BENTONVILLE, ARK. (August 3, 2023) — PeopleForBikes, the U.S. bicycle industry's trade association, is proud to announce its upcoming conference, SHIFT'23, taking place October 16-18 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
PeopleForBikes is excited to once again bring the bike and adjacent industries to Northwest Arkansas — home to innovative leaders in biking, business, events, and culture — for a gathering centered around the fastest growing sector of the bike industry: electric bicycles. Under the theme of Electrifying the Business of Bikes, SHIFT'23 is focused on the latest developments and business practices for e-bikes.
Registration for SHIFT'23 is now open. Register today for the early-bird price of $695 and save before prices go up.
"Electric bicycle sales have quadrupled from pre-COVID levels and they aren't stopping anytime soon. Americans are realizing the many benefits of e-bikes — for convenience, for mobility, for the planet, and for fun," said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. "As the U.S. industry trade association behind electric bicycles, we aren't shying away from the challenges they bring as well. We are facing them head on and bringing the sharpest minds together to learn, collaborate, and act. Arkansas is home to many electric bicycle success stories and will be the perfect backdrop to host these important conversations."
Industry experts will dive into the most important challenges and opportunities facing electric bicycles and the broader bike industry. Topics will include the current and future regulatory landscape surrounding e-bikes, understanding consumer purchase behaviors with industry data, solving battery waste with the first united e-bike battery recycling program, the potential of e-cargo bikes for commercial use, the benefits of recreational trail development on tribal lands, expanding electric mountain bike (eMTB) access, consumer e-bike safety education, and how we can grow and diversify electric bicycle ridership through purchase incentives and commuter programs.
"PeopleForBikes worked closely with members on our Electric Bicycle Subcommittee, E-Bike Safety Task Force, eMTB Working Group, and Legal, Legislative, and Safety Subcommittee to develop the excellent and timely content for this conference," said Ash Lovell, Ph.D., PeopleForBikes' electric bicycle policy and campaign director. "Industries and organizations impacted by the growth of electric bicycles should all have a seat at the table for these important conversations. Your voice and influence is crucial to the future success of e-bikes for both recreation and transportation."
In addition to the lineup of can't-miss sessions, SHIFT'23 will feature a day of on-bike tours and education led by local and regional experts, allowing attendees to explore the mountain bike capital of the world by e-bike.
SHIFT'23 is surrounded by a full week of bicycling events across Northwest Arkansas including the Little Sugar MTB, Outerbike, and the finale of the Life Time Grand Prix, the Big Sugar Gravel.
SHIFT'23 Sessions
Innovative Ideas: How Purchase Incentives and Commuter Programs Are Growing E-Bike Participation
As interest in electric bicycles continues to grow, industry leaders, advocates, and policymakers are leaning into a variety of methods to help more Americans access the many benefits of e-bikes. This session will explore how purchase incentives are making e-bikes more affordable and how bicycle commuter programs are getting more people riding more often.
Speakers:
Kourtney Barrett, Director, Workplace Mobility, Walmart
Mike Salisbury, Transportation Energy Lead, City and County of Denver
Industry Insights: From E-Bike Curious to E-Bike Owner: Exploring Consumer Purchase Behaviors
Focused on the latest statistics of electric bicycle sales, participation, and ownership demographics, bike industry and data experts will discuss what we can learn from consumer buying behaviors. They will review recent trends and forecast the direction of the electric bicycle market over the next five years.
Speakers:
Introduction by Abi Robins, Founder, Queer Gravel
John MacArthur, Sustainable Transportation Program Manager, TREC at Portland State University
Sustainable Future: Hungry for Batteries: The Solution to E-Bike Battery Recycling
Meet Watts and Rey, the duo helping Americans recycle their electric bicycle batteries as part of the first industrywide battery recycling program, powered by Call2Recycle. Learn about the new program, Hungry for Batteries, and how your business can join the 50+ supporting brands and 1,800+ recycling drop-off locations taking a bite out of e-bike battery waste.
Speakers:
Maggie Long, E-Bike Program Coordinator, Call2Recycle
Jose Maldonado, Vice President of Marketing + Communications, PeopleForBikes
Regulatory Update: Discussing the Future of E-Bike Rules With Federal Regulatory Agencies
Technology often outpaces regulations, and with new products emerging at an accelerated pace, electric bicycles are quickly gaining the attention of federal regulatory agencies.
Speakers:
Introduction by Jeff Jambois, Compliance Engineer, Electrical Products, Trek Bicycle
Erika Jones, Partner, Mayer Brown
Moderated by Matt Moore, Policy + General Counsel, PeopleForBikes
Coler Track — The Future of Electric Bicycle Access
Rider Safety 101: Education for the Road and Trail
As electric bicycles introduce more people to the joys of bicycling, new riders need to be properly educated on how to responsibly ride an e-bike. Learn about the latest tactics for promoting safe e-bike riding on the road and trail from the League of American Bicyclists, Trails are Common Ground, and PeopleForBikes, making safety education fun, accessible, and easy to understand.
Speakers:
Alison Dewey, Director of Education, League of American Bicyclists
Dave Wiens, Executive Director, IMBA + Trails are Common Ground
Joel Feemster, Director of EMS + Paramedic, Northwest Health System + Bentonville Fire Department
Expanding eMTB Access in Your Backyard
Mountain biking has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity over the last decade and electric mountain bikes are at the forefront of this growing segment. Learn from land managers at all levels of government on how they successfully opened non-motorized, natural surface trails to electric bicycles alongside key takeaways to expand eMTB access on trails in your community.
Speakers:
Introduction by Mira Staykova, MTB Product Manager, SRAM
Nathan Reigner, Ph.D., Director of Outdoor Recreation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Gary Vernon, Senior Program Officer of Cycling and Trail Development, Walton Personal Philanthropy Group
Moderated by Katherine Andrews, Director, Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation
Unpacking the Benefits and Drawbacks of Recreational Trail Creation on Tribal Lands
Native American communities have sustainably managed their lands for thousands of years, cultivating, adapting, and transferring traditional knowledge over many generations. With the recent growth of recreational trail opportunities, including electric mountain bikes, tribal leaders from across North America will share their perspectives on the benefits and limitations of recreational trail access on native land.
Speakers:
Introduction by Dorene O'Malley, Director of Advocacy + Outreach, Cane Creek
Dr. Len Necefer, Founder and CEO, NativesOutdoors
Jesse Renteria, Associate, Mapetsi Policy Group
Moderated by Jeremy Hyatt, Secretary of Operations, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Little Sugar Track — Embracing the Power of E-Bikes
New York City's Proactive Solutions to Lithium Ion Battery Fires
Lithium ion battery fires have recently emerged as a major challenge in New York City. Join local leaders for a conversation on the innovative partnerships and strategic policy initiatives helping New Yorkers address the battery fire issue head on. Speakers will discuss regulatory actions, share initial findings from a trade-in program in Brooklyn, and unpack future considerations for battery safety at the city and state levels. Progress made in New York will likely shape e-bike battery safety regulations nationwide.
Speakers Coming Soon
The Immense Potential of Commercial Electric Cargo Bikes
More than just a benefit to individuals, commercial electric cargo bicycles can revolutionize final-mile deliveries and transform urban centers. Learn from industry leaders introducing electric cargo bikes in Europe as they explore how the United States can adopt better policy and infrastructure to accommodate commercial electric cargo. Plus, discover what one American city is already doing to welcome this innovative solution for freight transportation.
Speakers Coming Soon
Innovation and Ideas From the Leading Edge of E-Bike Retail
Join an interactive session with three top e-bike retailers as they share their unique perspectives and best practices to thrive in the ever-evolving electric bicycle market. Stretching from big cities to small towns with expertise in every category of e-bike, retailers will share techniques and retail practices that set them apart and contribute to their success.
Speakers Coming Soon
Check out the full lineup of sessions and speakers at shift.peopleforbikes.org. For more information about SHIFT'23, please reach out to info@peopleforbikes.org.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is the U.S. bicycle industry's trade association and a national advocacy nonprofit representing more than 325 bicycle industry supplier members and nearly 1.4 million individuals. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike; advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation; and reduce barriers to access and welcome more people to the joys of riding a bike. Our goal: Become the best place to ride a bike in the world. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
