BIG News: Bike Easy welcomes our new Education & Policy Manager & more

It is with great joy that we announce today that starting on Monday, Bike Easy will have a full time Education and Policy Manager, and her name is: Laura Harris!

I met Laura 8 years ago when I moved to New Orleans. We became League Cycling Instructors at the same time, and since then it has been clear she is devoted to the mission of Bike Easy. Laura was actually our first intern way back when we were still known as the Metro Bicycle Coalition, so her history and connection with biking in New Orleans goes way back. Laura is also a great instructor, and has had a profound impact on the growth of our Education program: she truly has changed the lives of so many.

For the last few years, Laura has gotten more involved with our Advocacy work at a local, state, and national level. Her insight and understanding of policy have been a great asset to our organization: we look forward to our continued growth with her new role. Please joining me in welcoming her by sending her a note to laura@bikeeasy.org

From the Board

The Bike Easy Board is ecstatic to continue and strengthen our organizational work in education and policy, and couldn’t be more excited to welcome Laura as the new Education and Policy Manager. Laura has been an integral part of the Bike Easy team since 2017, strongly leading our education programming to reach over 700 people of all ages, annually. Laura brings a strong background in city planning and advocacy, having worked with the Complete Streets Coalition and as a Bike Law Ambassador during her tenure at Bike Easy, and recently graduated with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New Orleans. This is an exciting day for the Bike Easy organization, Congratulations Laura!!

From Laura:

I’m so grateful to continue and to advance my work for better biking in Greater New Orleans through my work with Bike Easy, an organization that’s been in my life in some way, shape, or form now for about half my life! Since I was a kid, I’ve had a strong passion for advocating for and educating on the importance of walkable and bikeable cities, so to be able to do this work where I can so directly contribute to improvements in our urban form and the lives so shaped around it, is truly an honor and a dream. I am forever grateful to the Bike Easy staff and board, both past and present, for supporting my growth alongside this organization, and I look forward to continuing to expand our impact and reach in the lives of anyone who moves through our streets. Let’s keep it rolling!

Calls to Action

Fill out or Biking During Mardi Gras Survey – Deadline is today: Friday, March 14
Reach out to our elected officials in regards to the increase in Hit and Run crashes this year – Read more about it here
Volunteer to do Bike Valet – We have a lot of opportunities coming up!

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, April 30: BIKE Talks – Where ya riding? An exploration of nearby biking trails and paths
Saturday, April 20: Smart Biking – FREE session on Bike Safety – To learn more and to RSVP, click here
Tuesday, May 7: Give NOLA Day
Friday, May 17: Bike to Work Day
Sunday, May 19: Ride to Remember at Metairie Cemetery – a community bike ride in honor of National Bicycle Safety Month to highlight bike safety while honoring loved ones lost in fatal cycling accidents

As always. please reach out with your thoughts and ideas!