Who We Are

With its cohesive network of historic neighborhoods, flat terrain and subtropical climate, New Orleans has just about everything it needs to be a great bicycling city. Bike Easy is here to help do the rest and seal the deal.

We are a fast-growing, grassroots nonprofit hard at work making sure that riding a bike here is as easy, safe, and fun as it should be for everyone.

Bike Easy is a volunteer-driven organization guided by a board of directors and energized by the participation of our ever-growing community of members. Through hands-on outreach, advocacy before government agencies and collaboration with diverse local organizations we’re helping to make bicycling an integral part of New Orleans life.

What We Do

Our motto at Bike Easy is “getting New Orleans streets in gear.” Bicycling issues are certainly at the center of this mission, but our works also extends to ensuring viable transportation choices for our community across the spectrum.

In fact, as the region’s most effective, professional organization dedicated to bicycling and transportation access issues, our projects and programs are aimed at improving the quality of life for all who share New Orleans area streets. After all, we believe a healthier, better-connected community is good for everyone in it.

Our work benefits bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists, and our supporters come from all walks of life and from all across our community.

This work includes:

• Educating cyclists and drivers on safety and the rules of the road.
• Distributing safety kits and sponsoring “bike rodeos” to teach bicycle safety to local youth.
• Advocating at local, state, and national levels for the accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Enhancing transportation choice by establishing a safe network of bicycle lanes, paths, and facilities.
• Researching and advancing national best practices in bicycle-related ordinances and legislation.
• Providing reviews and important feedback during planning processes.
• Organizing our community to speak up and get involved at key junctures for the future of safe and fun bicycling in New Orleans.

We also organize events throughout the year. These happenings raise public awareness of bicycling issues, they demonstrate the size and diversity of our bicycling community, and they turn out to be a pretty good time for all involved too! For instance, each year we hold our Bike Bash, an event-filled, day-long summit on all things bike-related, and we organize our annual Bicycle Second Line, a pedal-powered New Orleans-style street parade on wheels. Is it a coincidence that some of the best ways to spread the word about our mission turn out to be so fun? We don’t think so.

Our History

Bike Easy was formed in 2003, when it was called the Metro Bicycle Coalition. The group was formed by local residents who first organized around the successful campaign to secure some $4 million in funding to include a bicycle route network in the City of New Orleans Master Plan.

Since then, our work has helped raise the profile of bicycling and other transportation access issues around the New Orleans area and it’s led to concrete improvements in local transportation networks.

Other accomplishments include:

• distribution of more then 1,000 bicycle safety kits
• hosting the National Conference of State Legislatures National Bike Ride
• organizing our annual Bicycle Second Line, with a turnout of hundreds of bicyclists
• earning recognition for the city of New Orleans from the League of American Cyclists

As Bike Easy moves forward, we continue to make bicycling an integral part of New Orleans life and improve transportation access for all in our community. We hope you’ll get involved.