Thanks to support from our members, Bikes Belong achieved several significant goals in 2005, setting the stage for important work in 2006. We've developed a solid plan to improve bicycling in America and put more people on bicycles more often.

Bikes Belong 2005 Accomplishments

2005 was a banner year for Bikes Belong. Thanks to support from our members, we achieved several significant goals, setting the stage for important work in 2006. 2005 National Leadership Accomplishments

• We funded the successful campaign that secured $4.5 billion for bicycling and walking in the new federal transportation law.
• We sponsored the inaugural Safe Routes to School National Partnership to boost the first national Safe Routes to School program.
• We continued as lead sponsor of Bicycle Friendly Communities, the League of American Bicyclists program that recognizes cities that support bicycling and works to replicate their successes.
• We served as title sponsor for the National Bike Summit, which brought together bicycle advocates and business leaders for a successful lobbying effort on Capitol Hill.
• We initiated a University of Wisconsin study to determine the connection between bike trails and bicycle equipment sales.
• We collected $30,000 in individual donations for BikesPAC—the bicycle industry's political action committee—and contributed the money to the campaigns of members of Congress who support bicycling.

2005 Grassroots Grants Accomplishments

• We awarded $160,000 in grassroots grants across the country to build more facilities and get more people riding bikes.

2005 Promotion Accomplishments

• We served as a key media source for cycling information, leading to stories in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Barron's, dozens of other major city dailies, as well as national wire service articles and network television reports.
• We completed a full-color booklet, Bicycling: Moving America Forward, to portray the benefits of bicycling in America and provide information and statistics to make a case for our sport.
• We partnered in the Active Transportation website, a project created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living by Design program to encourage people to bicycle and walk for transportation.

Bikes Belong’s 2006 Plan

Bikes Belong is already rolling towards another successful year. Building on recent accomplishments, we have a solid plan to improve bicycling in America and put more people on bicycles more often. 2006 National Leadership Goals

• Help ensure that the $4.5 billion in new federal funding for bicycling and walking is spent effectively.
• Provide financial and logistical leadership for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
• Continue our sponsorship of the Bicycle Friendly Communities program and the National Bike Summit.
• Serve as one of the lead sponsors of the Bicycle Leadership Conference in Tempe, Arizona.
• Work to increase our collection of bicycle statistics and facts in order to make a stronger case for cycling.
• Seek new, effective ways to support out industry and put more people on bicycles more often.

2006 Grassroots Grants Goals

• Award $160,000 in cash grants for grassroots efforts, focusing on projects that leverage federal funding.

2006 Promotion Goals

• Expand our relationships with newspaper and magazine editors to increase nationwide media coverage of bicycling as a healthy, safe, convenient, and fun activity.
• Create a bicycling statistics fact booklet to better convey bicycling's significance to the economy, public health, and the environment.