Advocating for Advocacy
At Adventure Cycling, our mission has always been to inspire, empower, and connect people. We’re proud to help cyclists dream up new adventures, plan meaningful journeys, and discover the joy and freedom that comes with traveling by bike.
But while cycling is growing in popularity, the riding ecosystem is becoming more complex and, at times, less safe. Whether you’re riding a remote stretch of the Great Divide or navigating traffic to leave town on a weekend trip, your experience is shaped by how roads, trails, and transportation systems are managed. And the reality is that these systems have not always been designed, built, or maintained with the needs of cyclists in mind. Inspiration and information alone are not enough to protect the routes we’ve built and experiences we love.
That’s why Adventure Cycling is renewing its commitment to advocacy. We’re reestablishing our leadership in advancing safe, connected, and accessible bike travel, not just through our maps and tours, but also by shaping the systems and policies that affect how, where, and whether people can ride. We are not starting from scratch. We are re-engaging and rebuilding our capacity to influence the future of bicycle travel in America.
As part of this mission, we’re deepening our partnerships with three trusted organizations that have been advancing the rights and safety of cyclists for decades: the League of American Bicyclists, East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Bikepacking Roots. The League brings unmatched experience in transportation policy that champions safer roads, safer vehicles, and bike-friendly communities. The Greenway Alliance offers a bold vision of what a fully connected, protected, long-distance trail system can look like, from Maine to Florida, and everywhere in between. Bikepacking Roots brings deep expertise in off-pavement cycling and advances access, sustainability, and representation across wild and rural landscapes. (In fact, you can read about its recent Rocky Mountain Bikepacking Summit on our blog.)
By working together, we can combine Adventure Cycling’s expertise, cultural leadership, and passionate membership with our partners’ policy prowess. And in turn, we can better transform inspiration into action, ensuring that the routes we promote and the tours we lead are backed by a riding environment that is safe, well-connected, and welcoming.
We’re still shaping this vision, but we know that our work will focus on the experiences that matter most to our community. That means protecting the public lands that are essential to so many of our routes. That means listening to and supporting the rural communities and small towns that riders rely on. That means ensuring long-distance travelers have signage, rail options, safe shoulders, and a sense of continuity as they move across the country. And that means showing up, alongside partners and members, to guarantee that traveling cyclists are heard in the places where decisions are made.
We don’t have all the answers yet, but over the coming year, we will define how Adventure Cycling can best support, lead, and amplify advocacy efforts while staying rooted in our mission. One thing we do know for certain: Our greatest strength is our community. For decades, we’ve brought people into cycling not just through routes and maps, but through the stories that make those journeys real. We will bring that same approach to our advocacy work. You will see more stories and perspectives across our platforms highlighting the intersection between great rides and great advocacy, whether that is a trail saved, a community transformed, or a safety issue addressed. We’ll also look for ways to support messaging and campaigns from the League, East Coast Greenway, Bikepacking Roots, and other partners to amplify all our voices.
We are not changing who we are. Instead, we’re stepping more fully into who we have always been for nearly 50 years. It’s your voice, your stories, and above all, your support that is so crucial to the continuation of this journey, and we are excited to keep riding it with you.
