Kicking off National Bike Month
May 1, 2013
This May, a young woman will stay at home and daydream about a cross-country bicycle trip she doesn’t think will ever really happen. She knows exploring our country’s rich heritage and beautiful landscapes while pedaling thousands of miles builds determination, self-reliance, and self-discovery. She knows this would be a life-changing experience. But the trip will remain a fantasy.
While many people, young and old, will experience the amazing power of traveling by bike this summer, even more will not. They don’t have access to nearby bicycle routes or are unsure of their ability to complete an overnight bicycle trip.
Kick off National Bike Month by giving these would-be bicycle travelers all the things they need to travel by bike. You can help create designated, signed bicycle routes that allow them to ride bicycles from their front doors anywhere their desires take them, and how-to resources from Adventure Cycling to help them pack their panniers, choose gear, read cycling maps, and more.
This May, you can change this story of missed opportunity and unfulfilled dreams by supporting the development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. All month long, Adventure Cycling will be campaigning to raise support and awareness for the U.S. Bicycle Route System to benefit people all over North America.
And right now, your donation can go twice as far. Donate before May 31 for your donation to be matched 1:1 by a group of donors, up to $35,000.
If you donate by Friday, May 3, 2013, you will be entered to win a Park Tool AK-37, 37-piece toolkit with a retail value of $369.99 from J&B Importers.*
By donating today, you will help build the U.S. Bicycle Route System by providing the financial support necessary to continue developing routes and preparing them for designation by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
Thank you all for your support and participation!
Top image by Nishant Gogna on Flickr
Graphic by Rachel Stevens
Bottom image courtesy of Park Tools
*No purchase necessary. To enter the sweepstakes for the Park Tool Kit from J&B Importers, simply send an email to development@adventurecycling.org with your full name, address, phone, and email address by 5/3/2013 5pm MDT.
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The 2013 BUILD IT. BIKE IT. BE A PART OF IT. campaign runs through May 31, 2013. All donations are tax deductible and support Adventure Cycling's organizing efforts and technical assistance for the U.S. Bicycle Route System. The campaign is supported by Adventure Cycling members, bicycle industry partners, bicycle clubs, and cyclists across North America.
Campaign business sponsors include Bikeflights.com, BOB Gear by Britax Child Safety, Inc., Ortlieb, Planet Bike, Primal Wear, and TeamEstrogen.com. Bicycle club sponsors include Cascade Bicycle Club. In-kind sponsors include Bikeflights.com, Cygolite, Hans Bagworks, J&B Importers, Nutcase, Ortlieb, and Osprey Packs.
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is supported in part by grants from the the Lazar Foundation, New Belgium Brewing, Climate Ride, and the Tawani Foundation.
Comments
James, no worries about donating. I hope your trip goes wonderfully and remember you can contact us anytime if you need anything.
Hi Annie, we appreciate your comment. Certainly you do not have to have designated bike routes to ride anywhere. However, with our mission to inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle we have to recognize that there is a large group, in fact a majority, of individuals who do not ride solely because of the lack of facilities. We want to empower them to ride by increasing their access to facilities. This is much like the models of creating national networks in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere. Thanks for your feedback!
That the majority of people do not ride is not due to lack of facilities. It is because they don't feel safe. 'Facilities' provide the illusion of safety. Only education can provide a greater degree of actual safety to cyclists. Many facilities make cycling more dangerous by causing conflict at intersections, and forcing cyclists to ride too far to the right, where they are not seen. Designated routes to encourage ridership are fine, but don't kill current cyclists by painting lines on the road that force them too far to the right.
Implying that someone needs designated bicycle routes in order to plan a tour, especially one that's going to 'build self-reliance', does no favors for the world of bicycle touring. Every road is a bike route. Adventure Cycling routes are great, but please don't tell people those are the only routes they can tour.
I am sorry i can't donate. Having just bought a set of panniers and still need a camp stove, maps and sleeping bag before i set off for Surprise
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