements that are intended to eventually result in permanent infrastructure.

Support for organizing efforts or cultural initiatives that build support for specific bike infrastructure projects. Such proposals must show how the support will result in permanent infrastructural improvements. 

Maintenance or operating costs, Cycling education programs, unless education is an element of an event designed to bring attention to an infrastructure project 

Bike recycling, repair, or earn-a-bike programs

Non-profit organizations, including organizations relying upon a fiscal sponsor for their nonprofit status 

Local or state government agencies or federal agencies working locally 

Small businesses, such as bicycle retailers and community-oriented businesses that serve disadvantaged communities

1. Submit a Letter of Interest by October 20, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Only applications submitted through the online form will be accepted. Applicants may revise their submission as many times as they like until the deadline. 

2. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by November 1, 2023. Finalists will be invited to submit a full application, also using an online form.

3. Final applications are due by November 20, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

4. Awards will be announced in early December 2023.

If you have any questions about the grant process, please email infrastructure@peopleforbikes.org. 


PeopleForBikes’ Industry Community Grants program is funded through employee pro purchases, which collect donations from individuals who work in the bike industry and take advantage of pro-pricing discounts on new bikes and equipment. Does your company offer industry pro deals or discounts for athletes, retail staff, and industry employees? Give your customers an opportunity to donate to PeopleForBikes at checkout. For details, visit peopleforbikes.org/giving or email Rod Judd, PeopleForBikes’ director of membership and industry engagement.

Thank you to these brands that currently participate:

Apply for a 2023 PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grant

In late July, PeopleForBikes unveiled our newest groundbreaking initiative: The Great Bike Infrastructure Project. This ambitious program will transform communities by advancing pro-bike policies and thousands of bike infrastructure projects in all 50 states, making biking safer and more accessible for everyone.

In the coming months, we’ll take a deeper dive into the specific projects and policies included in the Great Bike Infrastructure Project. For now, read on for a high-level overview of the program. 

At the heart of this new program is a national database featuring an interactive map and list of more than 1,000 bicycle infrastructure projects across the United States. The tool tracks crucial information including each project’s status, state and local advocacy organizations supporting the project, and links to learn more. This first-of-its-kind, easily accessible resource will help people learn about projects in their communities — like bike trails, shared-use paths, protected bike lanes, bike parks, and more — and help ensure they get funded and built. 

Local advocacy efforts are often required to advance these projects, and we encourage you to check out the projects in your area and contact the linked state and local advocacy organizations to learn how you can support getting those projects across the finish line. If you’d like to add a project to our database or correct the details of an existing project, please visit our FAQ page. 

Legislative Strategies for Bike Infrastructure

As part of the Great Bike Infrastructure Project, PeopleForBikes also created a Legislative Guide to assist policymakers and advocates in expanding bike infrastructure for transportation and recreation. As we work to make the U.S. the best place in the world to ride a bike, this comprehensive guide outlines the four most effective legislative approaches to accelerate the construction of safe and connected places to ride. 

The guide includes legislative examples from a variety of communities and states, with tips on adjusting policies to suit your own community’s needs. To help advance these policies in your community, we also included links to existing legislative language to use when crafting your own bills. 

While there is now an unprecedented amount of federal funding available for bike infrastructure, state and local funding are vital to propel more projects forward and provide the 20-50% local match required for most federal grants. Our guide offers examples of more than a dozen different state and local funding mechanisms for bike infrastructure ranging from Tax Increment Financing districts to sales tax revenue and everything in between.

One of the key strategies for advancing bike infrastructure is the implementation of Complete Streets mandates. Complete Streets ensure that all road users, including people walking, rolling, biking, and using transit, have safe and accessible ways to get where they want to go. Our guide provides examples of legislation that include strong and specific requirements for creating Complete Streets, limited exceptions, and clear roles and responsibilities to make Complete Streets mandates effective.

Advance Bike Infrastructure Through Climate Legislation

Our guide emphasizes how state and local climate legislation can facilitate the construction of bike projects. Including bike infrastructure in climate legislation can help reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately contributing to serious environmental and fiscal benefits for communities. Our guide highlights examples of climate legislation in Minnesota, Washington, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, with specific examples of the most effective pieces.

Making streets safer for people riding bikes is paramount to encouraging biking as a mode of transportation and recreation. The guide highlights several strategies for local communities and states to achieve safer streets by reducing traffic speeds, banning right turns on red, and adopting modern design standards. 

PeopleForBikes invites bike industry members, advocates, policymakers, and everyday riders to join us in creating more liveable communities by helping advance pro-bike legislation and bike infrastructure right in your backyard. Together, we can build a vibrant, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.

For more information about PeopleForBikes’ Great Bike Infrastructure Project, visit infrastructure.peopleforbikes.org.

Introducing the Great Bike Infrastructure Project

In late May, Annette Clapsaddle, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and author, welcomed an intimate group of tribal leaders, federal land managers, and recreational advocates to Cherokee, North Carolina, for the inaugural Recreational Trails Workshop.  In her welcome to the group, Clapsaddle focused on the land where her ancestors have lived for generations and shared her experiences enjoying the multi-use trails of Fire Mountain, which were built by the tribe for all to enjoy. 

“These mountains are a special place because our ancestors have been protecting, safeguarding, and loving this place for generations,” says Clapsaddle. “When we talk about generations, we learn from the generations before who have adapted and innovated and we’re learning from seven generations ahead of us.” 

The Recreational Trails Workshop was a first-of-its-kind gathering hosted by PeopleForBikes in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in a mountainous and forested area best known as the Qualla Boundary. The goal of the workshop was to explore opportunities and challenges associated with recreational access and economic development on tribal and public lands. Participants included representatives from four different tribal nations, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, and the International Mountain Bike Association. 

“Never have we been able to coordinate and corral so many different tribal perspectives into one room,” says Jeremy Hyatt, secretary of operations with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “Being able to have meaningful discourse with other tribal nations that are pushing cycling initiatives, along with our friends and partners in the recreational space and industry, was extremely rewarding.” 

Hyatt is the person behind the creation and operation of the Fire Mountain Trail System in Cherokee, a trail system that includes more than 11 miles of multi-use trails for mountain bikers and hikers. The Fire Mountain Trail System was an excellent case study for participants to explore during the workshop, with Hyatt noting that, “the exchange of ideas and perspectives was incredible, and will bear fruit in the immediate future for Cherokee and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.”

During the workshop, PeopleForBikes eMTB Policy and Program Manager Rachel Fussell, as well as E-Bike Policy and Campaign Director Dr. Ash Lovell, facilitated discussions with the group exploring how participants could learn from one another and find shared solutions. The discussions prioritized the perspectives of tribal leaders so that all participants could better understand the opportunities and challenges these communities face and how they differ across the country. By bringing together diverse groups of stakeholders, events like the Recreational Trails Workshop can help break down some of the silos that currently exist in the recreation space. 

As the demand for outdoor recreational opportunities continues to grow, these inclusive conversations have the potential to create innovative solutions to shared challenges. For example, Adrian Herder, who attended the gathering as a representative from Rezduro, an indigenous-led mountain bike enduro race, and as a member of the Navajo Nation, shared his thoughts on why the workshop was valuable. “The benefit of the workshop for us in relation to the work we're doing on Navajo is that we were able to share our struggles and strengths with those unfamiliar with rural mountain bike organizing on tribal reservations,” says Herder. “We finally met the folks behind Fire Mountain Trails and saw the trails ourselves.” 

After the workshop concluded, Herder noted that he left the meeting with ideas and potential future partnerships. “The big takeaway from our time together would be meeting and potentially partnering with other tribal nations doing similar work,” says Herder. “We may come from different lived experiences, but we're all working to get more of our people on bikes while increasing the representation in this predominantly white space. I want to thank all the non-BIPOC folks for listening to what we had to say and hopefully offering support or connections to help us in our efforts in the future. Ahéhee' [Thank you]!” 

In addition to hosting this workshop and other events related to recreational access, PeopleForBikes is developing a tool to measure access to recreational bicycling facilities across the country. The recreational bicycle network analysis will quantify the quality and access of trails similar to how PeopleForBikes’ Bicycle Network Analysis measures the quality of urban bike networks for everyday transportation. From remote gravel roads to bike parks in city centers, the tool will catalog recreational bicycling facilities around the country and help guide investments for new facilities. REI is generously funding the development of the tool, which will be released in spring 2024.

Learnings From the Inaugural Recreational Trails Workshop

We’re just halfway through 2023 and there are already notable legislative achievements for bicycles from every corner of the country. States have made commendable strides in promoting safety for vulnerable road users, investing in sustainable infrastructure, combating climate change, and expanding access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

New Laws to Improve Safety for Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Arizona: Advocates successfully opposed Senate Bill 1313,Senate Bill 1312, and Senate Bill 1314, which collectively threatened to remove bike-related requirements from city plans and hinder the tracking of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and climate reduction goals. These victories ensure that Arizona can continue promoting multi-modal transportation and climate-conscious urban planning, preserving essential tools for sustainable communities.

Maryland: The passage of House Bill 70, known as the Safe Access for All (SAFE) Roads Act of 2023, will improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. The legislation requires the Maryland Department of Transportation to prioritize incremental safety improvements for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects, ensuring timely implementation even if the projects themselves take more than 12 months to complete.

Minnesota: Embracing the "Idaho Stop" concept, Minnesota is now the latest state to legalize a more practical approach for bicyclists at stop signs. This change allows bicyclists to proceed without a full stop if there are no vehicles nearby, provided they slow down and are prepared to stop if necessary. 

Illinois: House Bill 2131 will create a statewide task force to chart a pathway toward eliminating traffic deaths. Additionally, Senate Bill 2278 will address a shortcoming in Illinois law by allowing cities and towns to protect their residents by building safer intersections.

Missouri: Senate Bill 398 includes the "Siddens Bening Hands Free Law" which will prohibit texting and the use of other electronic devices while driving. 

New Infrastructure Planning for Active Transportation Laws

New York: Assembly Bill 602 addresses the responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects. This legislation ensures effective planning and coordination between the state transportation commissioner and affected municipalities by estimating costs associated with various infrastructure projects, including highways, roads, streets, bicycle paths, and pedestrian paths.

Washington: Senate Bill 5452 authorizes the use of impact fee revenue to fund improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities. This new law enables communities to utilize fees charged to developers for the enhancement of bike infrastructure to support multimodal commuting and create a more sustainable transportation system.

Virginia: House Bill 1510 authorizes localities to grant tax incentives or provide regulatory flexibility to encourage the preservation, restoration, or development of urban green space including greenways.  

New Climate Action and Emissions Reduction Laws

Minnesota: The Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact Assessment bill sets forth requirements for state agencies to track and minimize greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with statewide reduction goals. The legislation mandates the evaluation of emissions impact for transportation plans and roadway expansion projects, offering mitigation measures such as expanding transit services or constructing new bike lanes.

Washington: The passage of House Bill 1181 mandates medium and large cities to consider climate change in their comprehensive plans. This legislation encourages the development of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, prioritizing the creation of connected bike networks and implementing bike-friendly zoning codes for sustainable transportation alternatives.

New Recreation and Trail Connectivity Laws

Colorado: Senate Bill 059 provides funding to local governments for improved access to state-owned outdoor recreational areas. This appropriation will help build infrastructure that grows recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill allocating $200 million to connect hiking and biking trails to a planned statewide wildlife corridor. This investment expands Florida's Greenways and Trails System and the SUN Trail Network, aiming to link 18 million acres of land from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle.

New Electric Bicycle Access and Regulations


PeopleForBikes' model electric bicycle legislation has gained widespread acceptance, with 41 states adopting the three-class system as a framework for regulation. In 2023, New Mexico, Nebraska, and West Virginia clarified their e-bike laws, defining the three classes of electric bicycles and aligning regulations with those for traditional bicycles. These legislative advancements simplify the rules for retailers, riders, and decision-makers while encouraging the use of e-bikes as a sustainable transportation option. Additionally, the West Virginia e-bike bill allows for Class 1 and 2 on non-motorized, natural surface trails where traditional bicycles are allowed.

Taken as a whole, these legislative achievements demonstrate an increasing nationwide emphasis on bicycles as a tool to advance safety, sustainable infrastructure, climate action, and accessible recreation. By enacting laws that protect vulnerable road users, support active transportation, reduce emissions, and expand access to the outdoors, states are paving the way for a more resilient, healthy, and enjoyable future. 

Legislative Bike Triumphs: A 2023 Mid-Year Review

For the first time since our City Ratings program launched seven years ago, Minneapolis, Minnesota, tops the list of the best large U.S. cities for bicycling with a score of 68. In 2022, the city’s score hovered in the 30s, and its leap to number one speaks to a number of notable changes. 

First, Minneapolis’ data received a massive update — while that’s not the most exciting reason, it’s essential. Our scoring system is informed using data from OpenStreetMap, which is essentially the Wikipedia of street maps, meaning anyone can edit it. If a city’s data in OpenStreetMap doesn’t adequately reflect the breadth and/or quality of the city’s on-the-ground infrastructure, then its corresponding City Ratings score will be lower. Thanks to updates to its OpenStreetMap data, Minneapolis saw its score rise.

That being said, the midwestern city, home to a population of about 425,336 people, has also made huge strides in building out the safe, connected bicycle infrastructure that demands OpenStreetMap updates — and defines the world’s best places to ride. 

“What's really unique about Minneapolis — what's different than many of the other notable cities for bicycling in North America — is that the backbone of our network is probably one of the best urban trail networks in the country,” says Luke Hanson, a senior transportation planner for the city. “Minneapolis' status as one of the top cities for bicycling is both a combination of strategic multimodal investments that include that kind of urban trail network, as well as deliberate complimentary policy guidance over time. Those pieces go hand in hand to create our current bike network.”

A key component of Minneapolis’ cycling urban trail network is the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, a continuous, 51-mile loop of off-street bike trails that traverses the entire city. For more than 100 years, the byway has been a recreational and transportation resource for people biking, walking, and rolling — a historical network that the city has been able to build off of over time with strategic and complimentary investments primarily along former rail corridors. That includes the Midtown Greenway, the Cedar Lake Trail, the Hiawatha LRT Trail, and the Dinkytown Greenway, which are all repurposed, grade-separated trails that avoid conflicts with motor vehicles and connect some of the most important destinations in the city. 

“All of this has been augmented by a series of initially painted buffered bicycle boulevard facilities throughout the city that provided network-level connectivity,” says Hanson. “More recently, many of these facilities have been improved by transitioning them from traditional unprotected bike lanes to protected facilities in a variety of different design types, utilizing things like protected intersection design and other tools we have available to us.”

Hanson is quick to point to the various policies that have helped Minneapolis develop one of the country’s most robust bicycle networks: its 2011 Bicycle Master Plan, 2013 Climate Action Plan, and 2015 Protected Bikeway Update to the Bicycle Master Plan. The 2015 plan outlined a long-term objective of creating 174 miles of protected bike lanes as part of the city's bike network. In 2019, the city also conducted a neighborhood greenway study to look at ways to transition traditional bike boulevards to make them more comfortable, safer, and more appealing to a wider group of people. Finally, the city’s 2020 Transportation Action Plan provides policy guidance to continue implementing protected and safe bike facilities throughout the city.

Minneapolis currently boasts 21 miles of on-street protected bike lanes and 106 miles of off-street sidewalk and trail miles. By 2030, the goal is to have 141 miles of newer, upgraded all ages and ability bikeways throughout the city, along with a micromobility mode share of 10% (the Climate Action Plan outlines a long-term goal of raising the bicycle commute mode share to 15%). Unfortunately, the loss of the city’s Nice Ride bike share system earlier this year complicates that vision (and is arguably a huge oversight on the part of the city).

“[Mass mode shift] is still a goal and it’s important to work towards that even with the challenge of not having a reliable bike share system,” says Hanson. “What we're trying to establish is a complimentary transportation network where people have options beyond just driving and single occupancy vehicles. In addition to transit, we're thinking through walking, biking, rolling, and other methods to make sure people have transportation options and choices to help us get to those mode shift goals. Marketing is important but we’re reinforcing that with infrastructure.”

Other complementary policies, such as redesigning intersections and reducing speeds, play an equally important role. In 2020, Minneapolis and its twin city St. Paul lowered their default speed limits, switching from 30 to 20 mph on residential streets and 25 mph for larger, arterial, city-owned streets. Lowering speed limits aligns with Minneapolis’ Vision Zero work by reducing the likelihood of crashes and the likelihood of a crash leading to serious injuries or death. Since lower speeds are critically important in places where people are walking, rolling, and biking — which is most locations in Minneapolis — they correspond with higher City Ratings scores.

“Lowering speed limits is a tool but we're also using street design to compliment those lower posted speed limits,” says Hanson. “Traffic calming measures such as raised crossings, speed humps, speed cushions, medians, and narrowing roadways are equally important. Even if they’re not explicitly a bike project per se, they make it safer and more comfortable for people to bike.”

Other things Minneapolis is doing well include leveraging federal grants to fund projects, taking advantage of street resurfacing projects to upgrade infrastructure, and creating a brand new Street Design Guide. According to Hanson, in addition to providing guidance on what an all ages and abilities bikeway should look like, the guide also includes guidance on when to install them (the short answer: on any major throughway undergoing reconstruction). Notably, the city also eliminated parking minimums and made the choice to transition away from single-family housing, choices that contribute to better cities for cycling (it also helps that Minnesota is progressive when it comes to its state transportation policy).

“It's not as simple as the silo of transportation infrastructure — these things build upon one another to make a functional, practical system for people to rely on and use,” says Hanson. “It’s important to acknowledge that there are a lot of additional projects that aren’t bike-specific that work to make biking safer and more comfortable.”

Having worked on bike projects for more than a decade, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Hanson himself is a regular cyclist, relying on his bike for most trips. He credits the local bike culture as a major contributing factor to what makes Minneapolis such a great place to bike. On any given week, there are dozens of social rides throughout the city, including non-drop rides, family-friendly outings, and meet-ups for identity-specific groups. There are organizations that empower people to be comfortable on their bikes through all four seasons, as well as Grease Rag and other groups that provide inclusive environments for bicycle education.

Hanson also credits local advocacy groups and community-based organizations with helping create a safer, more comfortable, and more equitable environment for bicycling. 

“We've found a lot of value in partnering with established community groups and organizations to perform better, more meaningful project engagement,” says Hanson. “Doing so allows us as city staff to better build relationships with residents through trusted community members. Meaningful relationships are a really, really important resource for us.”

In recent years, Minneapolis has also been the site of racial unrest and the need to connect with and prioritize the needs of historically underserved communities has been pushed to the forefront. The city recently created a Racial Equity Framework for Transportation, which acknowledges that certain populations and geographies in the city have borne the brunt of displacement, pollution, and a slew of other outcomes directly tied to an inequitable transportation system. Importantly, this framework can help city planners be strategic and prioritize transportation investments in those same communities.

Hand in hand with those investments is a tangible plan for lowering barriers to bicycling through youth education. Currently, Minneapolis Public Schools are rolling out universal bike education for fourth and fifth graders in two-thirds of the city’s public schools, with plans for it to eventually be district-wide. After all, an all ages and abilities bike network only benefits youth that know how to ride.

“In the last few years, I think we’ve made some really meaningful progress,” says Hanson. “And I also appreciate that there’s always ongoing work to do.”

How Minneapolis Became a Top U.S. Bike City

Growing up as one of the first international adoptees in West Virginia, Mia Fox did not have role models who looked like her in the community, let alone in bicycling. “My parents got me involved in wonderful activities like music and dance,” says Fox. “ I never got to explore sports because I didn't even know that those opportunities were at my fingertips.”

Today, Mia is changing that. As the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) Girls Riding Together (GRiT) coordinator in West Virginia, Mia is making sure other girls see themselves reflected in the sport and getting on bikes. And she’s seeing results: NICA West Virginia has one of the highest female participation rates in the United States.

“Women and minority groups are out there,” says Fox. “It's critical to connect with schools, local organizations, churches, nonprofits, and the community. Exposure and connection is key.”

GRiT is NICA’s focused effort to get more girls and women into bicycling, with reports showing that girls make up just 20% of NICA participants around the country. Already, with a 34.1% participation rate, West Virginia is surpassing NICA’s national goal for female student-athlete and coach participation rates of 33% by the end of 2023. 

GRiT coordinators plan girls-only events, rides, camps, clinics, and socializing opportunities with a concentrated effort on reaching historically marginalized groups.  “Monthly calls with GRiT coordinators empower each state to formulate ideas, plans, and activities,” says Fox. “Coordinators for each state go out into their communities to draw in those groups.”

Outreach from coordinators is key to reaching new NICA participants, as is elevating youth voices. GRIT coordinators and ambassadors go to schools, nonprofit afterschool programs, churches, and other community-centered locations to showcase the GRiT program. The young GRiT ambassadors are encouraged to share their passion for riding, inviting their classmates and communities to experience the joys and experiences that mountain bikes provide.

“We really listen to our female student-athletes,” says Fox. “They really like scavenger hunts, overnight sleepaway camp, and riding two or three miles while talking the entire time.” 

An avid cyclist, Fox was already organizing Moms on Bikes (MOBS) rides in Charleston, West Virginia, prior to joining the NICA team. As NICA began encouraging more female coaches, MOBS became a great place to recruit new coaches. 

“Once you get the moms to feel empowered and see that trails we’re riding are not scary, they come back the next week,” says Fox. “We show them what we’re teaching the kids to do and that’s how we get them to be coaches.”

Early on, many moms share how they haven’t ridden a bike since childhood. “We take them out on a beginner flow trail and that’s how we flip the switch,” says Fox. “They’re riding the trails, overcoming their fears, and experiencing joy. We ‘coach’ them before our season starts, helping them feel empowered and helping them to become level one coaches.” By the end, many of the daughters start joining the MOBS rides, bringing the experience full circle.

In the U.S. and globally, there’s a noted gender gap that exists in bicycling that can be attributed to a variety of physical, cultural and societal barriers. Fox’s work to build female bike ridership is helping achieve gender parity in NICA and beyond. Beyond gender inequalities, NICA is also addressing the income barriers that prevent youth from accessing mountain biking. “We have the Trek Pathfinders scholarship and a GRiT-specific scholarship in West Virginia,” says Fox. Trek Pathfinder scholarships provide student-athletes from historically underrepresented communities with a mountain bike, helmet, shoes, accessories, and a kit, along with a stipend to cover NICA league membership fees and a full season of racing.

As NICA continues to broaden and diversify the sport of bicycling, the West Virginia chapter of GRiT is a strong example of the leadership and coordination it takes to get more girls on bikes. 

“Being a female minority, you gotta see it to believe it,” says Fox. “You have to see somebody you can look up to.”

Interested in GRiT? Click here to see if there is a NICA GRiT program near you. 

Growing Female Ridership in West Virginia

This November, a substantial $1.86 billion is on the table for bicycle projects aimed at enhancing paved and off-road infrastructure across 17 different ballot measures throughout the United States. Through our VoteForBikes campaign, we track and advocate for local, pro-bike ballot measures across the country, alerting our supporters when something on their ballot could improve bicycling in their community. 

Below are the top five ballot measures we’re currently tracking that are poised to significantly move the needle for bike infrastructure.

1. The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment
Texas

Texas is on the verge of becoming a cycling haven. Should voters give the green light to the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment, they will endorse an astounding $1 billion investment in state parks, with a substantial chunk of those funds earmarked for bike trails. With more than 700 miles of paved and natural surface bike trails within Texas’ state parks, this initiative is a game-changer for recreational riders and presents a golden opportunity to expand and elevate bike infrastructure across the Lone Star State.

2. Streets and Transportation Bond and Parks and Recreation Bond
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Two significant ballot measures are up for a vote in Albuquerque, New Mexico: The Streets and Transportation Bond and the Parks and Recreation Bond. If these ballot measures gain approval, cyclists can anticipate safer streets, enhanced intersections, reduced neighborhood speeds, and the creation of dedicated bike lanes and trails (more than $50 million is allocated to these crucial infrastructure improvements). Moreover, the Parks and Recreation Bond will contribute more than $12 million towards park and trail maintenance and acquisition. To learn more about each ballot measure, click here.

3. The Greenways 5 Levy
Bellingham, Washington

Bellingham’s Greenways 5 Levy, should it receive approval, will inject new life into the region’s bike infrastructure. The levy's proceeds will support property acquisition, development, climate resilience, and maintenance for greenways, parks, and trails. This initiative aligns perfectly with Bellingham's commitment to green transportation and outdoor recreation. If approved, this initiative will benefit riders by creating well-maintained trails and green spaces, ensuring a scenic and sustainable biking experience for all.

4.Open Space and Park Development Bond
Kootenai County, Idaho

The Open Space and Park Development Bond will not only fund the acquisition of public open space but also the development of new recreational trail systems in Kootenai County, Idaho. Riders can look forward to more trails, open spaces, dog parks, and connections between existing systems. This initiative caters to the needs of the bicycling community while preserving Idaho's natural beauty, which will help make it an even more appealing destination for riders of all kinds.

5. County Issue 1A (Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension and Revenue Change)
Boulder County, Colorado

In Colorado, Boulder County is taking a significant step towards extending its support for bike infrastructure. County Issue 1A aims to renew a sales and use tax dedicated to acquiring, improving, managing, and maintaining open space lands — a crucial component of bike trails and paths. Bike riding in Colorado, with its breathtaking vistas and diverse terrain, is set to receive a substantial boost from this measure. Cyclists can anticipate better-maintained trails and a more bike-friendly environment should the measure be approved.

By supporting these measures and others like them, voters nationwide can pave the way for safer, more scenic, and well-connected bike infrastructure. But this funding won’t be possible without making a plan to vote.

People for Bikes

Improving Recreational Access for Bikes

Securing Funding for New Parks and Trails

Helping Cities Build Great Places to Bike That Are Close to Home

Improving Road Cyclist Safety

Increasing Access for Kids, Veterans, Electric Bicycle Riders and Underserved Communities

Promoting Recreation-Based Economic Development in Rural Areas

People for Bikes