It’s no secret that Richmond likes bikes. Today the region boasts a wide range of two-wheel enthusiasts—from avid cyclists and mountain bikers to those simply looking for a healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to driving a vehicle. But now a new movement is underway, one designed to connect and mash-up a grow- ing number of community groups and residents focused on improving bicycle infrastructure.

“Many of the region’s bicycle advocacy, enthusiast, and business groups have partnered to form the Greater Richmond Bicycle Coalition (GRBC),” reports Max Hepp-Buchanan, director of Bike Walk RVA at Sports Backers.

GRBC is a growing partnership of cycling and active lifestyle enthusiasts, local businesses, and bike advocates looking to encourage bicycle use for everyday transportation, recreation, and sport. The organization, which formed earlier this year, is made up of a variety of pre-existing groups, as well as individuals, dedicated to improving bicycling in the region. Hepp-Buchanan says that the new collaborative is positioned to carry through on the sweat equity and momentum gained by a number of advocacy groups that have been working toward a bike friendly region for years. He points out that the primary objective of the Coalition is to get more bike lanes, multi-use trails, and bicycle boulevards that lead to a cohesive and connected network across the region.

“We are working hard—as a Coalition and as individual organizations— to improve the ‘bikeability’ of the Richmond region through continued collaboration with our Richmond region localities, primarily the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, and Henrico County,” says Hepp-Buchanan.

And for their efforts, progress is being made. Physical, on-the-ground bicycling infrastructure, for example, can be witnessed in the many multi-use trails and bike lanes that are appearing throughout the region. To further this growth, GRBC has brought together a growing number of likeminded organizations, including Bike Walk RVA (a pro- gram of Sports Backers), RideRichmond, the Richmond Area Bicycling Association, the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Richmond 2015, and more (a full list of all of the Coalition supporters can be found at www. rvabike.org).

At a recent gathering at the Science Museum of Virginia, Bike Walk RVA and Partnership for Smarter Growth attracted public officials from Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield. Jim Sebastian, the keynote speaker, kicked off the event by discussing his role as the Active Transportation Manager for the District Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. There was additional conversation about making our region more bike-friendly by Stuart Connock, Chesterfield Department of Parks & Recreation; Steve Yob, director of public works in Henrico County; Chuck Gates, communications and legislative affairs for Richmond Regional Planning District Commission; James Jackson, director of public works for the City of Richmond; Beth Weisbrod, executive director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation; and more. Though the room was full of enthusiasm, attendees were reminded that it takes thinking from everyone beyond the Coalition—not just officials—to connect all of the relevant pieces to form a truly bikeable region.

In other words, it’s not just about throwing some paint on the road and calling it a bike lane. The group says that continued research, surveys, and col- laboration must occur. Hepp-Buchanan and Jon Lugbill, both of Sports Backers, for example, shared their recent tours of forward-thinking cities such as Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis as examples of next steps.

Programs like Bike Walk RVA and the collaboration occurring with GRBC are not just about bikes, but rather about “helping connect communities,” says Steve Yob. He says that the movement is about the community, safe driving, safe walking, safe biking, and much more. “Imagine you and your family safely biking to the park from home,” says Yob. “That is what it is about. Imagine going to the grocery store daily by bike without worrying about where to ride, park your bike, and lock it up. That is what it is about. Living in a community that supports health and wellness by making it easier to be immersed into it during our daily lives.”