The League of American Bicyclists is the national membership organization of cyclists. We promote cycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

The League's magazine, American Bicyclist, is a celebration of cycling.

The magazine is published quarterly and distributed to our membership of 40,000 individuals, nearly 500 recreational clubs (representing over 300,000 members), and 140 state and local advocacy organizations. Our readers are the most committed and passionate cyclists in the United States.

American Bicyclist presents the world of cycling to the League's members. The magazine focuses on important issues in bicycle advocacy and education, promoting cycling, cycling events, and enjoying the benefits of the cycling lifestyle.

Download American Bicyclist Magazine, May/June 2008

PDF format, 11.3MB, 32Pages.

PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA EMBRACES BIKE ED
Pima County has a growing BikeEd program, designed to help kids get off to a good start and help adults reconnect with their cycling youth.

SUMMIT 2008
The 2008 National Bike Summit saw record attendance numbers as enthusiastic bicyclists convened in the Nation’s Capitol. But what made this Summit any different from previous years? Here are six reasons why the 2008 event was special, and why the 2009 Summit has the potential to be even better.

LEAGUE LIBRARY AND DOCUMENT CO LLECTION : WHERE NEXT?
Over the years, the League has gathered an ever-increasing collection of books, magazines, reports, memorabilia, photos and more. Now, we need a new place to store it.

Visit  The League of American Bicyclists Official Website

Our Mission: To promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America.

PRESIDENT ’S PE RSPECTIVE
Amanda Eichstaedt
President, League of American Bicyclists

“We envision a future when Americans embrace bicycling as an integral part of our way of life. Bicycling is accepted as a safe, practical and equitable means of travel. Americans recognize that bicycling creates cleaner, healthier, economically stronger and more livable communities.”  Vision Statement – League of American Bicyclists

The League staff and board recently spent a few days in Martinsville, VA engaged in a strategic planning session, riding bicycles and seeing a town in transition. Martinsville is going through a transformation, thanks to Harvest Foundation funding, to create a more livable and healthy community. In partnership with Activate Martinsville, the League, Safe Routes to Schools Partnership and the Complete Streets Coalition are working to help Martinsville create a more vibrant downtown and link neighborhoods to community centers.

While in the heat of strategizing for the future of the League a discussion ensued regarding “who we represent.” Well, we are the League of American Bicyclists; therefore we must represent bicyclists, right? Well, who are bicyclists? Our moderator, a very nice fellow from Virginia disclosed that he didn’t consider himself a “cyclist,” but more of a person who “rides a bicycle.” A cyclists, it turns out, in talking with folks both at the retreat and afterwards, is someone who puts in lots of miles, wears serious cycling apparel and rides “more than I do” according to most folks. Some people didn’t want to disrespect the more “avid riders” by calling themselves “cyclists” since they may only ride a few times per week.

The League’s purpose is printed here and it is pretty straightforward. If the people that we think we represent, or who we believe are our future members, don’t consider themselves cyclists, then we have more than a marketing problem.

Section 2 — Purpose: The Corporation is organized and operated
exclusively for charitable and educational purposes that follow:
a) promote and protect the rights of bicyclists
b) advocate for the interests of bicyclists
c) support bicycling skills education
d) promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation.

An on-line dictionary states that a cyclist is the following: cy-clist n. a person who rides a bicycle.

If you, or someone that you know rides a bicycle, knows how to ride a bicycle, can ride a bicycle, then they are cyclists and the League works to promote and protect their rights, advocates on their behalf, supports their education as cyclists and promotes the activity as a whole.

We are unlikely to change our name from the League of American Bicyclists to the League of American People Who Sometimes Ride Bicycles (although there was a name change from the original League of American Wheelmen in 1994). What we are hoping for is to broaden what people generally consider “a cyclist” to include all people who ride bicycles.

Martinsville is a town in transition. According to Martinsville, the future holds for their residents a healthier town, with vibrant community space and more people bicycling and walking for their everyday trips. The League is helping to make this happen. They reported to our board that they plan to apply for Bicycle Friendly Community status in 2010 and that their goal is Bronze.

There are a lot of cyclists in America. Let’s work together to make sure that they know that they are cyclists. We are working on their behalf and would love for them to know that we support them.

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