Tim Blumenthal has been president of PeopleForBikes, one of the largest bike advocacy groups in the world, since September 2004. Previously, he served 11 years as the executive director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), the world’s largest mountain bike advocacy group.

PeopleForBikes

He began his cycling work as an editor for VeloNews from 1980-84, and later became managing editor of Mountain Bike Magazine and racing editor of Bicycling Magazine.

In early December, his organization celebrated Congress’s passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which reserves more than $4 billion for bicycle and pedestrian projects across the U.S.

When did you become a bike enthusiast? Were you an elite rider? I was once an elite bicycle paperboy. Delivered 70 papers every afternoon. I was 10. I’ve been riding steadily ever since.

What did you want to be as a kid? Journalist or sports TV guy. I actually worked for NBC and ABC at seven Olympics (on cycling). Also served as a commentator for 30 shows on ESPN and an equal number on what used to be the Outdoor Life Network.

“I was once an elite bicycle paperboy. Delivered 70 papers every afternoon. I was 10. I’ve been riding steadily ever since.”

How did you find your way to journalism? I wrote a few sports stories in high school for the local Gannett newspaper. Turned that into a stint as sports editor of a small weekly paper in southern Vermont. The editor of one and only national bike racing publication read my stuff and offered me a job as assistant editor of VeloNews. It paid better – $4.75 an hour – and it was a magical time for bike riding in America, with “Breaking Away,” Greg LeMond turning pro, the first American to race in the Tour de France, and unprecedented U.S. success in cycling at the Olympics in 1984. The timing of that move was ideal.

Why did you switch to advocacy? I was the editor of Mountain Bike Magazine for Rodale Press. Rodale also published Backpacker. Back then, mountain biking was a new thing and tension on the trails with hikers was a big thing. So I got involved with a brand new group that was working on this, the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Five years later, IMBA offered me a job as their first full-time CEO. I said yes and moved the organization to Colorado, where it thrived – and in fact, still does.

“…mountain biking was a new thing and tension on the trails with hikers was a big thing. So I got involved with a brand new group that was working on this, the International Mountain Bicycling Association.”

What are some key priorities for PeopleForBikes? Our top priority is to make bike riding better for everyone. We want every American to be able to step outside from where they live and work and find a variety of safe and appealing bike riding options. The key factor here is PlacesForBikes: seamless, interconnected bike infrastructure that provides great experiences for riders of all ages and all abilities. We also want to make bicycling mainstream in America. We want bicycling to be something that any American can enjoy – on or off-pavement, without necessarily self-identifying as a bike rider. Bike riding is often the fastest way to get from point A to point B. Bike riding is an adventure. Bike riding is fun. Most important: when people ride bikes, great things happen. Finally, we want to connect and unite more of the millions of Americans who like bicycling. PeopleForBikes has already assembled a grassroots group of 1.2 million Americans to stand for bicycling and behind our key goals. We’re looking to grow.

Beyond joining PeopleForBikes, how can the industry support your cause? By using their credibility and political power as businesses to influence their mayors, county executives, state governments and members of Congress on key bicycling issues. Companies in the bike business employ lots of people – nearly three-quarters of a million nationwide. They pay taxes. Many are pillars of their local business communities.

What’s the coolest thing about biking? People can bike just about anywhere. Every bike ride is different. Bike riding is fun. It’s an adventure. It is a low-impact form of exercise: you can do it day after day. You can do it for a lifetime. It is simple. And free (once you have the equipment).

–Tom Ryan is the Senior Business Director of SGB. Top image and logo courtesy of PeopleForBikes