The League of American Bicyclists and Content With Purpose (CWP) have announced a new partnership to create Freedom to Ride, an ambitious digital series exploring how bicycling is transforming communities across the U.S. – improving lives, strengthening local economies, and creating places where people of all ages and abilities can safely ride.

Across the country, cities, towns, and regions are reimagining how people move and how public space is used. Bicycling is playing an increasingly important role in creating a more balanced, connected transportation system – one that expands choice, promotes healthier lifestyles, and strengthens communities. Whether it’s building protected bike lanes and connected trail networks, installing new bikeshare stations and systems, promoting cycling tourism, or encouraging campus mobility initiatives, organizations across the country are investing in infrastructure and programs that support safer, more accessible transportation.

Throughout, Freedom to Ride will highlight the wide-ranging benefits of bicycling, from healthier lifestyles and cleaner air to stronger local economies and enhanced quality of life. The series will also explore the people and organizations enabling this progress, like local leaders and community advocates who are utilizing the funding and policy frameworks in place to support more investments in better bicycling.

Freedom to Ride will feature cinematic storytelling, expert insight, and real-world case studies to spotlight the leaders, advocates, planners, businesses, educators, manufacturers, bike clubs, and everyday riders helping expand access to bicycling across the U.S. The series will showcase the projects and partnerships driving transformations and innovations in downtowns and in suburban and rural communities.

The importance of education and encouragement will also form part of the narrative. Highlighting initiatives like the League’s Smart Cycling program will show how instructors are teaching biking skills that help more people feel comfortable getting on a bike more often.

Inspired by the League’s nationally recognized Bicycle Friendly America program, Freedom to Ride will connect policy with people and infrastructure with lived experience, presenting a compelling vision of what is possible when communities invest in safer, more accessible places to ride.

Bill Nesper, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, said: “Bicycling has the power to improve communities in countless ways. Through Freedom to Ride, we’re excited to showcase the people, projects, and partnerships making that possible – and inspire more communities to see what can be achieved when bicycling is safe, accessible, and part of everyday life.”

Max Smith, Founder & Managing Director of CWP, said: “Across the U.S., people are using bicycling to strengthen communities, improve lives, and create new opportunities. Through Freedom to Ride, we’re excited to meet the people and organizations behind those stories and give them a platform to share their experiences, ideas, and achievements. We’re delighted to be partnering with the League of American Bicyclists on what promises to be an inspiring and important series.”

Freedom to Ride will preview at the National Bike Summit in March 2027, followed by an extensive digital campaign designed to engage the League’s members and network, as well as policymakers, transportation leaders, urban planners, universities, businesses, advocacy groups, and the wider public.

Through this collaboration, the League and CWP will elevate the voices of the people building a Bicycle Friendly America – inspiring more communities, organizations, and individuals to be part of the movement to shape safer streets, stronger communities, and a more connected future.

CWP is a B Corp certified strategic content creator that works in partnership with leading member bodies and associations, engaging professionals in their industries’ role in building a better tomorrow.

Organizations interested in contributing to the series are encouraged to contact Isobel John, Series Researcher at CWP, to learn more: isobel@contentwithpurpose.co.uk.

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When people think of Fairbanks, Alaska, they tend to picture snow, darkness, and inhospitably cold temperatures. Those things are certainly part of life in Interior Alaska, but those aren’t the only reasons people don’t bike there more often. In fact, quite a few Fairbanks residents already bike year-round. According to the most recent American Community Survey (ACS), 2.7% of Fairbanks commuters bike to work, more than five times the national average of 0.5%. 

Students at Golden Heart Performing Arts help install one highly anticipated bicycle rack from the Girls Who Weld + FAST Planning collaboration that occurred in Summer 2025.

Students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are often spotted using the campus’s bike rental program to get around. International workers arriving through the J-1 visa program to support the local tourism economy regularly rely on bikes provided through local partnerships. More and more families are choosing to explore Fairbanks’s connected bikeways, and the area’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation (FAST) Planning, recently distributed more than 600 high-visibility safety vests to local children.  

Olivia Lunsford, a transportation planner at FAST Planning, has experienced how much biking can offer firsthand. “So many people don’t even realize how convenient and fun biking is,” said Lunsford. “I’ve used our active transportation network for years, mostly on rollerblades. In 2019, I got my first bike, a hot pink Cannondale, and realized this is a way more fun way to get around Fairbanks.”  

After realizing the joys of biking herself, Lunsford hoped to make the option more readily available through her work at FAST Planning.  

“We have so many dark winter days, and bikes are excellent for mental health,” Lunsford explained. Fairbanks residents could benefit deeply from being able to bike more places, more often.  

Despite her best efforts (and a dedicated core of passionate local bike commuters), it’s been challenging for Lunsford to get the wider community on board with biking. Many residents worry about traffic safety.  

That’s the challenge Lunsford brought when she applied to join the League’s Active Mobility Leadership Lab. 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM 
Active Mobility Leadership Lab 
The Active Mobility Leadership Lab is a 16-week training program, generously funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in support of their Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Initiative. Participants (local government agency staff in emerging and aspiring Bicycle Friendly Communities) form a working group, develop an Active Mobility Action Plan, and receive training, resources, and direct technical assistance from the League to implement it. 

Throughout the Leadership Lab, League staff guided Lunsford and participants from four other communities through training sessions, peer learning opportunities, one-on-one coaching, and the development of community action plans. A key part of the program asks participants to assemble a local working group, helping to build local collaboration, accountability, and community buy-in for projects that can help increase walking and biking. 

For Lunsford, that local working group became the most valuable part of the experience. 

“I often feel very isolated in my work,” she said. “There are a lot of people heavily reliant on what I do [as a transportation planner], and yet the work is not super participatory. The Leadership Lab has been a really nice way to reorient with people who are willing to participate.” 

The BFC ‘Cycle of Support’ graphic illustrates how many communities have seen programming efforts like Bike Month lead to increased demand for bicycle infrastructure, which in turn creates a positive feedback loop by further increasing ridership and bike culture.

As the local working group began discussing Fairbanks’ needs, one idea quickly gained traction: Bike Month. National Bike Month, held each May, gives communities a framework to bring the community together to celebrate and encourage biking, and to help build bike culture. 

For Lunsford and her local working group, normalizing biking and building public support through initiatives like Bike Month is an important step toward longer-term change in Fairbanks. By helping more residents experience the benefits of biking firsthand, the group hopes to build support for the programs, policies, and infrastructure improvements that make it easier and safer for people to bike as part of daily life.

Beyond shaping the Bike Month action plan, Lunsford says the Leadership Lab changed how she approaches community engagement and coalition-building. “It has helped me figure out best outreach practices and standards, made me ask how I can find new ways to strategize, and inspired new creative tactics,” she said. “I made a ‘gravel for breakfast’ video as part of an effort to win a street sweeper, and that creative energy came from the Leadership Lab for sure.” 

Perhaps most importantly, the Leadership Lab helped turn what felt like a personal ambition into a shared community effort. “It went from me asking myself, ‘Am I the only one who wants to do Bike to Work Week?’ to having a whole group of people stoked for an entire Bike Month,” says Lunsford. 

A FAST Planning volunteer applies a valet tag to a user’s bicycle, prior to checking it in to the Free Bike Valet Bicyclists line up to check their bikes in to the fourth annual Free Bike Valet at the Midnight Sun Festival All three FAST Planning employees wave at the drone from a corner at the intersection of their next big project.

The first Fairbanks Bike Month is still taking shape, planned for May 2027. But for Lunsford, that’s already a sign of success. What started as one planner’s idea has grown into a community effort, with partners across Fairbanks helping build a stronger culture around biking and creating more opportunities for people to experience the city by bike. By bringing more people into the conversation today, Fairbanks is laying the groundwork for the community support needed to make biking and walking a more visible and accessible part of everyday life. 

This project was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Cooperative Agreement CDC-RFA-PW-24-0080). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. These efforts are part of the CDC’s Active People, Healthy NationSM Initiative that is working to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. 

The post Building Community Around Biking in Fairbanks, Alaska  appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

If you’re a member of the League of American Bicyclists, you already understand the transformative power of two wheels. You know that bicycles are tools for environmental sustainability, public health, and social connection. But when was the last time you took a step back from the local advocacy meetings, the daily commutes, and the spreadsheets, and just allowed yourself to get lost in the pure, unadulterated joy of the open road?

If you are looking for your next adventure, it’s time to put a Climate Ride event on your calendar—specifically, the upcoming Green Fondo Berkshires weekend this August 28–30. With three route options each day for road cycling or gravel (your choice!), there’s a sweet ride for seasoned and novice cyclists alike.

More than just a bike ride, this is an opportunity to be a part of something bigger. Since 2008, over 8,000 Climate Riders have contributed nearly $16 million to non-profit organizations, the majority of these grassroots funds fueling local bicycling and environmental advocacy groups. 

Here are four reasons why a Climate Ride is an ideal summer adventure for League members who want to turn their passion into joyful action.

1. You’ll support the League with every mile

Climate Ride’s fundraising model gives you autonomy over where your hard-earned donor dollars go. When you register for a Climate Ride event, you can select the League of American Bicyclists as your sole grantee!

On Green Fondo, that means 100% of your fundraising grants go directly back to the League to support our national advocacy work, federal policy pushes, and the growth of bicycle infrastructure across the country. You get to embark on a joyful weekend of riding while fueling the national movement for a more Bicycle Friendly America. Talk about a win-win!

2. Get a joyful antidote to climate anxiety

In the advocacy world, it is incredibly easy to burn out. We spend so much time pushing back against car-centric infrastructure and confronting the heavy realities of the climate crisis. Climate Ride flips the script with a simple, powerful philosophy: Climate action shouldn’t be rooted in doom—it should be rooted in joy.

Committing to a multi-day bike ride forces you to move your body, breathe fresh air, and remember exactly why we fight so hard to protect this planet and our communities. “Hope” becomes a verb that generates real impact.

3. Enjoy a fully supported ride (and a digital detox)

Our attention spans are fried, our notifications are endless, and we all desperately need a nature reset. A Climate Ride event is a great excuse to take a break and unplug.

When you sign up for an event like Green Fondo Berkshires, you don’t have to worry about a thing. Climate Ride handles all the logistics: they carry your gear, mechanical teams handle the flats, rest stops are stocked with plenty of food, and the routes are fully supported. All you have to do is get there. Your only job for three days is to wake up, pedal through the gorgeous, rolling backroads of Massachusetts, and let your brain reset.

4. You’ll find your people

The magic of a “Fondo” or a Climate Ride goes beyond the miles. You aren’t riding alone; you’re surrounded by a community of 200+ other cyclists, advocates, and change-makers who share a common goal.

From the casual “party pace” groups on the road to the evening social gatherings, the atmosphere is intentionally inclusive, collaborative, and high-energy. There are no racing stats or ego here, just a shared belief that bikes can change the world. You’ll arrive as a solo rider and leave with a nationwide network of lifelong friends.

Hear from 4x Green Fondo rider, Kendra Toy: “Climate Ride is the best! The team is so supportive and is really with you the whole way—from registration to fundraising to the event itself. Everything is so well-organized and well-supported that you can really just focus on enjoying the ride, the people, the views, and the experience. It really is more than just a fundraising bike ride. Climate Ride does an excellent job of inspiring people toward action, building community and fostering camaraderie among the participants, and creating events that create lasting memories and impact.”

Ready to ride the green wave?

Whether you are a seasoned century rider or a casual weekend explorer, there is a place for you on the path. Let’s ride the high of the summer, build a more powerful community, and fund the future of bicycle advocacy together.

Join us at Green Fondo Berkshires from August 28–30. Head to the registration page, select the League of American Bicyclists as your grantee, and let’s get rolling! 

Looking for more? Climate Ride also offers multi-day tours in scenic destinations all over the world. This September, Climate Riders will venture from Pittsburgh to DC along the GAP and C&O Canal Trails – riding smooth, flat, shady, car-free miles along reclaimed rail trails.

>>>Member Perk Alert: Use code ‘BikeLeague’ for $25 off your registration fee on Green Fondo, and $100 off your registration fee on the GAP and C&O Canal Trail Ride.

The League and Climate Ride are long-term partners in building a greener, cleaner country. Over the past 20 years, dozens of League members have ridden with Climate Ride on unforgettable adventures, raising thousands of dollars to support the League’s advocacy work.

Look for more events open to grantee selection on their events page, and support the League while you pedal farther for the planet! Learn more at www.climateride.org, or reach out to info@climateride.org. 

The post League Members: Climate Ride is Calling! appeared first on League of American Bicyclists.

If you’ve been following along on our blog, Marco Speeks needs no introduction. You might know him from his LCI Spotlight last year, or from the Youth Empowerment Award he received at the 2026 National Bike Summit on behalf of Major Taylor Michigan Cycling Advocacy. 

Recently, Marco added another honor to that list: the 2026 Trailblazer Award from the Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance, recognizing his work pioneering Major Taylor Day in Michigan. We caught up with him again to hear what this recognition means, how the campaign came together, and what it could look like to bring Major Taylor Day to the rest of the country.

“I am honored to receive the 2026 Trailblazer Award from the Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance for pioneering Major Taylor Day in Michigan. Governor Whitmer’s proclamation was a team effort, and this recognition belongs to everyone who rode with us.” — Marco Speeks

Congratulations on the Trailblazer Award! You’ve been getting some well-deserved kudos lately. What does it feel like to have your work seen and celebrated this way?

Gratitude is the word. When you’re deep in the work, you’re not thinking about awards. You’re thinking about the next school visit, the next bike rack installation, the next kid who needs a bike to get to school. So when recognition comes, it lands differently. It reminds you that the work matters beyond your own four walls. The 2026 Youth Empowerment Award from the League of American Bicyclists, Governor Whitmer’s proclamation, and now the Trailblazer Award from the Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance, each of these is a signal that the broader cycling community is paying attention to what Major Taylor Michigan Cycling Advocacy is building in Detroit. I receive it on behalf of everyone who showed up. 

You mentioned the recognition belongs to everyone who “rode with us” on this campaign. Who were the key players, and what did that coalition-building process actually look like?

It was a genuine coalition, and we spearheaded and led every step of it. We brought in the League of American Bicyclists, the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, Bike Friendly Kalamazoo, and the League of Michigan Bicyclists to support our petition. We submitted the letters of support. We drafted the proclamation language. We made the case from multiple angles: historical justice, youth inspiration, educational value, and Michigan’s own identity as a state that leads on civil rights. That layered argument matters because no single voice wins a gubernatorial proclamation. You need a chorus, and we built it.  

Michigan is now the first state in the country to honor Major Taylor with a gubernatorial proclamation. Why do you think this hadn’t happened before, and what made Michigan the place where it finally did?

Honestly? Someone had to go get it. Major Taylor’s story has been hiding in plain sight for over a century. He was the fastest man on a bike, the first Black American world champion in any sport, and he preceded Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens by decades. The history was always there. What Michigan had that other states didn’t, in this moment, was a sustained, organized campaign with a clear ask, credible partners, and a governor willing to lead. Detroit’s own story of resilience and reinvention mirrors Taylor’s, and that connection gave the proclamation an authenticity that no other state could claim in quite the same way. But the real answer is: we put in the work to make it undeniable.

If an advocate in another state wanted to replicate what you did in Michigan, where would you tell them to start?

Start with the story, not the politics. Major Taylor’s life is extraordinary on its own terms. Once people understand who he was and what he overcame, the case for recognition makes itself. Then build your coalition before you make your ask. Don’t walk into the Governor’s office alone. Bring civil rights organizations, educators, cycling clubs, city council members. Document everything. Draft the proclamation language yourself so there is no ambiguity about what you are requesting. And be patient. Persistence is not optional in advocacy. You are asking government to do something it has never done. That takes time and repeated effort.

We are not keeping this playbook to ourselves. We are currently consulting and advising cycling clubs, community organizations, and advocacy groups across the country on how to petition their own states for statewide recognition of Major Taylor. If your organization is ready to take that step, contact us. We know the path, and we are glad to help you walk it. Reach us at marks@mtmca.org or MTMCA.ORG.

What do you hope this moment in Michigan ultimately means for Major Taylor’s legacy nationwide?

I want it to be the first domino. Michigan proved it could be done. Now every state has a model to follow and no excuse not to. Major Taylor deserves a Congressional Gold Medal. He deserves to be in every American history curriculum alongside the other pioneers of his era. What we did in Michigan is a chapter, not the conclusion. The goal is a day when a young cyclist in Atlanta, or Detroit, or Los Angeles knows exactly who Major Taylor was and feels the full weight of what he accomplished. That is the legacy. We are just trying to make sure it is not buried anymore.

Marco (center right) with youth participants of MTMCA’s education programming.

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League Cycling Coaches play a key role in the League’s Smart Cycling program, training and certifying the next generation of League Cycling Instructors (LCIs). Becoming a Coach isn’t easy: it requires years of experience teaching as an LCI, proven bike maintenance skills, active community involvement, and recommendations from experienced Coaches and League staff. In this spotlight, we’re celebrating the newest names in our small but mighty network of certified League Cycling Coaches.

Kevin Baross (left) and Randy Torres-Van Vleck (right).

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) has long invested in bike education as a tool for making biking better in San Diego County. Recently, the organization has leveled up its efforts with two newly certified League Cycling Coaches on its team: Kevin Baross and Randy Torres-Van Vleck.

For bike advocacy organizations like SDCBC, having an in-house Coach can be a game-changer. As Coaches, Kevin and Randy can now officially lead LCI seminars to train, mentor, and certify the next generation of cycling instructors in their community. 

We spoke with Kevin and Randy about their path to becoming Coaches, what they learned during the certification process, and how they hope their new roles will help grow bike education in the region.

Can you share a bit about your roles at San Diego County Bike Coalition (SDCBC) and what led you to pursue becoming a League Cycling Coach?

Kevin: I am the Education Manager here at the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, where I’ve worked for almost 11 years now. I work with a team of 40+ LCIs to put on hundreds of bike education events for thousands of adults and children every year, across the 18 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego County. 

I’ve been attending Smart Cycling classes since they were put on in my backyard as a child, so achieving Coach status is a natural next step in my life, and also will be hugely beneficial to the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition in the future. We’re very excited to increase the number of LCI seminars we put on, and customize the format a bit as well.

Randy:  Since becoming an LCI in 2008, I’ve led over 200 classes and community bike rides for the San Diego County Bike Coalition. As a community organizer working in the urban planning advocacy space professionally, I bring a popular education approach to bike education. I pursued Coach status to recruit and train the next generation of LCIs.

What was the most valuable thing you took away from the Coach training process?

Kevin: I think anyone who’s an LCI already knows this, but the best way to learn something is to teach it. And it turns out teaching teachers to teach is even better! Becoming a Coach is not a quick process, nor should it be. The standards are high, the oversight is very hands-on, and it truly feels like an accomplishment by the end. Even though the journey hasn’t actually been unusually long, I feel like in some ways I’ve been working towards this for decades.

Randy: The Coach training process was fun. I appreciated the opportunity to enhance my bike education skills and the feedback from experienced educators Coach Rio Oxas and Coach Ron Durgin. 

What difference do you hope having two new League Cycling Coaches will make for SDCBC?

Kevin: LCI Seminars are almost defined by their very quick and intense pace. Coaches fly in to the area, have limited time to share knowledge, and then need to get on to the next seminar. As organizational coaches, we’re here for the long haul! This means we can make the class more accessible. It can be a big ask to demand the full attention of students for as many hours of the day as a traditional seminar does. Being able to spread things out a bit more will mean someone who wants to become an LCI but doesn’t have the ability to devote a full weekend to the class will feel more welcome. I want more neurodivergent LCIs. I want more instructors who require learning accommodations. There is no shortage of opportunities to teach in San Diego County, and we need more instructors! Being organizational coaches will help us get a more diverse population on board.

Randy: Kevin and I have been co-teaching Smart Cycling courses together since 2009.  I’m a collaborative person and enjoy working with others to co-design proposals, programs, events, campaigns, etc.  I’m looking forward to co-designing the LCI seminars in San Diego with Kevin. We have ideas on how to make the seminar more accessible such as spreading out the three days over a few different weekends rather than three straight days. 

What do you hope this growing network of LCIs will mean for people in San Diego County?

Kevin: San Diego County is nearly twice as large as Delaware, with a population greater than the entire state of Nevada. And I always say even if you never ride a bike, you’ll be using the road alongside people that do, so there’s something at our classes for everyone. More LCIs means more classes. And more education means things are better for everyone, bicyclists and otherwise.

Randy: We plan to provide a local LCI seminar every March. The consistency will make planning and recruitment easier which we hope will lead to more folks participating.  

Do you have a favorite local bike route or hidden gem in the region?

Kevin: Well, if I gave up all the best hidden spots, they wouldn’t be hidden anymore! That said, the Bayshore Bikeway is the first place I send new visitors to San Diego. This 24-mile loop around the whole of San Diego Bay did not come into existence on its own, and is the proud result of many Bike Coalition advocates across decades. And there’s still more work to be done!

The San Diego River Path which runs through Mission Valley is also an excellent resource and a bit of a hidden gem. “I never knew you could ride your bike to the beach!” is a real phrase I’ve heard from (slightly out of breath) friends who have lived here their entire lives. 

Randy: We have so many incredible bike routes in San Diego. My favorite routes are the Los Cruzadores group rides my friends and I lead from Barrio Logan through the South Bay where I grew up, across the border, and into Tijuana.  We have lots of new protected bikeways such as the SR-15 Commuter Bikeway in the urban core communities.  As advocates, we spent over 10 years organizing and building support for them. It feels amazing to ride bikeways you helped advocate for.

Anything you’d like other advocacy organizations to know about the value of having their own in-house Organizational Coaches?

Kevin: I frankly don’t think every bike advocacy and bike education organization should have their own organizational coach. It’s a big investment of time and energy and money. But if your organization is big enough and active enough, the ability to have LCI seminars available essentially on-demand would be extremely helpful. 

This field has traditionally been monochromatic and male-dominated. My number one goal as an organizational coach is to recruit more instructors in traditionally underserved areas of the county. More seminars put on in more accessible ways means we can diversify our pool of teachers. That means more bilingual classes, more classes taught by people who live and work in the areas they teach, and a better education for all.

Randy: It’s a bit early to tell because we just became Organizational Coaches last month. But the hope is that by having Organizational Coaches, orgs can take their bike education services to the next level by planning seminars more frequently, recruit more folks and add more seminars if needed to meet demand, and design the courses around the needs of local communities. 

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