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Sharing some big announcements that are making me really happy!

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A letter from our Executive Director

Is it really November 15th already?!? This year flew by, and I’m full of pride for everything our Team and Board has accomplished together this year.  Of course, we couldn’t do our work without your support and feedback, so I wanted to make sure to catch you up on some things, plus share some really exciting BIG announcements:

  • Texas Trails Active Transportation Conference: I was honored to be one of the speakers asked to present and represent Louisiana at this conference.  I met some of my transportation heroes, exchanged notes, and worked on partnerships I hope will continue to grow throughout the years.  If there is enough interest, I’m happy to share this presentation in a more informal setting with folks who want to hear a bit more about some of the work going on across the state and have a deeper look at what is happening in New Orleans.  Thank y’all who sent me tips, links, info, and spent time talking about your own efforts in the region.

  • The Not-So-Easy Bike Easy Scavenger Hunt: This first time fundraiser sponsored by Dirty Coast was a true success!  I was impressed with the turnout considering how hot it was that day!  Thank y’all for giving this NEW adventure a try, and yes, we will be bringing it back in 2025.  We got some stellar pictures and stories, including one of my friend’s daughter riding the longest stretch she had done in the city so far , and having a blast doing it.  For stats and pictures, click here
  • The 2024 Bicycle Second Line: This year we had one of the largest and most diverse crowds to date.  It filled my heart to see so many familiar faces and so many new faces come out and enjoy the day with us!  One of my highlights was dancing to the sweet sounds of Soul Rebels amongst Board members as the band free styled a song about bikes and wheelies! Stay tuned for the full album and debrief (we’re still recovering from it..).
  • Committee for Better New Orleans Leadership Forum: For the last couple of months, I’ve been going through this training, and cannot state how invaluable it has been for my work.  Nellie has done an amazing job in creating a space for local leaders to learn, network and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges AND opportunities in our city.  I highly recommend folks to apply for this next year!
  • Tour da Parish: I did it! I was a bit nervous about this one since I have been slacking on consistent training, but it felt great to be there and see so many folks who have supported Bike Easy for years actively be part of the community.  Now that the weather is finally cooling down I hope to get back to longer riders in the MRT, so say hi if you see me pass by!

I’m sure that I’m missing some of our updates, but hopefully you follow us on social media, and in some way or another you are aware of what we’ve been up to.  So now for the BIG announcement!

Drum roll….

Bike Easy is moving!  Our office, currently located in Central City is moving to the second floor of Bayou Bicycles at 3530 Toulouse St. on January of 2025.  Charlie Thomas, new owner of Bayou Bicycles, long time supporter and friend of our organization will be our new host.  We are really happy to begin a new chapter together as we continue to grow our organization, and are excited to be next door to the Greenway.   It will be sad for us to leave Central City: our home for almost a decade, and want to take the opportunity to personally thank Neal Morris for all his generosity and for hosting our space for so long: we really couldn’t have done our work without your support!

Oh! And do you notice a new face? Happy to share that Lauren Nagel is the newest (official) part of our team as our Education Programs Assistant.  Lauren, Laura and I all went through our League Cycling Instructor Certification together 8 years ago, and she has been involved in our Education programs throughout the years.  Learn more about Laure here. She brings great expertise and vibrant energy to the team, so please join me in welcoming her by dropping her a line to lauren@bikeeasy.org

And now, to some exciting engagement opportunities coming up:

I’ll be at the Neighborhood Summit tomorrow morning, so flag me and say hello if you see me.  Otherwise, have a beautiful week, and take advantage of this great weather to go on a ride!