Project: Education and advocacy on issues affecting people who bike in Monterey County, throughout California, and nationwide

Among the Bicycling Monterey projects is education and advocacy regarding infrastructure and other local, state, and national issues affecting people who bike. Bike education and advocacy actions have been an ongoing part of Bicycling Monterey’s award-winning work since 2009. Below are a few examples.

Education and Advocacy

1. Research issues through participation in webinars, phone conferences, public and private meetings, reading, and other research methods.

Below, bikesharing meeting Mari attended in city of Monterey 

Nationally, the Alliance for Biking & Walking invited Mari to serve as one of four presenters for a Mutual Aid Call about multilingual and multicultural resources. (Curious? Click here, then scroll to 7:55-16:55.)

2. Serve as a local ally of the California bike advocacy organization California Bicycle Coalition.

3. Attend numerous workshops and other events to better understand the ideas and opinions of others, and to be a voice of support for bicycling, e.g., at Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail workshops, Monterey County Board of Supervisors meetings, local cities’ council meetings, transportation and parking charettes, and more.  

Below, workshop Mari attended in Watsonville

about the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail network.

Photo provided by Ariana Green.

4. Publicize dates of numerous input deadlines, public meetings, etc., to encourage others to participate by completing surveys, attending events, writing letters, and more, including by expressing appreciation to national, state, and local individuals and organizations who make biking better.

5. Public outreach about resources such as how to report bicycle facility needs on the state and local level, and opportunities, e.g., education about protected bike lanes, bike security /maintenance station equipment program, and much more.

6. Fill in some gaps for municipalities and public agencies, for example, when there was no Bike Week/Month, and initiation of new activities, e.g., Intergenerational Ride and Dress-Up Challenge, as well as supporting existing activities.

As one city official said, “You’re doing as a volunteer what we used to do when we had the money to do it!” Excerpt from Transportation Excellence Award): “Outstanding contribution to improved transportation in Monterey County…a major supporter of annual bike week activities…an advocate for local and regional bicycling issues.”

This post was previously published on August 17, 2017.