PeopleForBikes Coalition Board of Directors, a group of 21 bike industry leaders, virtually met for its semi-annual gathering on December 12 to review the organization’s top priorities and initiatives for 2024.

Martina Haggerty, PeopleForBikes’ senior director of local innovation, presented on the organization’s Great Bike Infrastructure Project, which tracks over 1,300 planned bicycle infrastructure projects in the U.S. and provides city leaders and advocates with legislative tools to fund and build the projects. 

PeopleForBikes Senior Research Manager Patrick Hogan updated the board on the progress from year two of the organization’s three-year research and data expansion plan and new data products available through its Member Center and Business Intelligence Hub.

“More Americans are riding bikes than ever before. It is imperative to the health of our industry that we give these millions of people safer, fun, and connected places to ride. PeopleForBikes’ Great Bike Infrastructure Project is doing exactly that,” said Chris Speyer, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer of REI and chair of the board. “Similarly, PeopleForBikes’ data offerings provide our industry with much-needed market insights to navigate the current economic climate and better plan for the future. Put simply, safer places for people to ride their bikes and good data to plan for your business are more essential than ever. I urge any bike businesses that are not already PeopleForBikes members to join the Coalition and support our collective work. We may be facing uncertain times, but we are so much stronger together.”

The board engaged in a group discussion on the changing state of the bike business and industry, providing input on how the organization could continue best representing the bike industry and serving member needs while adapting and anticipating more broad scale changes.

“While the bicycle industry may be in a tough spot right now, the bicycling movement is stronger than ever. A record number of Americans are discovering the joys of bicycling for transportation and recreation and more funding for bike projects is flowing in at all levels of government,” said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. “As the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association, PeopleForBikes is committed to keeping that bike and public policy momentum going and being a trusted partner and resource for bike businesses to successfully navigate the next year and beyond.”

The board also added two new members, including Michael Forte, USA finance and strategy leader at Specialized Bicycle Components, and Jeff McGuane, president of Vista Outdoor.

“I’ve followed and admired PeopleForBikes’ work since the early days when it was called Bikes Belong,” said Forte. “I recognized then that they were key to the future of bicycling. I am so excited to now be on the PeopleForBikes board to continue helping pedal the planet forward.”

PeopleForBikes board members are “instrumental in shaping the content and agenda” for its annual Bicycle Leadership Conference, where industry leaders and decision-makers convene to “chart the course of the bike industry.” The 2024 conference will be from March 26-29 in Tucson, AZ. 

Finally, the board approved the organization’s 2023 Industry Community Grant recipients, totaling $100,000 in funding across 13 grants. Projects include pump tracks, building safe routes to schools, projects to promote protected bike lanes, solutions to combat bike theft in college towns, and mountain bike parks in flat urban areas.

PeopleForBikes Coalition Board of Directors members are as follows:

  • Chair: Chris Speyer, EVP and chief merchandising officer, REI
  • Vice Chair: An Le, global marketing director, Giant Bicycles
  • Secretary: Michael Mercuri, Board member, SRAM
  • Treasurer: Pat Cunnane, CEO, Messingschlager USA
  • Bob Burns, vice president and senior legal officer, Trek Bicycle
  • Ian Christie, president and CEO, Summit Bicycles
  • Bernie Doering, Board member and member of Research & Statistics Committee
  • Michael Forte, USA Finance and Strategy leader, Specialized Bicycle Components
  • Joe Graney, CEO, Santa Cruz and SVP Pon.bike Performance
  • Nick Hage, SVP and GM North America and Japan, Dorel Sports, Cycling Sports Group
  • Gloria Hwang, founder and CEO, Thousand
  • Ken Lousberg, CEO, SRAM
  • Jeff McGuane, president, Vista Outdoor
  • Nolan Moser, assistant vice president Bicycle Component Division, Shimano North America
  • John Munhall, director of Product, Giant Bicycles
  • Larry Pizzi, GM, Alta Cycling Group
  • Patrick Seidler, [resident, Wilderness Trail Bikes
  • Allison Straub, president and CEO, Burley Design
  • Rich Tauer, president, Quality Bicycle Products
  • Daniel Trujillo, partner and global chief ethics and compliance officer, McKinsey & Company
  • Claudia Wasko, vice president and general manager, Bosch eBike Systems