A Message from Doug
Doug Moore has served as the president of Bike Baton Rouge for the past seven years. As he takes a step back, he offers his thoughts on the successes and progress that Baton Rouge has made for biking as well as some encouragement to continue pressing on.
Doug Moore
Folks, it's been a great honor, but the time has come for me to step down as President of Bike Baton Rouge. I first learned of Bike BR's existence several years ago when I rode my bike to a festival downtown (Blues Fest?) and happened upon the "bike corral" operated by Bike BR. "What a cool thing!" I thought. And it was. I volunteered for a couple of shifts parking bikes and started coming to some meetings. Pretty soon, I started coming up with ideas on things we could do as a city to make bike riding better. I quickly learned that ideas without action are not worth a lot, so I started doing my best to organize events, rides, meetings and initiatives. I met many people in local and state government and in the engineering/consulting world. I tried my level best to become as knowledgeable as anyone in the city about biking conditions, rules/regulations and design guidelines. And while some mistakes were made and some things could have been done differently, I have no regrets. I feel immense pride having led this vital organization for the past few years. Advocating for better biking and safer streets in a city such as Baton Rouge can feel...Sysiphean at times. Without the help and support of other Bike BR members and leaders (you know who you are), I would have fallen victim to cynicism. And even though I'm stepping down, I am more hopeful now about the state of biking in BR than I ever have been before. We're getting there, folks! So...to this point, it was suggested that I offer some pearls of wisdom and inspiration from my time as President of Bike Baton Rouge...
1. While we have a ways to go, Baton Rouge is becoming a truly great American biking city. With a few pieces of infrastructure and some policy changes, most of, if not all, of Baton Rouge can be made accessible to people on bikes. And if we manage to do that, this will be an amazing and awesome thing.
2. Bike people are the coolest. Sure, I'm biased, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. I've met some great friends through biking. You can too.
3. The key to making Baton Rouge a better biking city isn't financial...or logistical.... it's cultural and political. In other words... SPEAK UP and SPEAK OUT! Local politicians and officials only do things that they think have broad support...as they should. Our voices need to be as loud, if not louder, than the people who hate bikes. And yes... those people exist and they are many. Letting people in charge know that the mission of Bike Baton Rouge is important to you...that matters. A lot.
4. Keep doing bike clubs, social rides and other bike-themed events. Take things that aren't necessarily about bikes, and make 'em about bikes. Halloween + bike ride = bike thing! Thanksgiving + bike ride = bike thing! Movie + bike ride = ... ok, you get the idea. Get out there and do stuff and do it on bikes!
5. When a bike lane or a piece of trail does get built, use it....and thank the people who made it happen. They like that.
6. Support radical change, and do so by making it not radical. Is it radical for people to be able to get around their city safely using active, environmentally friendly transportation? It sure as hell shouldn't be. But because some elements of policy and design are new to us, they'll seem radical. At least at first. Have an open mind and be an ally.
All that being said, I'm truly amazed at everything Bike Baton Rouge has accomplished for an organization of our size. Thanks to all of you, we definitely punch above our weight class and it's been one of the great achievements of my life to have thrown a few punches myself. Please say informed, stay involved and stay active!
YEAH BIKE!!!
Yours in gratitude,
Doug Moore
