Bikes Belong 2011 Annual Report
Bikes Belong produced another successful year in 2011. We earned increased support from the bicycle industry as well as foundations and non-endemic corporate partners. Our coalition and foundation net combined budgets totaled more than $5.1 million. This unprecedented backing enabled us to boost our investment in important bicycling projects and do more to improve riding opportunities throughout the United States. In 2011, we contributed $1.1 million in direct cash support to national, state, and local bicycle programs and projects.
Here’s how we worked to get more Americans bicycling in 2011:
Building the Federal Investment in Bicycling
We work to maximize federal support for bicycling, which leads to more bicycle programs and facilities. In 2011, we:
- Continued as lead funder of America Bikes’ work to advance a pro-bike agenda in the next federal transportation bill that continues dedicated support for bike infrastructure projects and Safe Routes to School.
- Increased our government relations efforts with the U.S. House, Senate, Administration, and federal agencies.
- Continued to support IMBA’s government affairs program.
- Raised $75,000 for BikesPAC, our political action committee, to contribute to the re-election campaigns of members of Congress who best support bicycling.
Strengthening our National Partnerships
We fund the national groups and initiatives with the greatest potential to get more people riding bikes. In 2011, we:
- Continued our major support of the Bicycle Friendly America program run by the League of American Bicyclists.
- Served as a key funder of the Alliance for Biking and Walking and its nationwide efforts to develop and improve state and city bike advocacy groups.
- Continued to serve as a top financial supporter of the National Complete Streets Coalition.Partnered with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and IMBA to support key projects.
- Partnered with IMBA and Rails-to-Trails to support key projects.
- Acted as title sponsor of the National Bike Summit, celebrating 11 years of growth in participation and effectiveness.
- Backed the Bicycle Leadership Conference at a gold level.
Expanding Peopleforbikes.org
We expanded PeopleForBikes.org, our ambitious, multi-faceted campaign to get one million Americans newly engaged in supporting bicycling. We began 2011 with 150,000 supporters and reached 425,000 by the end of the year.
Awarding Community Grants
We annually give nearly $200,000 in cash grants to bolster local bike efforts, help build facilities, and support research efforts that quantify bicycling’s benefits.. In 2011, we:
- Awarded $125,000 in cash grants to exceptional community bike projects through the Bikes Belong Community Grant Program.
- Awarded $90,000 in REI/Best Practices Grants to up-and-coming bike-friendly cities through a program supported by Recreational Equipment Inc.
- Awarded $40,000 in cash grants to support research that analyzes the many contributions of bicycling to our nation.
Gathering Essential Research & Statistics
We continued to track, summarize, and publicize studies that analyze bicycling and highlight its benefits to the economy, health, environment, community, and quality of life.
Expanding the Bikes Belong Foundation
- Administered and enhance the dynamic Safe Routes to School National Partnership—a coalition of 550 organizations with a staff of 11 that is dedicated to increasing the number of U.S. children who walk and bike safely to school.
- Enhanced our Bicycling Design Best Practices program that promotes the most innovative bicycle facility solutions of Western Europe and the United States, including hosting study tours for elected officials, planners, engineers, and the media.
- Supported blog and syndicated column submissions on key bicycling topics by respected, expert writers.
Bikes Belong membership dollars made this important work possible. If you are a supporter, we thank you very much, and we are counting on you again this year. If not, please consider joining us as a member or supporting us with a donation in 2012 to help us put more people on bicycles more often.
Bikes Belong Coalition Financials
This information is specific to the Bikes Belong Coalition. For details on Bikes Belong Foundation's 2011 financials, click here.
2011 Total Income
$3,095,507
Supplier Dues - $1,696,899
Partnerships & Sponsorships - $961,504
Employee Pro Purchase Program - $216,473
Retailer Dues - $138,375
Foundation Affiliation Fees - $70,000
Donations, Interest & Other - $12,256
2011 Total Expenses
$3,070,048
National Advocacy - $1,749,927
Promoting Bicycling - $714,065
Administration & Fundraising - $399,106
Community Grants - $206,950
Income Growth
2005: $1,183,403
2006: $1,355,882
2007: $1,652,592
2008: $2,327,328
2009: $2,425,373
2010: $2,484,832
2011: $3,095,507
View the attachments below to read annual reports from previous years.
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