Adventure Cycling Association Membership up 5.5 Percent in FY’12

“It's been an incredible year and we are grateful to our members and supporters,” said Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling. “Not only did our programs and income grow substantially, but in July, we unveiled our expanded headquarters, and in September, our membership hit an all-time high of 45,225 members.”

This year, Adventure Cycling's total membership numbers hit an all-time high with 45,225 members. Overall, the program experienced a 5.5 percent growth rate, which caps a 20 percent growth rate in membership over the last decade. Membership renewals remained strong following a 4-year trend of increases, and inquiries (people asking about services and member benefits) grew 7 percent. Adventure Cycling also attracted 233 bike shop members and 126 club memberships.

The organization welcomed 120 new life members, double the number who joined in FY11, bringing the total number of life members to 1,733. Adventure Cycling's life member program is a very popular way to support the organization; funds from life memberships are restricted to provide long-term support for the nonprofit. In the past, life member funds helped purchase Adventure Cycling's headquarters and, this year, complete its renovation.

Adventure Cycling Association's 45,225 members come from every state in the U.S. with the most members residing in California and the fewest in North Dakota. 1,426 live outside of U.S. with 51 countries represented. From Austria to the United Arab Emirates with Luxembourg, Malaysia, Slovakia, and China in the mix, members reside and travel all around the globe.

In 2012, Adventure Cycling added 11 corporate members, including Primal Wear, Walz Caps, and Belmont Distribution (representing Moulton and Pashley).

 

Advertising in Adventure Cyclist increased 10 percent over 2011 to $260,000. New advertisers included Surly, Dual Eyewear, America's Milk Processor's “Got chocolate milk?” campaign, and Vitacost. Published 9 times each year and reaching more than 90,000 readers annually, Adventure Cyclist features bicycle-travel stories and photographs from around the world, how-to information, gear and travel-bike reviews, and more.

 

Adventure Cyclist is the association's primary member benefit, along with discounts on maps, and access to tours and instructional courses.

In FY12, Adventure Cycling saw a 23 percent increase in charitable contributions, which totaled $712,982, in support of its outreach and program work to advance bicycling and bicycle travel.

Individual donations were up 50 percent over last year, however, grant funding dipped as several of the organization's foundation supporters shifted their giving focus. Members and donors stepped up in a big way to raise over $250,000 to support the renovation and expansion of the organization's Missoula, MT, headquarters.

 

Members also gave to support Adventure Cycling's work on the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and continue growing the Adventure Cycling Route Network, including a major re-route on the Northern Tier to address safety issues. Cycling businesses also supported the organization, with gifts ranging from sponsorships to product donations, which were used in raffles and the organization's summer auction.

“This is my second year at Adventure Cycling, and I'm continually impressed and thankful for the generosity of our members,” said Development Director Amanda Lipsey. “It's truly amazing when you consider the slow-growth of the current economy.”

In the coming year, Adventure Cycling will work on maps for Bicycle Route 66 and continue work to convert its existing routes using GIS (Geographic Information Systems), which will allow for more efficient and timely updates of its maps. It will also complete work on the Idaho hot springs route in late 2013.

Work on the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), an emerging official national network of cycling routes, will continue with even more states designating U.S. Bicycle Routes, completion of a best practices report to aid states in implementation of routes, and the signing of U.S. Bicycle Route 20 in Michigan. Adventure Cycling's new Department of Travel Initiatives, which coordinates the USBRS, will focus part of its time to grow support and enthusiasm for bicycle tourism. Adventure Cycling will also continue work with other national cycling groups at the federal and state levels to improve bike-friendly policies and facility investments.

In FY13, the Adventure Cycling Tours Department will offer more than 70 trips (a 24 percent increase over FY12) featuring a diverse lineup of tours to accommodate a wide variety of touring styles and skills. “We continue to adjust our tours schedule to meet the needs of our membership,” said Arlen Hall, Adventure Cycling's tours director. “For 2013, we've expanded our inn-to-inn and van-supported trips, and we're offering more trips in the eastern U.S. than ever before. We've also expanded our off-road tour offerings to meet demand.” Sign-ups for 2013 tours are already running at twice the rate of 2012, and a number of early season tours have sold out.

This spring, the organization plans to launch a new website and online store, which will be followed by the unveiling of a newly redesigned Adventure Cyclist magazine.

“If we can even come close to matching our 2012 results in the coming year, we will be thrilled,” said Jim Sayer. “We are just grateful to be part of the fast-growing active travel and bike-touring markets – and part of the movement to create a more bike-friendly world.”