League’s Board of Directors appoints Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York, as Chairman

“It’s a pleasure to be able to work with the League’s talented staff and board and its thousands of dedicated members as we continue fighting for greater opportunities and safer streets for our nation’s 47.5 million bicyclists,” Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York, said. “Since 1880, League members have battled hard for bike-friendly policies and infrastructure. The challenges that we now face, including troubling safety trends and the threat of declining federal transportation funding, underscore the critical importance of the League’s mission to create a truly bicycle friendly America for everyone by implementing programs through education and advocacy.”

Bike New York is a nonprofit organization that produces the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, the world’s biggest charitable ride, and Bike Expo New York, the country’s most-attended consumer bike show. The organization is a member of the League and sits on its National Leadership Circle. Podziba said he’s most proud of the tremendous growth of Bike New York’s education program – the largest of its kind in the country – and the success of its recently launched advocacy program. Last year alone, Bike New York taught bike riding and safety skills to more than 30,000 children and adults. Additionally, Bike New York operates the Recycle-A-Bicycle shop in Brooklyn and Bike Library located at Shirley Chisholm State Park. 

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.