With a veteran transportation reformer stepping into the role, Bike New York seeks to join cycling advocacy with education and public events
New York has come a long way as a cycling city, but it's time for a new round of policy innovation and quality improvements.
NEW YORK— Bike New York announced today that it is launching an advocacy program to help New York become the world's best city for cycling, and that Jon Orcutt, long-time NYC sustainable transportation advocate and former Policy Director for the New York City Department of Transportation, has been hired as its new Communications Director to lead that effort.
"We couldn't be more excited to make advocacy for better cycling conditions a bigger part of our mission and everyday work," said Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York. "Jon is an innovative and iconic force in urban transportation development, and we are confident that he will guide Bike New York toward an active role in the effort to make our city accessible, safer, and more enjoyable for all cyclists."
Orcutt has been a leader in transportation policy reform for nearly 30 years. From 2007-2014, he served as part of the agency leadership at the NYC Department of Transportation that oversaw the launch of major street design reforms, including America's first parking-protected bike lanes. Orcutt was one of the architects of the Citi Bike system, and coordinated the development of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero action plan.
Prior to joining NYCDOT, Orcutt served as executive director of both Transportation Alternatives and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, overseeing growth and rising influence at both organizations.
After leaving New York City government, Jon consulted on urban transportation strategies with a variety of governments, organizations, and companies in Europe and the Americas. For the past three years, he has headed advocacy and communications at TransitCenter, an activist foundation that has developed a robust policy agenda for rebuilding public transportation in New York and across the United States.
"New York has come a long way as a cycling city, but it's time for a new round of policy innovation and quality improvements. A bigger bike network requires better maintenance policies and more institutional support across city government. I'm really looking forward to bringing Bike New York's reach and resources to the effort to win these changes," Orcutt said.
ABOUT BIKE NEW YORK
Bike New York is 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to transform lives and communities through bicycling. Bike New York is best known for its Five Boro Bike Tour, ridden annually by 32,000 participants each May on 40 miles of car-free streets and highways. Proceeds from this and all Bike New York events support the organization's free bicycling education program, the largest of its kind in the nation, which provides New Yorkers with bike riding, safety, and repair skills. In 2018, Bike New York taught bike skills to more than 28,000 children and adults. http://www.bike.nyc
