PeopleForBikes welcomed leaders from across the bicycling ecosystem to Bentonville, Arkansas, today for the opening of SHIFT'26. Designed as a hands-on working summit rather than a traditional conference, SHIFT'26 gathers key stakeholders to solve complex business and policy challenges, set unified priorities for 2027, and take part in experiential group rides exploring the infrastructure, culture, and community that shaped Bentonville into a model bicycling community.
To launch the summit, attendees participated in a group ride from downtown Bentonville out to the newly opened OZ Trails Bike Park. The ride offered participants a firsthand experience of the connected, off-road trail network that enables local residents to ride seamlessly for both transportation and recreation. The day concluded with an opening reception at the base of the bike park, where PeopleForBikes leadership and board members laid out the road map for the days ahead.
"SHIFT'26 is where our industry rolls up its sleeves to chart a sustainable path forward," said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. "Starting our week riding this connected trail network out to the OZ Trails Bike Park sets the perfect backdrop for what we can accomplish. By getting key decision-makers together in a hands-on environment, we're creating the space to spark new ideas, solve hard problems, and move our entire ecosystem forward. "
Day One Highlights:
● Connected Infrastructure Group Ride: Attendees rode together from downtown Bentonville to the opening reception, experiencing how connected off-road networks serve as vital infrastructure for daily commutes and active recreation alike.
● Opening Reception: Industry leaders gathered at the base of Northwest Arkansas's newest landmark infrastructure project to connect, share perspectives, and kick off a week of productive collaboration.
● Setting the Summit Agenda: PeopleForBikes staff and board members delivered opening remarks outlining the critical policy, trade, and participation challenges facing the industry, setting the framework for committee working sessions.
"The work we do over the next two days will shape the policy, trade, and access landscape for years to come, " said Ash Lovell, vice president of government relations at PeopleForBikes. "SHIFT gives our committees the space to move beyond high-level strategy and deliver actionable policy and market solutions that directly support bike businesses."
SHIFT'26 transitions into full working sessions tomorrow, focusing on trade and tariff scenario planning through 2029, legislative definitions separating e-bikes from e-motos, the launch of the PeopleForBikes Data Suite, and expanding Class 1 eMTB trail access.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is the U.S. bicycle industry's trade association and a national bicycle advocacy nonprofit, representing more than 340 bicycle industry brands and 1.4 million individual supporters. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe and connected places to ride, advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation, and reduce barriers to welcome more people to bicycling. Our goal: help make the U.S. the best place in the world to ride a bike. Support our work and learn more at peopleforbikes.org.
