Let's Double the Number of Women & Girls Riding Bikes Campaign!
Campaign Launch Overview
***Notice February 22, 2012***
The criteria for the scholarship program are posted here. We will be accepting applications March 1 thru March 31, 2012. The application and all instructions for applying will be posted on March 1, 2012.
On February 8, 2012 Women On Bikes SoCal launched Phase I of the “Let’s Double the Number of Women & Girls Riding Bikes” with a fundraising campaign to create the first League Certified Bike Safety Instructor (LCI) scholarship program for women only in the United States. This is a major step in the organization’s goal to help double the number of women and girls actively riding bikes in Southern California by 2017. To read our press release click here. To download a sponsorship overview kit click here.
On February 15, 2012 the criteria for scholarship applications will be posted here on the WoBSocal website. Twelve women will be chosen for the program. There are currently fewer than twenty women in all of Southern California who hold LCI accreditation with the League of American Bicyclists, creator of the LCI program. The women for this first scholarship program will represent areas of Southern California where there are now fewer than five female LCI's total: Long Beach, the greater South Bay, South & East Los Angeles, and Orange County. The women chosen to receive the scholarships will be required to donate 25 hours of bike safety training back to their communities.
Women Are Dramatically Underrepresented Among Bicyclists
Currently, women are dramatically underrepresented among bicyclists in the United States. According to a new report from the Alliance for Biking & Walking released in January— Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report —women represent just 24 percent of bicycle trips in the U.S. This underrepresentation is particularly striking in Southern California: In Long Beach, just 15 percent of bike-to-work commuters are women and in Los Angeles just 20 percent are women.
Women On Bikes SoCal has gathered a dynamic and talented team to address this challenge and pioneer creative and progressive programming. Our spokeswomen and trainers includes Dr. Suja Lowenthal, Vice Mayor of Long Beach, Andréa White-Kjoss President & COO of Bikestation, Jen Klausner, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Melissa Balmer, Initiative Director/Editor Women On Bikes SoCal. Top LCI Chris Quint, whose traffic video Cyclists’ Eye View, is included with all training materials provided to LCI's by the League of American Bicyclists, has been retained as lead trainer for the program.
First Step in a Proactive Comprehensive Plan
Phase II of “Let’s Double the Women & Girls Riding Bikes” is an innovative pilot program that will work with the new female LCI’s selected for the Long Beach area to create a comprehensive “active living” pilot program for Long Beach’s most under served neighborhoods. This program focuses on the bike as a smart, cost effective urban transit tool for mobility independence.
Phase I Fundraising Goal
The total cost to facilitate, host, produce, and promote this Phase I LCI training is $10,000. Please join California Bicycle Coalition, Bikeable Communities, Bike Long Beach and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition in making this program a reality. We are currently seeking sponsorship for this campaign at the $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000 (1) levels. To request a sponsorship benefits kit for a specific amount please contact Melissa Balmer at (562) 612-0197 or via email at wobsocal@gmail.com. A link to a sponsorship overview kit is at the top of the page.