PeopleForBikes launched a nationwide series of bike industry/community networking events.

Draft: A PeopleForBikes Meetup will debut in the D.C. Metro Area and Los Angeles on October 18, followed by Duluth, MN and Park City, UT in the following weeks. Six additional cities plan to host Draft events in January 2017.

Draft is a new program of PeopleForBikes’ Business Network, which brings together startups, event organizers, suppliers, retailers, bloggers, advocates and others who are passionate about bicycling. Draft events consist of informal networking, group announcements, four short presentations and audience questions.

“There are so many creative people in the bike space that we designed Draft to help tease out great ideas and inspire entrepreneurs,” said PeopleForBikes VP, business network Jenn Dice. “Bringing together bike startups, tech, product designers, organizers, bike industry of all types, and layering in community has produced an energized group that comes together to celebrate bikes. Each event becomes a catalyst to bring riders together and connect around bike ideas.”

Draft builds on the success of seven initial meetups, titled CO Bikes + Biz + Beer, that have been hosted this year in Denver by PeopleForBikes. Originally started as a small gathering of passionate bike people, the bi-monthly Denver event now regularly hosts nearly 400 attendees.

“Draft brings all sectors of bicycle culture—the riders, brands, advocates, event coordinators and policy makers—into the same room to exchange ideas and build relationships,” said Josh Johnson of Pure Cycles in Los Angeles. “We’re excited to host one of the first Draft events outside Colorado.”

PeopleForBikes unites individuals, businesses and communities to make bike riding better for everyone. For more information visit peopleforbikes.org.