Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition Expanding to Serve Pedestrians

Via a September 8 Press Release from the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition:

Minneapolis, MN--The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition will be expanding its mission to include walking and pedestrian work. Walking and biking in our city makes it stronger and an even better place to live, work, and play. Biking and walking are both fun, healthy, clean, equitable, and efficient ways to get around and are growing rapidly in popularity in Minneapolis.

“I am so excited to be a part of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition during this amazing time,” said LaTrisha Vetaw, Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition Board President. “This expansion aligns with the Coalition’s goal to reach out to and serve communities of color. I see this change as a big win for the communities I serve daily and all the citizens of Minneapolis who currently bike and walk, or that will soon be biking and walking.”

The Coalition has worked side-by-side with pedestrian voices on many policy and on-the-ground projects around the city. This change will formalize work the Coalition has been doing already to support walkability through Complete Streets, Open Streets, Safe Routes to School, and more. Walking and biking are increasingly popular in Minneapolis, but there are still far too many unsafe and uncomfortable streets and too many people hit and killed or injured. The Coalition will work to bring forward the voices and perspectives of people walking and in wheelchairs to make streets safer and better for everyone.

“I admire the work the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition does towards making streets safer, in both incremental, concrete ways, and by shaping policy as they help elected and appointed officials understand the needs and vulnerabilities of people outside cars.” said Julia Curran, a walking advocate and member of the Minneapolis Pedestrian Alliance. “I'm thrilled that they're expanding their circle to include all of us who walk in Minneapolis.”

The Coalition will be taking time to engage with stakeholders over the coming months before defining the specifics of a new mission, vision, name, and initial priorities for pedestrian work in 2017.

The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, which formed in 2009, has grown into one of the most influential advocacy organizations in Minneapolis, uniting a network of more than 12,000 people and 1,300 volunteers. The Coalition organizes Open Streets Minneapolis events, which will attract more than 70,000 people this year to walk, bike, and play in car-free streets for a weekend day.