2014 Annual Report

In 2014 the organization had a busy calendar of activity including events, advocacy, education, and development projects. Staff and volunteers supported the mission of the organization through hard work, both physical and intellectual in nature. The legacy of the work completed in 2014 continues into the next year with two exciting new projects which offer the organization innovative opportunities for outreach and growth.

Projects

Ride Guide Website

Two years ago the organization decided to move toward a new type of advocacy, one that created better access to cycling across the stat. Twenty-Fourteen marked completion of the development of this new online resource and the formal public launch of the program.

Project Goal: Create an online resource site that could host a wide array of information about cycling in Virginia including places to ride for all abilities and calendar activities. A secondary focus of promoting organizations and businesses was included.

Project Activities in 2014:

a. Developed and launched Ride Guide Website. b. Closely guided creation of website features

and graphical design. c. Completed extensive testing of user interface.

Developed initial content and procedures around site development.

d. Developed Ride Guide Ambassador Program to facilitate awareness and use of the Ride Guide Website.

e. Recruited Ambassadors from across the state, provided training and encouraged participation.

Launched Velo Virginia Event

The organization evaluated and determined the feasibility of a new event, one focused on the 2015 UCI World Championship race tourists in 2013 and decided to proceed with event development.

In 2014 the event, offering a new format for the organization, was built from the ground up. In October 2014 the event was launched to the public.

Goal: Create a new event experience that will highlight Virginia’s cycling and tourism opportunities for visitors that are attending the UCI World Championship Races in September 2015. We set out to provide the only known organized group tour associated with the race series as it returns to the US for the first time in 26 years. Our goal was also to create a new type of event for Bike Virginia that is hotel based, with fewer

logistical challenges than the 6 day tour in effort to explore new options for future event development.

Project activities in 2014:

a. Developed event plan. b. Secured event location and locality partners.c. Planned 4 days of bike routes.d. Developed marketing plan, theme, and

graphical assets for event promotion. e. Partnered with Pro Rider, Timmy Duggan, as

headline personality for event. f. Created sponsorship packet and identified

potential sponsors. g. Launched registration and began promoting

the event.

New Bike Virginia Website

The new look of Bike Virginia was incorporated into a more modern web presence that utilizes large, emotion-targeting graphics. This project included revision of every message we deliver into something clean, concise, and focused on engagement.

Goal: Improve usability of our website. Create a more brand consistent look and message for our online presence.

Project activities in 2014:

a. Evaluated formats for Bike Virginia Website. www.bikevirginia.org

b. Created a new hierarchy and flow of information.

c. Secured and prepared graphics to consistently represent the brand.

d. Developed site and populated fresh content.

Produced Promotional Videos for Tours

Two new promotional tool videos were developed for social media and other online venues. http://youtu.be/SCbRSTdI1pw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8rkJoQf3us

Goal: Create a short video commercial for each of our two bike events for 2015. The videos were designed to entice observers to learn more about our events.

Project activities in 2014:

a. Developed video concepts.b. Secured contractor.c. Wrote script and identified appropriate

imagery.d. Launched content on YouTube, on our

websites and our social medial platforms.

Advocacy and Outreach

Representative Attendance/Participation

Staff and volunteers attended and participated in a variety of cycling related activities to support the advocacy mission.

Alliance for Biking & Walking Workshops Participated in the Richmond Highway Safety

meeting Operated booth at Spoke and Hop Fest Event Volunteered at Tour de Fall Line Bike Ride Capital Trail Development/Planning Session National Bike Summit- Board Attendance City Grant Funding Planning Session

Alliance for Biking/Walking Online Meetings People for Bikes – Green Lane Project (Richmond,

VA) Multiple Trail-building days for RVA MORE

Committee and Commission Memberships

Our staff sat on a selection of committees.

Virginia Coalition for Distracted Driving Northern Virginia Commission Share the Road

Education Planning Committee Richmond Mayor’s Commission on Bicycle and

Pedestrian Planning VDOT Highway Safety Committee

Consultative Services

Event Planning Consulting

Tour de Chesapeake- Event promotion consultation Bike/Walk Connecticut- Executive planning

consultation VTV Family Foundation- Fundraiser event

assessment, event planning and event planning consultation

Nelson County Bicycle Festival- Event development advisement

Loaned equipment to Nelson County Bike Festival

Cap 2 Cap- SAG transportation planning and event promotion

Advocacy Consulting

Staff participated in a variety of consulting projects to support the mission of the organization.

1. Reviewed Bicycle Friendly Applications for the League of American Bicyclists award program

2. Reviewed materials developed by NVRCC Planning District for Bike Education

3. Reviewed and edited state Bicycle and Pedestrian Awareness Month (September 2014) materials in conjunction with Drive Smart Virginia.

4. Grant writing for Green-lanes project (Richmond)5. Reviewed and provided assistance with master

bike and pedestrian plan (Richmond)6. Submitted content to Department of Conservation

and Recreation newsletters7. Interviewed potential grant consultant for Tourism

Grant

Collaborative Projects

In 2014 the staff worked with several organizations to promotion cycling.

Advocacy for Legislative Session with VBF

Bike Week Promotion with League of American Bicyclists and Alliance for Biking and Walking.

Bicycle Pedestrian Awareness Week Promotion with Drive Smart Virginia

Bike to Work Day Promotion with League of American Bicyclists and Alliance for Biking and Walking.

Event Cross Promotion for cycling activities across the state. o Tour De Chesapeakeo DR 100o Cap 2 Cap Rideo Storming of Thunder Ridgeo Anthem Moonlight Rideo Richmond’s Gran Fondo o Fall Foliage Festivalo Northern Neck River Ride

Written Publications

Spokes Magazine, Author, Kim Perry Fighting Cancer on Two Wheels-Jarla Ulman, May 2014

Digital Media

Promoted statewide initiatives on bicycling through social media, newsletters, and Ride Guide (late season):

Bike month Regional cycling events:

o Tour De Chesapeakeo DR 100o Cap 2 Cap Rideo Storming of Thunder Ridgeo Anthem Moonlight Rideo Richmond’s Gran Fondo o Fall Foliage Festivalo Northern Neck River Ride

Bicycle and Pedestrian Awareness Month Legislative action alerts throughout year Women’s Cycling Expert Forum- Hosted live

Twitter Chat with Pro Cyclist

Bike Virginia Tour Activities

A successful Bike Virginia Tour, the 27th consecutive, was held in June 2014. The tour drew 1,500 participants for the 6-day event. Over the course of 2014 staff completed in-depth planning activities to facilitate event operations.

Met with Planning District Commission to consider route and operations plans.

Toured and rode multiple route options with local advisors.

Met with VDOT in meetings regarding route selection and operations.

Applied for VDOT approval for event operations. Applied for Virginia Department of Health approval

for both camp locations and over 15 rest stop locations.

Secured and trained 15 groups of community-based volunteers to operate rest stops and camp services.

Interviewed and reviewed bids from vendors. Secured vendors and caterers to support event

operations. Secured lodging and coordinated bussing services

with service provider.

Met with regional Law and EMS officials on multiple occasions.

Coordinated with Williamsburg Region Tourism- multiple meetings.

Coordinated with Chesterfield Region Tourism- multiple meetings.

Met with facility operators at Pocahontas State Park and Chickahominy State Park.

Toured facilities with vendors and volunteers in preparation for the event.

Hosted Preview Week Activities for volunteers and community members.

Prepared existing equipment and materials and procured additional materials for event operations.

Secured sponsorships from Road Holland ($1,500) and GoMacro (in-kind) and coordinated cross-promotion.

Recruited and trained volunteers for crucial roles. Completed event set-up and breakdown. Hosted cyclists for the tour for 6 days.

Media Appearances

2 Newspaper Interviews4 Press Releases10 Radio Announcements- Share the Road message related to event. 100 posted bulletins in Churches in region surrounding the event.