Richard Olken, Executive Director of the Bikes Belong Coalition for the past five years, officially announced his retirement from the organization. Olken will work closely with the Coalition to assure continuity in its current programs during the search for a new executive and shall participate in his/her training. It is the goal of Olken to be retired from the Bikes Belong Coalition by the end of 2004.

“It is the right time that I announce my retirement from the Bikes Belong Coalition to clear the way for new leaders to create and develop the new and innovative programs that will lead to the Coalition’s continued success,” said Olken. “The accomplishments of the Bikes Belong Coalition over the last five years stand on their own and I am proud to have played an important role in that success.” Bikes Belong Coalition has had a stunning record of achievement in the five years of its existence. The Coalition has raised more than $3,000,000 in that time, kept its overhead costs to a bare minimum, and used the funds wisely to meet the Coalition’s mission of putting more people on more bicycles more often.

“Rich Olken has successfully guided the charge for the bicycling industry for more than five years and the bicycling industry is in a far better position due directly to his efforts,” said Bill Fry, president, Bikes Belong Coalition and CEO, Bell Sports. During Olken’s tenure, the Bikes Belong Coalition raised more than $600,000 in membership dues that has provided funding for America Bikes, the coalition of national bicycling advocacy groups that scored a stunning 600 million dollar success in Congress last fall and plans to bring additional billions of dollars to the bicycling infrastructure and advocacy programs in the future.

Additionally during this time, Bikes Belong has invested another $600,000 in its “Grants Program” in 32 states that has helped bicycling organizations and communities received more than 300 million dollars in federal and state funding to put more people on bikes in a safer environment. Beginning, April 1, 2004, Lisa Robinson, Sportsworks Inc. Product Manager, and vice president and Federal Advocacy Chair of Bikes Belong Coalition, will lead an official search committee for a successor to Olken.