Our Policy & Design Committee has been hard at work showing up, digging into city projects and budgets, and advocating for better, safer streets across New Orleans. We wanted to share a few updates and some opportunities for you to get involved.Bike Streets Scavenger HuntThank you to everyone who participated in the Bike Streets bike rack scavenger hunt! We believe Bike Streets is an amazing piece of digital infrastructure, and weve seen firsthand how much easier it can make navigating the city by bike. If you havent checked out the map or app yet, we highly encourage you to do so.Bike Streets New Orleans is a grassroots effort that relies on community suggestions to identify quiet streets and protected infrastructure, as well as construction, closures and other disruptions that arent always formally communicated. If youre interested in the methodology behind Bike Streets, you can also check out Avis book.Downtown Bikeway NetworkOne piece of good news is that the City has begun planning a new Downtown Bikeway Network. Well be keeping a close eye on this project and have already provided feedback on the design.Get Involved in the City BudgetThe Citys budget is one of the biggest opportunities we have to advocate for the infrastructure and services we want to see in New Orleans. City Council budget hearings are happening now, and many of the Departments we work with are presenting their plans. The hearings are open to the public, and residents can attend and provide comment. We highly encourage you to do so.This schedule is open to change so click here to check the most up to date infoIf, like us, you find the City budget a little intimidating, there are some great resources to help make sense of it. Here are some handy links:Committee for a Better New Orleans budget guide Budget hearing scheduleStream of initial Budget Presentation from September 22nd. Remember: you can catch previous Livestreams in the City Councils Youtube channel. Committee for Better New Orleans Webinar: Residents Guide to the new Citys Budget Dashboard and other resources that can help you understand where money is going and how to participate.We especially encourage folks interested in biking, walking, transit and infrastructure to pay attention to these conversations. Budgets are statements of priorities, and showing up during the process is one way we can make sure safe, connected transportation is part of that conversation.Other Ways to Weigh InComment on changes to North Broad Street by October 2DOTD is planning to resurface US 90 from Lafitte Avenue to France Road. The project includes some welcome pedestrian improvements, but also changes to the existing bike lane, medians and turning movements. At the recent public meeting, we learned that portions of the existing buffered bike lane will lose buffer space to accommodate vehicle turning movements, while the bike lane itself would remain paint-only. If you bike, walk, live or travel along Broad Street, please take a few minutes to review the proposal and share your thoughts with DOTD.Submit a comment hereComment on the regions Transportation Improvement Program by October 12The Regional Planning Commissions Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lays out transportation projects expected to receive federal funding over the next four years. You dont need to review the entire document. If theres a project, dangerous crossing or missing connection you know well, tell the RPC about it. Wed particularly like to highlight the St. Claude Avenue corridor study and encourage the RPC to prioritize and expedite that work.Review the TIP and commentHelp shape the regions long-term transportation plan by October 12The RPC is also accepting comments on its Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2056, which sets transportation priorities for the Greater New Orleans region over the coming decades. This is a good place to share your broader experience: What would make it easier and safer to walk, bike or take transit to work, school and everyday destinations?Read the plan and commentFederal transportation fundingCongress is working on the next federal transportation bill, and proposals under discussion in the Senate could restrict where federal funding can be used for bike lanes and other bike-safety projects. The League of American Bicyclists is asking people to contact their members of Congress and urge them to preserve federal funding for biking and walking safety projects. It takes about a minute, and adding a couple of sentences about why safe biking infrastructure matters in your community makes the message more personal.Take ActionJoin Us for St. Claude Trash Bash: October 10 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pmAnd finally, wed love to see some of you out on St. Claude with us! For the St. Claude Trash Bash on October 10, Bike Easy has adopted the first block of St. Claude just off Elysian Fields, an area that has experienced ongoing maintenance and cleanliness issues over the years. We want to use this as more than just a cleanup. Well be out there cleaning up the block, talking with neighbors and people using the corridor, and listening to what people have to say about St. Claude. Its also a great opportunity to talk with folks about our Safer St. Claude work and what wed like to see for the corridor in the future. Were looking for volunteers to help us with the cleanup and community engagement. If you can join us, reply to this email and let us know. The St. Claude Trash Bash is part of a broader community-led effort focused on improving the corridor, including safer streets, better infrastructure, lighting, tree canopy and long-term investment.Thank you for continuing to show up, ask questions, file 311 reports, attend meetings and speak up for safer, more connected streets across New Orleans.Policy work is often slow, but having more people paying attention and showing up makes a real difference.We hope to see you out there!Allene La Spina & Adam DavisCo-Chairs, Bike Easy Policy & Design Committee

The weather is cooling down and that means were gearing up for our Bicycle Second Line! This year, well be rolling on Saturday, November 14th. Once again, well be starting and ending at The Broadside at 600 N Broad St. Therell be music before and after the ride (as well as during) so be sure to get there in time and plan to hang around after the ride.Register for the Second LineWere continuing the tradition of our commemorative t-shirt with this years colors inspired by the iconic Mardi Gras trifecta of purple, gold, and green. Unlike a King Cake, these colors can be enjoyed year-round and we hope to see some of yall representing our shirts during carnival season! (For our out of town followers, Inkmule provides a shipping option so you can represent your love for biking with some New Orleans flair)T-shirts are available starting today for pre-sale until October 22nd. Order yours today for $25 support our mission and Inkmule, our local printer. We will have a limited quantity of shirts available for purchase at the venue during the event for $40. Order ahead of time to save yourself some money, and ensure that theres a shirt in your size! On checkout select Pick Up for your order and well have it ready for you at the Bicycle Second Line!Order your t-shirt today!All active Bike Easy members will receive an email later today with a code for a 15% discount on these shirts. If you havent received an email by tomorrow and believe you are an active member please let me know.Thank you to all our sponsors of the 2026 Bicycle Second Line!Interested in sponsoring our Bicycle Second Line? Check out our Sponsorship PackageImportant Dates coming upOctober 8 Band Announcement: Announce this years Bicycle Second Line bands!October 21 Silent Auction Opens: Start browsing and bidding on this years auction items.October 22 T-Shirt Pre-Sale Deadline: Last day to purchase the commemorative 2026 Bicycle Second Line T-shirt for $25 for pickup at the event.November 14 2026 Bicycle Second Line: Join us for the ride!November 16 Silent Auction Closes: Last chance to place your bids.

This Thursday, August 27, the City Councils Transportation Committee will take up an issue that is becoming increasingly important on our streets: e-bike safety.The meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM at City Council Chambers (1300 Perdido Street), and the current, not-yet-finalized agenda includes a presentation from the New Orleans Health Department on e-bike safety, along with updates from RIDE, RTA, the Ground Transportation Bureau, and a tentative update from Amtrak on the one-year anniversary of the Mardi Gras Service.We want you to be part of the conversation.E-bike use and accessibility continue to grow in New Orleans, which means more people are getting around our city by e-bike. Thats a good thing. E-bikes can make it easier for people to get to work, school, appointments, and community events, and they can open up bicycling to people who might otherwise have difficulty riding a traditional bicycle.At the same time, were seeing growing concern about serious injuries and fatal crashes involving e-bikes and other electric-powered devices.We believe both things can be true.We need a thoughtful, multi-pronged approach to safety that doesnt simply lump every electric-powered two-wheeler into the same category. There are important differences between a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 e-bike and a higher-powered e-moto (a term that is becoming the norm in bike advocacy circles as of late); and those differences matter when were talking about safety, education, enforcement, and regulation.The League of American Bicyclists recently highlighted this very issue in its webinar, E-Bikes, E-Motos, Oh My: Navigating New Devices and Laws for E-Bikes. Their discussion with advocates from several states emphasized the need for clearer definitions, better communication, and thoughtful engagement among legislators, transportation agencies, law enforcement, health professionals, and the bicycling community. Click here for webinar recap and recording.So heres our ask:If youre available Thursday morning, please come to the Transportation Committee meeting and make a public comment.You dont have to be an expert. We want you to share your experience.Maybe you regularly use an e-bike and want to talk about how it has benefited your life.Maybe youre a parent who has questions about young people and e-bikes.Maybe youve seen behavior in your neighborhood that concerns you.Maybe youre excited about the possibilities e-bikes offer but think the rules need to be clearer.All of those perspectives belong in this conversation.In person comments are limited to 2 minutes so make sure to keep it to the point. If you cant attend in person, you can also submit a written comment through the City Councils meeting page: Transportation Committee Meeting August 27Please note that Public Comment submissions usually wont open till the day before the meeting and usually are only allowed till 8:00 am on the day of the meeting (I do not make the rules). These comments become part of the public record, although we want to be transparent that online comments are not always read aloud: particularly if a meeting runs long.What does Bike Easy want to see?We believe the goal should be safer streets for everyone: not more regulation for regulations sake.That means working together to:Clearly distinguish legal Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes from higher-powered e-motos and other motorized vehicles.Make the rules around speed, age, helmets, trail access, and equipment easier to understand.Address unsafe operation, excessive speed, and illegal modifications.Give law enforcement and city agencies better tools for identifying different types of electric vehicles.Improve crash data so we understand what kinds of devices are actually involved in serious crashes.Invest in education alongside enforcement.Continue building safer streets and infrastructure for everyone, regardless of how they get around.We dont believe this conversation has to be polarized.There are communities around the country working through these same questions, and there are models we can learn from. The Leagues recent webinar highlighted both the challenges and the importance of engaging stakeholders early and often when developing policy.As an organization, Bike Easy is open and willing to continue working with City agencies, health professionals, law enforcement, riders, and community members to find practical strategies that make our streets safer for everyone.Want to learn more about e-bikes?Weve put together resources to help:Bike Easy: Understanding E-BikesA quick introduction to the different types of e-bikes and what riders should know.Read Bike Easys Quick Tips: Understanding E-BikesLeague of American Bicyclists: E-Bikes, E-Motos, Oh MyA recap of the Leagues August 11 webinar examining emerging e-bike and e-moto policies around the country.Read the Leagues Webinar RecapBike Law Louisiana: A Comprehensive Guide to E-Bikes in Louisiana: Laws, tips, and choosing the best e-bikeA Louisiana-specific resource covering e-bike classifications, state laws, safety considerations, and what to know when choosing an e-bike. The guide also helps explain why not every electric-powered bike-like vehicle necessarily qualifies as an e-bike under Louisiana law.Read Bike Law Louisianas E-Bike GuideAnd were putting education into practice.Later this month, Bike Easy is partnering with BlueKrewe to offer our new Smart E-Biking Workshop, designed to help e-bike riders: and people interested in riding e-bikes; understand what e-bikes are (and arent), how to ride safely and courteously, and how state and local laws apply. The September 26 in-person workshop will include a presentation, Q&A, an opportunity to ride a Class 1 e-bike, and the option to earn the League of American Bicyclists E-Bike Smart Certificate. This class will cap at 15 people so make sure to register.Learn more and register for the Smart E-Biking WorkshopFinally, help us keep doing this work.Bike Easy is a small nonprofit, and our members are the biggest source of our political and financial support. Our August Keep Bike Easy Rolling campaign is focused on building a stronger base of Sustaining Members so we have dependable monthly support for advocacy, education, and community work like this.If you believe in having an organization at the table advocating for easy, safe, and fun bicycling for everyone in Greater New Orleans, please consider becoming a Sustaining Member today.Lets show up Thursday, share our experiences, listen to one another, and help shape what safer e-biking looks like in New Orleans.In Service,{{broadcaster.name}}Executive Director at Bike Easy

Were off to a fantastic start!Thanks to the incredible support of our community, weve already reached 18% of our campaign goal by welcoming 4 new Sustaining Members and inspiring 5 current Sustaining Members to increase their monthly gifts.Our goal is to welcome 20 new Sustaining Members and encourage 30 current members to increase their monthly support by just $5helping build a stronger, more resilient Bike Easy for the years ahead.Sign up to be a Sustaining Member today!Every new member. Every upgraded gift. Every dollar each month helps keep Bike Easy rolling.Thank you to everyone who has already stepped up. If you havent yet, theres still plenty of time to join us and help move us closer to our goal!Learn more about this month long campaign here.Best,Bike Easy Team

A message from Carlos Stich (Board Chair)Bike Easy is the voice for bicycle advocacy in the Greater New Orleans area. For over 20 years, weve pushed for safer streets, better bike infrastructure, and cycling education, powered by a volunteer board, dozens of committed programming volunteers, and a small staff.Right now, that work matters more than ever. Congress is drafting a new transportation bill that could strip funding for bike lanes and safety projects, while federal officials are already scrubbing bike safety guidance from government websites. Here at home, four cyclists have died in e-bike crashes since April, nearly a fifth of all traffic deaths in Orleans Parish this year. Were not backing down but we cant do this alone.Thats why this August, were launching our Sustaining Membership Drive.Bike Easy is powered by just 55 sustaining members. That number has to grow if we want to keep fighting for safer streets for the long haul, and we need your help to get there.So yes, youll hear a lot from us this month. Well be asking our community to become sustaining members. And if youre already part of that group (thank you, truly), youll hear from us too, asking if you can increase your monthly gift.Weve lined up some great incentives to thank you for stepping up, and we cant wait to share them soon. Community members, volunteers, and local businesses have already shown up in a big way to support this drive.Have an idea that could help? Reach out. Well have virtual phone and email banking opportunities throughout the month, plus matching gift opportunities to make your dollars go further.Thank you for all you do.

Were excited to launch Keep Bike Easy Rolling: Bike Easys August Sustaining Membership Campaign.For more than 23 years, Bike Easy has worked to make bicycling easy, safe, and fun for everyone in Greater New Orleans. Together, weve advocated for safer streets, taught thousands of people to ride confidently, distributed bike lights, hosted community rides, and built a stronger bicycling culture across our city.But today, nonprofits everywhere are facing a new reality:Grant funding is becoming more competitive. Government support is increasingly uncertain. While those funding sources will always remain important, they cant be the only thing that keeps Bike Easy moving forward.Thats where our community comes in.A Sustaining Member is someone who gives a small amount each month to ensure Bike Easy has dependable, unrestricted support: not just for one project, but for the everyday work that keeps our organization rolling.Become a Sustaining Member today!Whether were teaching a child to ride for the first time, advocating for safer infrastructure, organizing community events, or responding when opportunities arise, monthly supporters make that work possible. The campaign is designed to grow Bike Easys sustaining membership base and strengthen unrestricted monthly funding during a challenging funding environment.Heres what were working toward this month:Welcome 20 new Sustaining MembersEncourage current Sustaining Members to increase their monthly gift by just $5Build a stronger, more resilient Bike Easy for the years aheadTo celebrate the launch:Thanks to the generosity of Bike Easy Board Member Adam Davies, every new Sustaining Membership and every upgraded monthly gift made during August will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000.As an extra thank you, everyone who starts or upgrades a Sustaining Membership this month can choose a Bike Easy water bottle or a Bike Easy bumper sticker set (To be delivered by our own Board Members!).Throughout August, well be sharing updates on our progress, celebrating new supporters, and highlighting the incredible impact that monthly giving has on our work. Keep an eye on our campaign thermometer as we get closer to our goal!Whether youre already a Sustaining Member, an annual member, a former member, or someone whos simply cheered us on from afar, theres a place for you in this campaign.Because every safer streetEvery Learn to Ride classEvery bike light handed outEvery Bicycle Second Linestarts with a community that believes this work matters.Will you help us Keep Bike Easy RollingBecome a Sustaining Member today!Thank you for believing in a safer, healthier, and more connected Greater New Orleans.With gratitude,

We hope youre having a wonderful summer and finding plenty of opportunities to get out and ride! As temperatures continue to climb, dont forget to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming rides, classes, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved.Save the Date: Bicycle Second Line Saturday, November 14Mark your calendars! Bike Easys annual Bicycle Second Line returns on Saturday, November 14.Well once again kick things off and wrap up at The Broadside, where well celebrate another year of bringing New Orleans together through music, community, and bicycling. For more than a decade, this family-friendly event has invited hundreds of riders to experience a pedal-powered version of one of our citys most beloved traditions.Stay tuned for our brass band lineup, route announcement, registration details, and morebut for now, be sure to save the date. We cant wait to celebrate with you!Were also beginning to seek event sponsors and silent auction donations to help make this event possible and keep it free and accessible for the community. If your business or organization is interested in sponsoring the Bicycle Second Line, or if youd like to donate an item, experience, or gift certificate to our silent auction, click here to learn more or simply reply to this email. Wed love to talk with you about how you can help make this years celebration our best yet!Entergy Bike Light Giveaway Campaign is UnderwayLast Saturday, we officially launched our Entergy Bike Light Giveaway Campaign! Over the next 12 months, Bike Easy will distribute 1,000 free sets of bike lights throughout all five City Council districts to help make riding at night safer and more visible.We held our first giveaway at the Marigny Farmers Market, where we distributed 21 sets of lights, and well continue hosting giveaways across the city until all 1,000 sets have found new homes. Keep an eye on our calendar and social media to find the next giveaway near you!#1 light set from 1,000!Erato Street Construction UpdateWeve been working closely with the Sewerage & Water Board and their construction team regarding the ongoing Erato Street project to improve bicycle access through the work zone.Together, weve developed a detour plan designed to make it easier and safer for people biking to navigate the area. If youre traveling through the corridor, please watch for updated signage and refer to the traffic advisory and detour map below for the latest routing information.Connecting New Orleans East Meeting RescheduledThe community meeting for the Connecting New Orleans East project originally scheduled for last week has been rescheduled to Tuesday, July 1.If youre interested in learning more about the project and sharing your feedback, please see the flyer below for updated meeting details.Thank you for continuing to support Bike Easy and helping make bicycling easy, safe, and fun for everyone in Greater New Orleans.

Were very excited to have Christina Whitehouse, the founder of Bike Lane Uprising joining us virtually to share her expertise. Well be hosting a talk with her, myself, and hopefully you at our office at 3530 Toulouse St on Thursday, June 18th from 6-7pm.We first started working with Bike Lane Uprising 3 years ago (almost to the day) and, thanks for contributions from people like you, weve collected a ton of good data. Join us this week at our office to learn more about how this data has helped communities around the country shape their advocacy efforts, and what our next steps here in New Orleans is to see some real change!If youd like to join us, heres some steps to take before the event:RSVP for the event todayIf you havent yet, please install the Bike Lane Uprising app, or sign up through the websiteUpload an obstruction (Im sure you can think of somewhere near you that a bike lane is regularly blocked)Reach out to me with any questions/topics youd like to make sure we cover during the talk

A letter from our Executive Director:This has been a difficult week.Over the course of just a few days, three people lost their lives while navigating New Orleans streets. One person was killed while riding a bicycle near Jackson Avenue and Claiborne. Another person was struck and killed while walking near Tulane Avenue and Norman C. Francis Parkway. Most recently, another person riding a bicycle died near St. Charles Avenue and Robert Street.Each of these tragedies occurred under different circumstances. Investigations are ongoing, and there is still much we do not know. But before we debate causes, assign fault, or search for explanations, there is a simple and painful truth: three people are gone. Three families, groups of friends, coworkers, neighbors, and communities are grieving.Ill be honest: this week broke my heart.As Bike Easys Executive Director, people often expect me to have a clear response when tragedies like these occur. The reality is that moments like this are incredibly difficult. Every fatality brings a wave of emotions: sadness, anger, frustration, fear, and sometimes even doubt. There are times when it feels like no matter how much advocacy, education, or organizing we do, change is not happening fast enough.And yet, these moments are also a reminder of why this work matters.More people than ever are relying on bicycles and walking to get around our city. For some, it is a choice. For others, it is a necessity. Every one of those people deserves to arrive home safely.One of the things Ive been reflecting on this week is how we tell these stories and how we talk about loss.Too often, conversations about traffic fatalities quickly become conversations about blame. Sometimes we rush to determine who was right, who was wrong, what rule was broken, or what decision was made. Those questions matter. But I worry that in our rush to answer them, we sometimes lose sight of the human impact.Every time someone dies on our streets, an entire circle of people is affected. Families. Friends. Coworkers. Neighbors. Entire communities are left carrying grief.Whether we are driving, biking, walking, rolling, or taking transit, there is a person behind every trip. A person behind the wheel. A person behind the handlebars. A person crossing the street. We are all vulnerable in different ways, and we all share responsibility for creating a culture of care on our streets.More than anything, I hope we can give one another grace.Grace for those who are grieving. Grace for those who are angry. Grace for those who are scared. Grace for those trying to make sense of what happened.Despite the heartbreak of this week, I still believe New Orleans is moving in the right direction. I see elected officials, public servants, advocates, and residents who genuinely care about making our streets safer. I believe progress is happening.But progress is not the same as urgency.Three lives lost in a single week is a reminder that safety must remain a priority. We need safer street designs. We need thoughtful enforcement. We need education. We need accountability. And we need to continue building a culture that values every human life, no matter how someone chooses; or needs to travel.As we continue to learn more about these incidents, Bike Easy will remain committed to advocating for safer streets and supporting efforts that make walking and biking safer for everyone.And for those who ride bicycles, I want to say this: dont let fear be the final takeaway from this week. Be cautious. Be alert. Look out for one another. But keep riding. The answer to these tragedies is not fewer people biking or walking. The answer is creating a city where people can do both safely.For now, I hope youll join me in taking a moment to remember those who lost their lives this week and the many people who are mourning them*.Take care of yourselves. Take care of each other.With gratitude,Allene La SpinaExecutive DirectorPS: I have intentionally left out the names of the individuals who died this week. Not because their identities dont matter, but because I want us to remember that these losses are not distant tragedies: they could happen to any of us or to someone we love.

Tomorrow is Election Day, and we want to encourage everyone to make a plan to vote. Polls are open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thank you as well to everyone who already voted early: we appreciate you showing up and staying engaged in local issues that shape our streets, neighborhoods, and daily lives.Below, were sharing a helpful voter guide from the Committee for a Better New Orleans to help you prepare before heading to the polls.A few Bike Easy updates before you dive in:Our Policy & Design Committee Advisory Group met for the second month in a row, continuing conversations around infrastructure, safety, and accountability across New Orleans. One immediate success: after raising concerns about the broken light at the Lafitte Greenway and Claiborne, we learned the light was repaired on Tuesday. We appreciate the quick response and challenge the City to bring that same urgency to fixing the remaining broken lights along the Greenway. Proper lighting is critical for safety on one of the citys most-used active transportation corridors. To learn more about our Committee click hereWeve also been actively working with the Sewerage & Water Board regarding the sudden closure at Washington Avenue and Norman C. Francis Parkway. The current traffic advisory was distributed after the road closure had already begun and primarily focused on vehicular traffic detours, without meaningful guidance for people biking or walking through the corridor: even though there is an existing bike lane there. We are working with SWBNO and partners to push for an acceptable and safe detour plan. Stay tuned for updates.Lastly, if you renewed your membership during GiveNOLA Day, thank you! Weve finally finished entering all membership information into our database. If youd like to check whether your membership is current, you can do so here.And one more reminder: please make sure to vote tomorrow. Local elections matter, and your voice matters too.Click here for CBNOs voting guideHave a lovely weekend.In Service,Allene La SpinaExecutive Director