A Note From Tarrell, Executive Director Looking back on 2020
2020… While the rest of the world stood still, people on bikes took to two wheels like never before. Retailers saw bike sales up by 300% and in Europe e-bike sales threatened to outpace car sales for the first time ever.
When the shelter-in-place began, the MCBC team and I hunkered down to strategize how we could take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-envision our streets for people. We pushed for pop-up street closures so that people would have room to walk and bike while socially distanced. Behind the scenes we worked with towns and agency partners to promote and fund parklets and outdoor dining. Town centers like San Anselmo, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Novato and others buzzed with energy as residents, most arriving by bike or foot, flocked to spend money locally.
Our education programs re-envisioned themselves as well. With help from our partners at the Transportation Authority of Marin, the Safe Routes to Schools team answered calls from parents and schools to help keep their children active. As more youth than ever took advantage of the near-empty streets to try biking, our virtual programs like Family Biking and Safe Routes to Schools became critical tools in Marin’s COVID coping strategy.
As more people took to their bikes, conflicts between different trail users intensified. Our Off Road director developed a bike shop poster and answered a constant onslaught of calls from trail users concerned about safety. In the midst of it all were the happy faces of kids on bikes. Undeniable joy.
I hope you and your loved ones remain well and I want to thank you for sticking with MCBC during this trying time. For those of you who sponsored or rode an event even though we could only offer it virtually and for those of you who gave generously, we offer our deepest gratitude. Your support accomplished so much to make bicycling better in Marin this year. Your support is the reason MCBC is growing.
In the coming weeks and months, you’ll meet three talented new faces who have joined the MCBC team and you’ll learn about a project to bring bicycle access to youth from Marin’s vulnerable communities. We have big plans to grow bicycling in Marin and are so honored to have you as our tailwind.
Yours,
Tarrell
What I’m looking forward to in 2021: A new titanium road bike made by my husband!
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