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Q&A with Ken Podziba, Director Emeritus of the League of American Bicyclists
The bike movement is led by tens of thousands of state and local advocates across the country who make the case for better biking at city council meetings, state legislatures, and local op-ed pages. We’re celebrating these leaders in the movement in our series by spotlighting the individuals at the local level who will hopefully inspire you to take the next step in your advocacy journey.
In our inaugural advocate spotlight, we’re thrilled to speak to Ken Podziba, CEO of Bike New York, past chair of the League’s Board of Directors, and now a director emeritus of the board. Prior to joining Bike New York, Podziba served as the New York City Sports Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner/Chief Financial Officer of the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Youth & Community Development, and urban planner for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development. He earned an MS at Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and a BS at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications and Whitman School of Management.
Q: Congratulations on your recent appointment as a Director Emeritus of the League of American Bicyclists Board of Directors. After your years of service chairing the League, how are you approaching this new role?
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the cycling community today?
A: There are far too many communities in our country with significant barriers to bicycling, including a lack of protected bike lanes, poor bike design, and negative perceptions of bicyclists. We need to continue educating stakeholders and advocating for greater investments in bicycling infrastructure, particularly in historically underserved communities. So much progress has been made, but these success stories are all reminders of how much more still needs to be done, and I know the League will not rest until there’s truly a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.
Q: How does Bike New York contribute to the League’s mission?
A: Bike New York is a proud member of the League and runs the largest free bike education program in the country based on the League’s Smart cycling program. We recently co-launched a national Kids Learn to Ride program with the League, and we hope to be able to partner with the League on more initiatives through education and advocacy. We also want to work with the League on bringing some of our successful programs to other bike organizations around the country. Our Bike Path program for example trains formerly incarcerated individuals to become bike mechanics who then secure good-paying jobs at Citi Bike, NYC’s bike share provider. We’d also like to promote more programs, like Recycle-A-Bicycle, in which we encourage New Yorkers to donate their old bikes to us rather than having them sent to a landfill. We, in turn, completely refurbish these bikes and either give them away to people who can’t afford them or sell these born-again bikes in our community bike shop in Brooklyn.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring cycling advocates?
A: My advice is for them to get involved with the League and their local bike advocacy group. They should attend their neighborhood community board and council meetings, as well as the National Bike Summit. Every bike advocate has a responsibility to fight for the safety of all road users and to help create the next generation of advocates. One person can make an incredible difference, and the feeling of improving and saving lives, however challenging the process may be, is extremely rewarding and purely exhilarating.
Know an inspiring bike advocate we should feature next? Submit your nominations here!