BOULDER, COLO. (July 26 2022) — PeopleForBikes, a national bicycling advocacy and trade organization, recently announced the hiring of Dave Snyder and Martina Haggerty as senior directors of local innovation. PeopleForBikes' local innovation team develops and implements programming for cities to quickly build better, more-connected bike networks, supporting the organization's top priority of rapidly expanding bike infrastructure nationwide.
Snyder and Haggerty will design the next generation of influential PeopleForBikes infrastructure programs. The duo will deliver valuable resources to local and state governments, advocates, the bike industry, funders and other community partners to create quality, connected bike networks that get more people riding bikes. They will also work closely with PeopleForBikes' policy team to connect local innovation program partners with federal and state lobbying campaigns to advance the organization's bold policy and infrastructure agenda.
"Dave and Martina both bring so much experience and expertise to the table. From leading a top-performing state and local bike advocacy organization to working within city government, these two know what it takes to make bicycling great in cities and states across the country," said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. "Their work will directly support our efforts to make the U.S. the best bicycling nation in the world by building more connected bike networks, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the joys of bicycling in communities nationwide."
Snyder joins PeopleForBikes from CalBike, where he served as executive director since 2010. During his tenure, Snyder's leadership helped CalBike pass model electric bicycle legislation, fund e-bike purchase incentives, champion Complete Streets reform with the California Department of Transportation and secure an increase in state-level funding for biking and walking from $100 million to more than $1 billion.
"I'm excited to join the PeopleForBikes team and help the U.S. take a big leap forward in making it easy for people to ride bikes. There is a hunger in this country for solutions to multiple crises — an equitable economy, a sustainable climate and better health — and bicycling can help with each of them," said Synder. "With Martina and I joining this already powerful team, I'm confident we can secure the necessary policy changes to let bicycling make our communities better nationwide."
"Dave has extensive experience in shaping and guiding bicycling advocacy organizations and understanding the bureaucracy of working with government offices at all levels," said Dice. "As one of the most successful statewide advocacy directors in the country, we look forward to bringing his deep network and knowledge to our team."
Coming from the City of Providence, Rhode Island, Haggerty brings a wealth of experience on the city level. During her 13 years with the city, Haggerty worked as a principal planner followed by her appointment as the director of special projects, where she focused heavily on strategic planning, urban design, forward-thinking public policy and more.
"I'm thrilled to lead PeopleForBikes' work in communities across the country, implementing bold changes to make riding bikes safer and more accessible for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds," said Haggerty. "Local innovation and investment in biking plays a fundamental role in making our communities more sustainable, equitable and healthy. I look forward to bringing my experience working at the intersection of transportation, land use and advocacy to strengthen our efforts in cities nationwide."
"Martina's direct work with city officials, municipalities and engineering and planning departments is invaluable to our local innovation work," said Dice. "Martina has been on the front line of some of PeopleForBikes' most successful programs over the many years, and she understands the political dynamics it takes on the city level to make our infrastructure goals a reality."
Part of PeopleForBikes' Final Mile program, Providence recently built 43 miles of new bikeways under its Great Streets Initiative in less than two years. The program was successful in accelerating the construction of connected bike networks in five U.S. cities by stimulating municipal investment in bike infrastructure by combining funding, communication, advocacy and political will.
"Having previously led PeopleForBikes' Big Jump and Final Mile programs in Providence, I've experienced first-hand the tremendous impact that investing in bike infrastructure, culture and advocacy has on the local level," said Haggerty.
Martina Haggerty will start in her new position on a limited schedule August 2 and can be reached at martina@peopleforbikes.org. Dave Snyder will begin work in his new role on August 15 and can be reached at dave@peopleforbikes.org. With any questions about the new hires, please contact info@peopleforbikes.org.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is making biking better for everyone by uniting millions of Americans, thousands of businesses and hundreds of communities to make every bike ride safer, more accessible and more fun. When people ride bikes, great things happen. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
