Last year, the Bicycle Alliance launched its Hub & Spoke outreach tour and visited four communities around the state: Wenatchee, Vancouver, Walla Walla and Everett. We are continuing the tour in 2011 and our next Hub & Spoke stop is this Thursday in Olympia. You can find event details here.
It can be challenging to stay connected with our members when we cover a state that is over 70,000 square miles and divided by a mountain range. The Hub & Spoke tour is proving to be an excellent vehicle to keep the connections fresh.
Hub & Spoke is social by design, held at pubs and restaurants to give attendees an opportunity to network with Bicycle Alliance representatives and with each other. The events are timed to coincide with Transportation Improvement Board meetings so we can familiarize local advocates with this potential source of funding for non-motorized projects. The Bicycle Alliance staff also reviews our legislative and program priorities with attendees, and we give folks a chance to tell us what’s on their minds.
The formula is successful. We averaged 35 guests per event last year and had a mix of current members and new faces. Attendees expressed their gratitude that we are making the effort to visit communities around the state. Other 2011 tour stops include Mount Vernon, Spokane and Richland.
The Hub & Spoke tour was made possible by a grant from the Alliance for Biking and Walking and you can read a recent post about it on their blog. Check our website or the Bike Bites e-newsletter for future Hub & Spoke dates.
