Experts talk women on bicycles, attracting the casual rider and why bikes and beers always works
San Diego CA – San Diego will play host to the newly expanded National Bicycle Tourism Conference at the Bahia Conference Center in San Diego November 5-8, 2014. Hosted by the Bicycle Tour Network and presenting sponsor People for Bikes, this will be the largest and most data driven bike-related tourism conference ever held.
Over four fun and informative days the conference highlights attracting both more women and casual riders to the world of touring by bicycle. Luminaries from bike advocacy, the bike industry the world of tourism will offer the latest data, tools, techniques and inspiration, including keynote presentations by:
Opening keynote Tim Blumenthal Executive Director of People for Bikes “Bicycling 20/20: Increasing Rider Engagement; Growing Our Business”
- Susan Lareau President of Velo Quebec “The Perspective on Bicycle Tourism from Quebec, Canada”
- Closing keynote Andy Clarke President of the League of American Bicyclists on “How do we tie everything together.”
The panel focusing specifically on the opportunity and techniques for drawing a larger female audience to bike touring and tourism is organized by the California initiative Women on Bikes California/PedalLove.org. “Attracting More Women to Bicycle Tours & Tourism” includes moderator Mia Kohout CEO & Editor in Chief of the popular bike culture Momentum Magazine, Kellie Morris League Certified Instructor and Pedallove.org creative team member, Mia Bolton Assistant Account Executive at San Diego based Mixte Communications (formerly JO Communications) and Elayne Fowler of San Diego based Phinelli Group and former Marketing Director for Electra Bicycles, and Melissa Balmer the Director of Women on Bikes California/Pedallove.org and Media Director for the California Bicycle Coalition.
Further panels focusing on the new bike tourism territories include
- “Inspiring Communities to Embrace Bike Tourism-creating your own ‘bicycling capital’”
- “Power of Storytelling-marketing the human interest in bicycling events,”
- “Why Urban Bicycle Tourism is growing so fast? What role does bike share play?”
- “Beer and Bicycles – How does this combination contribute to bicycle tourism?”
A full schedule of presentations for the conference and online registration can be found at bicycletournetwork.org. Information and registration for the conference can be found at bicycletournetwork.org. Registration is $300 for the full conference and $125 for an all-day pass. Media reservations for the FAM bike tour or passes for the conference are available upon request by contacting Mia Bolton at mia@jocommunications.com.
Sponsors for the conference include People for Bikes, the League of American Bicyclists, Primal Cycling Apparel, Active Network, Adventure Cycling, OK’s Cascade Company, Int. Mountain Biking Association, Bicycle Ride Director’s Association of America, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, and Ragbrai.
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About the Bicycle Touring Network
Bicycle Tour Network (BTN), formerly The National Bicycle Tour Directors Association (NBTDA) was formed over 20 years ago by a small core of ride directors for professional development, marketing and networking purposes. It has grown to include more than 100 organizations that direct nearly 350 bicycle rides and tours across North America. The primary purpose of BTN is to bring together the directors, coordinators, and organizers of multi-day bicycle tours throughout North America, including Canada and Mexico, Europe, and Asia to share ideas, learn ways to improve their events and promote responsible cycling. Learn more at bicycltournetwork.com.
About Women on Bikes California/PedalLove.org
Women on Bikes California focuses on the bike as a tool for optimism in the lives of women. We work to elevate the voice, opportunity and impact for women in California’s blooming bike culture through a diverse array of new media and traditional storytelling. An initiative of the California Bicycle Coalition Women on Bikes California marries active living advocacy for women with an ever evolving new media communications platform “Pedal Love” to share dynamic and compelling stories of how ordinary people are making extraordinary changes to their lives by bike. Our key focus is women – but men are welcome too. Learn more at www.pedallove.org.
