1. Leveraging Locals for Statewide Impact

2. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 2 The Coalition is celebrating 20 years as Maine’s leading voice for bicyclists Serves as a statewide clearinghouse for information and resources about biking and walking in Maine Administers programs focusing on: –Promoting bike-friendly laws at the state and federal level –Teaching bike and pedestrian safety to children and adults –Training local advocates to make Maine towns and cities more bike-friendly –Educating drivers about how to share the road with cyclists Hosts several successful events, including BikeMaine, the Great Maine Bike Swaps, the Maine Women’s Ride and the Maine Lobster Ride About the Bicycle Coalition

3. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 3 BIG State: As big as the other New England States, combined! 14,350 miles of road not owned by MaineDOT Making your town more bike-friendly requires CHANGE No town wants to be told what to do by outsiders Limited Funding/Confusing System The Challenge—How to Be Everywhere

4. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 4 The Solution—Get Local! What is truly happening in my town? What is on the horizon? Who are the movers and shakers? Who are the stakeholders? What places would people bike to? What infrastructure change is highest priority? What is low-hanging fruit?

5. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 5 About the Program The Community Spokes Program is the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s effort to create a statewide network of bicycle and pedestrian advocates at the local level. We empower Mainers to become champions of better biking and walking through advocacy training, education, and ongoing technical support. Community Spokes become leaders in their communities by undertaking projects that improve biking and walking conditions through infrastructure changes, education and programs, and policy changes. We try to emphasize that the Spokes are collaborative leaders, rather than “advocates” which we’ve found is a word with some negative associations. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Community Spokes Program trains and supports local advocates for biking and walking. There are currently 95 Spokes representing 57 towns and all 16 counties in Maine.

6. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 6 About the Program Where they are.

7. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 7 About the Program Who are Community Spokes? They are people who: are interested in becoming leaders in their community to promote biking and walking. believe that biking and walking brings economic, transportation, health and environmental benefits to individuals, communities and the state. want to get more involved in making their community more bike/ped-friendly but aren’t sure where to start, how to navigate the local bureaucracy, or who else is willing to help.

8. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 8 About the Program How do you Become a Community Spoke? Attend a training on becoming a community an effective advocate and developing a plan designed for their community. Participate in Webinars and in-person events to further advocacy skills. Be the eyes and ears of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine in their community, and provide a voice for bicycle and pedestrian interests at public meetings and events. Learn from and support their fellow Spokes around the state. Work with neighbors and decision-makers to promote bike/ped infrastructure, policies, and programs.

9. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 9 About the Program What does the Bicycle Coalition of Maine provide for Community Spokes? Ongoing technical assistance to Spokes and their committees in the form of communications, administration, strategic advocacy, and more. Online Advocacy Toolkit and numerous other resources for effective advocacy work in Maine. One all-day training, regional advocacy events, and Webinars throughout the year. Connection to other trained Spokes for information and skill sharing. BCM membership and outreach and educational materials for use at community events.

10. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 10 Feedback 92% of Community Spokes feel that the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's local advocacy training program has better equipped them to push for local improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians.

11. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 11 About the Program

12. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 12 What Do Spokes Do? 86% of Spokes have been involved in programs and events that support biking and walking. 83% of those Spokes were leaders or strong supporters of these programs. 60% of Spokes have pushed for local policies that improve biking and walking. 78% of Spokes have advocated for better local infrastructure that makes biking and walking safer and easier. 71% of those Spokes were leaders or strong supporters of these efforts.

13. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 13 “I just want to say again how incredible the support that BCM gives to the Community Spokes and to Maine's communities is! You guys are an essential source of information and other resources for residents interested in bike/ped issues and change; thank you” --Julie Daigle 78% of Community Spokes continue to pursue or have completed the local bike/ped improvement project or campaign they began at their training 83% of Community Spokes are working on or have completed additional advocacy projects above and beyond what they planned for at their training Digging Deeper

14. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 14 98% of Community Spokes have been involved in influencing public decisions in their community. More than 50% have been involved in creating comprehensive plans, transportation plans, or other municipal plans in their local community. 66% have conducted meetings with local officials and other stakeholders about bike/ped issues. 41% have delivered a speech at a public meeting in support of biking and walking 60% have worked on evaluating the walkability and bikability of their city or town. Digging Deeper

15. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 15 The Tools Online toolkit Continuing support o technical assistance o meetings, forums, events o action alerts o facebook, advocacy event calendar Real time information on funding projects, campaigns, events “The mix of the speaker’s professional insights with her knowledge of transportation culture was very helpful.”

16. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 16 Tools For Connecting Advocates Facebook group Email group 2 trainings per year 2 regional advocacy events per year 6 webinars per year One-on-one calls and emails “ This was a great call and the information was excellent for creating community change for bike/ped improvements throughout the state.” - Community Spokes Webinar Participant

17. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 17 Community Mobilization Action alerts Letters to towns Letters to DOT Sign-on letters Public Meetings

18. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 18 Statewide Campaigns Legislative—”Bond the Backlog” Bond Campaign 2015 Legislative—LD 1301, added “vulnerable user” concept and more Complete Streets Policy Work NEW Imagine Bikes Here—Demonstration Project, a version of “Tactical Urbanism ”

19. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 19 Complete Streets Thinking Maine DOT (also reflected in LCP policy) Woolwich South Portland Freeport Bangor Lewiston/Auburn Portland

20. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 20 Imagine Bikes Here Supported by People for Bikes The Imagine Bikes Here (IBH) Campaign creates sanctioned, temporary traffic safety demonstration projects using cones, bollards, temporary paint, etc, to show municipal decision makers the value of dedicated bicycle facilities and traffic calming measures. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to drive changes to the built environment by providing real, tangible, proof-of-concept demonstrations to decision makers and the public at large.

21. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 21 Letters to the Editor Press Hits “Cyclists end up in the travel lane because of the poor conditions of the shoulders,” said Michele Gagnon of Blue Hill…. Gagnon said she’d like to see more public education, since some motorists and cyclists alike don’t know the ins-and-outs of the law.” More Media Voices

22. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 22 Do it Yourself? You’ll need staff. This program is hands on—providing lots oftechnical assistance, support and on-going continuing education opportunities. Every training makes the job bigger! We started with one staffer (me) and then hired another person. Program is now managed by Abby King. You’ll need funding. Staff costs money! It can be a challenge to find money for an advocacy program—we increasingly market the program as “community leadership training and support”, which sounds friendlier. We fund the program with membership dollars and some grant funding. We are available to consult with you on launching a program of your own.

23. Bicycle Coalition of Maine – Community Spokes Training | 23 To Learn More Jim Tassé,Assistant Director jim@bikemaine.orgjim@bikemaine.org Abby King,Advocacy Coordinatorabby@bikemaine.org Bicycle Coalition of Maine www.bikemaine.org Community Spokes Page http://www.bikemaine.org/advocacy/community-advocacy