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New League Staff: Meet Shelby
Say hello to the newest member of the League’s team: Shelby Ottengheime! As our new Roger Herz Memorial Federal Policy Fellow, Shelby brings insights from her experience as a campus bike shop leader and mechanic as well as her background in environmental conservation. Shelby recently moved from California to the League’s home base in Washington, D.C., and with Capitol Hill right around the corner, we’re so excited to support her journey into federal advocacy and transportation policy. Shelby’s positive energy is sure to bring a smile to your face, so read on for a boost of inspiration!
What’s your first memory of riding a bike?
I remember this feeling of utter weightlessness as I took a sharp corner. I was in elementary school and I was racing my dad across Caltech’s empty summer campus. We each started from the edge of the university and had to create our own route to the “cannon” — a non-functional, but bright red cannon — that sat on the opposite end of campus from our starting mark. My dad would yell “Go!” and my short legs and 24 inch wheels would start spinning as fast as humanly possible. Despite the impossibility of beating my dad, I would race as if it were the Tour De France. There was always this one turn, right by the turtle pond, that I would take incredibly sharp. I would lean and I felt as if I was almost parallel to the cement, but then I would right myself and keep pedaling. I remember being shocked at how far I could lean on such a skinny tire, and was utterly amazed. Since then, I have been infatuated with this incredible vehicle that has made me feel like I was flying weightless.
What does your bike journey look like? What got you into biking as an adult?
I owe most of my cycling enthusiasm to the incredible community at the Green Bike Program (GBP), an entirely student-run bike coalition at Pitzer College, in Claremont, California. There, in a corrugated steel box, I logged work/study hours and made friends as well as memories that will last a lifetime. I have always loved working with my hands, I have made my own skateboard, surfboard, and when I was a competitive archer, my own longbow as well. So working in a bike shop sounded like the perfect job for me.
I am not going to lie, the first day I walked in, I didn’t even know how to pump my own tires. However, a friendly upperclassman offered to show me how to change a tube, and from there my enthusiasm and knowledge only began to grow. By the end of my first semester, I not only won our shop speed contest, being able to change a bike tube in under 2 minutes, but was able to work on brakes and derailleurs, and true wheels. By my junior year, I was co-president of the entire shop!
While at the GBP, I would also host community campaigns, like fix-it workshops, “Learn 2 Bike” seminars, or women empowerment events. Helping to create a more inclusive environment in the cycling world was one of the most inspiring aspects about leading the bike shop.
Such enthusiasm for community engagement spurred my interest in bicycle advocacy, which has led me to the League of American Bicyclists! I wanted to help impact the bicycle community on a larger scale; giving back, making space, and amplifying the voices and issues that affect our entire community.
You’ve worked in a lot of different fields, which we think is pretty neat. How do you see your previous work translating to working on transportation policy on the national level with the League?
Throughout every position and life experience, I have learned an incredible amount, which has further helped structure and guide not only my worldview but how I wish to conduct my life and interact with those around me.
In August of 2023, I participated in an archaeologically and environmentally focused conservation program situated in Hawai’i. Our work was in close collaboration with local Indigenous groups and relied on implementing techniques and technologies that native Hawaiians have used for centuries — methods that are nature-based and mimic the processes of the environment. To be trusted to restore such a sacred space required immense training, understanding, and respect; one where communication and knowledge collaboration were paramount. Each project focused on physically preserving and restoring these ecosystems as well as their long-standing socio-cultural ties. It was a true privilege to not only live in such a beautiful place, but genuinely give back and help not only the natural landscape, but the communities thrive.
Beyond my work in Hawai’i, I have also conducted restorative work abroad. In early 2023, I traveled to Belize to work as a field technician on the Caracol Archaeological Project. While managing multiple excavation sites and leading my own crews, I became no stranger to getting in the dirt. Deep in the Maya jungle, I worked alongside native excavators and listened to their stories, sharing archaeological and environmental reverence as we excavated their cultural remains, preserving what we found. Part of my job also involved managing the environmental impact of the excavation. This included reviewing LiDAR and GIS data, as well as maintaining collaboration and legal compliance with the Belizean government regarding the management of highly sensitive cultural remains.
Despite the differences in setting, much of this work required reviewing detailed proposals, as well as referencing and managing governmental policies and laws. So, I am no stranger to the complexities of bureaucratic procedures. Further, I feel both of these experiences have taught me not only the importance of listening and shared reverence but how to combine the strengths of our diverse backgrounds, to help create a positive impact in what we are trying to achieve.
What do you hope to take away from your year-long fellowship with the League?
I am most excited about getting to engage with the greater cycling population and give back to the community that has given me so much. While at the League, I am hoping to learn from my colleagues and mentors how to be a true advocate and a voice of change. The work of the League is critical, and having only just begun, I can already see the heart and dedication that every staff member brings to work every day. Whether interacting with members of our community, other advocates, or Congress, I am looking forward to following in their footsteps and addressing every issue or concern with the same commitment and enthusiasm. Whether you bike, trike, walk, or roll we all deserve safe streets and access to the outdoors. As a part of the League, I would love to play whatever role I can in helping ensure this brighter future.
What are some of your favorite routes and trails to explore?
I am originally from Southern California, and some of the best rides place you right on the coast. One of my favorites is through Solana Beach, a beach town in North County San Diego. Interestingly enough, there is this plaque along the bike path thanking the League of American Bicyclists, and emphasizing Solana Beach’s status as a Bicycle Friendly Community. I have many other fond rides, but one day, I hope to do a bikepacking trip from Vancouver to Tijuana. Wish me luck and good weather!
What bike are you riding now and what inspires you about cycling?
Having just moved to DC from Southern California, I had to leave my beloved bike “Maverick” (named after the legendary California surf spot) back home. He is a Black Mountain Cycles, steel gravel bike that my friend discovered for me on Pink Bike. I absolutely love Maverick, and have clocked thousands of miles both on and off road with him. I miss him dearly.
Since moving to DC, I have acquired a vintage Bianchi for daily commutes and longer road rides. In case you are wondering, he is named “Feniul” (after a dragon from my favorite childhood book). I am still getting used to the skinny tires and city riding, but I always have fun on two wheels!
What inspires me the most about cycling is its ability to enable people to get outside. Family bike rides and even solo jaunts are core memories for me — as I am sure many of you can relate.
There is something so freeing and wonderful about getting lost in a ride; where you can either be vividly present in the scenery around you, or disappear into your head and explore whatever has been top-of-mind as of late. I strongly believe that everyone should have access to outdoor spaces and experience the wonder of nature, and cycling is an incredible vehicle for that immeasurable connection.