Join us in welcoming the new League Board members!

In August, League members had an opportunity to vote on which of their peers would fill the two spots up for election on our Board of Directors. The Board consists of members who volunteer their time, skills, and other resources to help the League fulfill our mission to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. 

We asked our members – those who have joined us in our mission to improve conditions for cyclists – to consider running for a seat on our Board of Directors. Several raised their hands to serve and all of our Board candidates showed a deep dedication to the League’s vision of an America where everyone recognizes and enjoys the many benefits and opportunities of bicycling.

This round of voting featured so many amazing people on the ballot – folks who understand and have experienced themselves the importance of building better, stronger communities for people who bike.

“In order for the League to continue leading the movement to create safer roads, and stronger and better-connected communities, we need a Board of Directors full of people with the passion, experience, and expertise to lead the organization,” said Ken Podziba, chairman of the League’s Board of Directors and president and CEO of Bike New York. “Congratulations to Anna Zivarts, first-time League Board member, and returning Board member Jim Baross, on their election to the team. I’d also like to thank outgoing Board members Beth St. John and Jackie Martin for their years of service to the League’s Board and mission. We are a stronger voice for better biking thanks to the contributions of our members, the League staff, and League Board. I look forward to working with our new Board members to ensure the League is a key partner in growing an inclusive and welcoming bike movement dedicated to creating a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.” 

Our sincerest thanks to all of our members who voted in August. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming these new and re-elected Board members to their next term, which begins on October 22, 2022.

Jim Baross

I am offering to serve a second term on the League Board to help promote the League and my personal goal: to “help save the world by and for bicycling.” Because more and better bicycling can improve our world in many ways – reducing dependence on a fossil-fuel, carbon-producing economy; reducing collisions and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes, congestion, and pollution; encouraging healthy active transportation and recreation; etc. Where there is little or no bicycling, the health of a community is likely at risk.

I am a bicycling educator and advocate, first certified as an Effective Cycling Instructor in 1986 by the League of American Wheelman, then re-certified as a League Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists after the name change. I became a League Cycling Coach in 2002. I have since conducted more than 50 training seminars certifying more than 430 LCIs, taught nine Smart Cycling courses to more than 110 California Highway Patrol officers in six California cities, and trained 23 officers as LCIs. I am active in local and state-wide bicycling advocacy and work with many California government agencies and local groups to improve the safety, effectiveness and convenience of bicycling.

I seek to help the League promote the benefits of the wide acceptance of bicycling as a viable means of transportation and recreation. I believe that public roads should be for all transportation modes and people, not just for people in cars.

Anna Zivarts

I am a low-vision mom and disability transportation advocate from Washington State. As the director of the Disability Mobility Initiative, I’ve seen how too often the needs of people biking are seen as in conflict with, and sometimes even pitted against, disabled community members. As someone who is both disabled and who relies on biking to get around because I can’t drive, I want to ensure that disability is part of active transportation advocacy. By building relationships between disability and bike advocates we can fight for communities where all of us can go where we need to go and enjoy the freedom and joy of walking, rolling and riding. 

I also believe disability and bike advocates have much to gain by working together on road safety and equity, especially as we’ve seen really frightening increases in pedestrian and cyclist deaths. This year, I served as the equity and accessibility expert on NHTSA’s Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Program Assessment teams for Kentucky and Maryland, and have been asked to join the National Safety Council’s Mobility Safety Advisory Group.

My son also shares the same vision condition, and will also be someone who relies on walking, biking and riding transit to get around. I am passionate about mobility justice not just for myself and the other nondrivers I organize at work, but so that when he grows up, he won’t have to face the same challenges in access that we encounter today.