WASHINGTON (BRAIN) – Industry executives and representatives from the PeopleForBikes Coalition met with members of Congress in the nation’s capital on Wednesday as part of PeopleForBikes’ ongoing effort to educate lawmakers on the economic benefits of bicycling. It was the third such quarterly “Executive Fly-In” since the program was announced at Interbike 2013.
Bob Burns, vice president of Trek Bicycle, Dave Manchester, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Cycling Sports Group, and Elysa Walk, general manager of Giant Bicycles, accompanied PeopleForBikes president Tim Blumenthal and vice president of local innovation Martha Roskowski to discussed with members of Congress the state of the bicycle industry and the industry’s positive influences on jobs, technology, small business and tax revenues.
“Many leaders in Washington, D.C., love bicycling personally and recognize the cost-effective benefits of government investments in bike infrastructure and related programs,” said Blumenthal. “Networking bicycle industry executives with other influential leaders is essential to the future of bicycling and will help create the kind of long-term influence our industry needs.”
Executive Fly-In agendas typically include a short training session, meetings on Capitol Hill with members of Congress, other gatherings with important coalitions and think tanks, and participation in evening fundraising events (supported by BikesPAC) that connect industry leaders with members of Congress.
The next Executive Fly-In is scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Those interested in attending can contact PeopleForBikes’ Kristy Kibler at kristy@peopleforbikes.org.
