Adventure Cycling Association

ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION INSPIRES, EMPOWERS AND CONNECTS PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BY BICYCLE.

THE TOURS PROGRAM CREATES UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR BIKE TRAVEL AND HELPS PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS RELATED TO BIKE TRAVEL, CAMPING, WILDERNESS, TEAM-BUILDING, AND LEADERSHIP. THE GOAL OF THESE TOURS IS TO EDUCATE AND PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO TRAVEL BY BIKE SO THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN AS WELL. THIS INCLUDES BICYCLE EXPEDITION EDUCATIONAL TOURS, BICYCLE TOUR LEADER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSES; AND THE TOUR LEADER MENTORING PROGRAM. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 4 EDUCATIONAL TOURS, 21 SELF-CONTAINED TOURS, AND 29 SUPPORTED TOURS.

ROUTES AND MAPPINGTHE ROUTES AND MAPPING PROGRAM IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM OF ADVENTURE CYCLING WITH THE CREATION OF THE TRANSAMERICA BICYCLE TRAIL. CORE TO ADVENTURE CYCLING'S EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF USEFUL MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. TO DATE, THE ASSOCIATION HAS CHARTED 48,629 MILES OF BIKE ROUTES, WHICH NOW COMPRISES THE ADVENTURE CYCLING ROUTE NETWORK. ADVENTURE CYCLING EXPANDS LOGISTICAL ACCESS BY DESIGNING, DEVELOPING, AND CURATING RELIABLE AND SAFE BICYCLE TOURING ROUTES. ACCESS TO AND FROM ADVENTURE CYCLING ROUTES IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED IN BICYCLE TRAVEL.STATES ARE LESS INCLINED TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF BICYCLE TRAVELERS UNLESS THEY HAVE ROUTES DESIGNATED BY THE STATES. ADVENTURE CYCLING PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) SO THEY DESIGNATE MILES OF U.S. BICYCLE ROUTES SYSTEM (USBRS). THESE DESIGNATED MILES AND ROUTES ARE ELEVATED AND BETTER SITUATED WITHIN THE STATE DOTS TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR CYCLISTS.THE USBRS IS AVAILABLE ON RIDEWITHGPS FOR FREE TO DOWNLOAD SO ANYONE CAN SEE WHAT THOSE ROUTES ARE AND FOLLOW THEM. THE MAPS HAVE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY, GEOLOGY, AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE AREA THROUGH WHICH THE ROUTE TRAVELS. THE MAPS ALSO CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR BIKE TRAVELERS ALONG THE ROUTE, SUCH AS PLACES TO EAT, BIKE-FRIENDLY LODGING, AND BIKE SHOPS. INNOVATION AND DISCOVERYINNOVATION AND DISCOVERY PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON ADVANCING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF ENHANCING BICYCLE TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND PROMOTING CYCLING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS REGARDING THE MULTIFACETED BENEFITS OF CYCLING, INCLUDING HEALTH, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND TRANSPORTATION ADVANTAGES. THROUGH THE PROVISION OF RESOURCES SUCH AS ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES, INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN GUIDANCE, AND POLICY ADVOCACY, INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY PROGRAMMING FACILITATES THE DEVELOPMENT OF CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROMOTES OUTDOOR RECREATION AND BICYCLE TOURISM INITIATIVES. MERCHANDISETHE MERCHANDISE SALES PROGRAM OFFERS OUR BIKE TOURING MAPS, BRANDED MERCHANDISE, AND BIKE TRAVEL PRODUCTS, WHICH CAN BE HARD TO SOURCE. WE ALSO PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE GUIDES TO ASSIST CYCLISTS IN PREPARATION FOR TRIPS. THIS PROGRAM BREAKS DOWN THE BARRIER TO ENTRY TO THE ACTIVITY OF BIKE TRAVEL. WE ALSO OFFER FREE ADVICE TO ANY CALLER OR IN-OFFICE VISITOR TO HELP THEM PLAN THEIR OWN PERSON BICYCLE TRIPS.

ADVENTURE CYCLIST PRODUCES A FULL-COLOR MAGAZINE AND OTHER MATERIALS DESIGNED TO INFORM THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT BICYCLE TRAVEL AND INSPIRE THEM TO RIDE. OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ALSO PRODUCES A WEBSITE WITH FREE INFORMATION FOR CYCLISTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS INCLUDING A LIBRARY OF HOW-TO GUIDES. SHARING STORIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND INSPIRATION MAKES BIKE TRAVEL POSSIBLE FOR MORE PEOPLE.

MEMBERSHIP: THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WORKS WITH CYCLISTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO BUILD A GREATER COMMUNITY OF BICYCLISTS IN AMERICA. MEMBERSHIP PROMOTES CYCLING BY INSPIRING MORE PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BY BICYCLE. THIS IS DONE THROUGH MEMBERSHIP SOLICITATION, SPECIAL EVENTS, PUBLICATION CREATION, OUTREACH TO LIBRARIES, STATE BICYCLE COORDINATORS, BICYCLE CLUBS, AND BICYCLE SHOPS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS OVER 50,000 MEMBERS. HAVING A STRONG MEMBERSHIP MEANS WE CAN SUPPORT MORE PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BY BICYCLE THROUGH OUR INSPIRATIONAL STORYTELLING, ROUTE DESIGNATION, AND OUTREACH/AMBASSADOR PROGRAMING. MEMBERSHIP BUILDS COMMUNITY.