Women Pedal to the Forefront of the Bicycle Movement

From a press release:

When it comes to biking, women mean business. The popularity of bicycling is skyrocketing nationwide -- and women are leading the charge in this revolution.  

According to a recent national poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, more than 80 percent of American women have a positive view of bicyclists and two-thirds think their community would be a better place to live if riding a bike were safer and more comfortable. 

On March 4 in Washington D.C., the National Women's Bicycling Forum will unite hundreds of leaders to showcase and build on that energy and momentum. Hosted by theLeague of American Bicyclists' Women Bike campaign, this unique event will highlight the central role of women in one of the most exciting trends in America today: the power of bicycles to bring better health, economic benefit, and travel convenience to millions of Americans.  

The Forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on March 4 at the Renaissance Washington hotel (999 9th St NW, Washington, D.C.). Tickets are $85, which includes lunch and free childcare. Click here to see the full program and to register. 

 

In just its second year, the Forum will feature a full-day of programming with more than 30 speakers, including keynote addresses from major leaders like:

• Georgena Terry: founder of Terry Precision Cycles, the first brand of bicycles built specifically for women  
• Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL): helicopter pilot, Purple Heart recipient, former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs -- and hand-crank bicyclist 
• Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan: New York City Commissioner of Transportation and architect of NYC's dramatic rise in bicycling

With a theme of "Women Mean Business," this event will provide special focus on industry leaders, entrepreneurs and the economic impact of female bicyclists. According to the 2012 American Bicyclist Survey, women represent a critical majority for the future of the bicycle movement: 60 percent of bicycle owners aged 18- to 27-years-old are women.In 2012 alone, women reported that they planned to spend nearly $2 billion on bike products. 

"Clearly, women mean business when it comes to making biking better in their communities," said Carolyn Szczepanski, League Director of Communications and Women Bike. "Across the country, women are shattering previous stereotypes and stepping up to design cutting-edge infrastructure, launch innovative advocacy campaigns and take the lead in the bike industry. This event will put the spotlight on just a handful of the key female leaders who are charting the course toward a healthier, safer, more economically vibrant country -- by bike."

Highlighting the impact of women in the American bicycle industry, the opening keynote will feature a conversation with Georgena Terry, the first engineer to create women's bicycles and launch an international women's brand, and nearly two-dozen small business owners will display their products and services in the Women Bike Pop-Up Shop. 

Additional high-profile speakers at the Forum will include: 

• Jenna Burton, founder, Red, Bike and Green 
• Anne-Marij Berendsen, president, Gazelle Cycle Imports
• Karen Brooks, editor, Bicycle Times magazine  
• Deanne Buck, Executive Director, Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition 
• Nicole Freedman, director, Boston Bikes
• Mia Kohout, publisher, Momentum magazine
• Jacquie Phelan, trailblazing mountain bike champion, Bicycle Hall of Fame  
• Nicole Preston, National Campaign Director, American Diabetes Association
• Leah Shahum, executive director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition 
• Sarai Snyder, founder, Cyclofemme  
• Elysa Walk, General Manager, Giant Bicycles USA  

Both women and men are encouraged to attend the National Women's Bicycling Forum and the event is intended and geared toward bicyclists of all ages, abilities and advocacy involvement.

Media is invited to cover the event. Contact carolyn@bikeleague.org for press credentials or to connect this national event to women's cycling initiatives, leaders or businesses in your community. 

Learn more about the Forum and the Women Bike campaign at bikeleague.org/womenbikeand stay up-to-date by following @womenbike and #womenbike on Twitter.

 

Comments

[me]

"media" is plural

[washcycle]

Well, let bike league know, but read this and the end of this first.