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

Were excited to share that the first four days of early giving for GiveNOLA Day have been an incredible start for Bike Easy! So far, weve received 29 donations totaling $3,135, including 12 new donors; making this one of our most successful early giving launches yet.Thank you to everyone who has already given and helped build this momentum. It truly means a lot.Click here to donate today!Wed also love to celebrate with you in person! Join us for our Lemonade Happy Hour in partnership with Blue Krewe and the Lafitte Greenway Partnership on Tuesday, May 5 from 46 PM at the Greenway Roundabout. Come say hello, connect with the community, and enjoy a refreshing break with us.Looking ahead to GiveNOLA Day, were aiming to keep this energy goingand you can help us go even further. One fun way to get involved is by signing up to give during a specific hour on May 5. This helps increase our chances of winning $500 lagniappe prizes throughout the day. Click on this form to sign up, and we will send you a calendar invite with a reminder and a link to donate.Thank you again for being part of this work and helping move Bike Easy forward.In gratitudeBike Easy Team

Happy Friday! Im excited to share some meaningful news from last night, I was honored to receive the Womens Transportation Seminar Greater New Orleans Chapter Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award.The Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the transportation industry, while advancing the mission of WTS.This years award recipient is Allene La Spina, Executive Director of Bike Easy, New Orleans leading nonprofit advocating for safe and enjoyable bicycling. Under Allenes leadership, Bike Easy expanded its operational capacity, staff, partnerships, and geographic reach to better serve communities across Greater New Orleans. Her approach to education centers on meeting people where they are and giving them the tools to feel confident and safe.That means building curriculum that works for kids, teens, adults, and drivers. Every year, Bike Easy hosts numerous bike safety trainings, driver education workshops, community rides, and outreach events, demonstrating a deep commitment to inclusive, peoplefocused transportation education. I personally love the idea of working with both professional drivers and the public about safe driving in the People Friendly Driving classes, especially since our chapter also provides a drivers education scholarship every year.Allene is a tireless advocate for safer streets and a fearless voice for bicyclists. Whether speaking at City Hall or organizing in the community. As she so perfectly puts it: Showing up matters. If were not in the room, the needs of people who bike dont get heard.This recognition reflects the collective work of our community to advance safer, more equitable streets for everyone, and Im deeply grateful to all of you who make that work possible.As many of you head out to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, I hope youre enjoying the music, the food, and everything that makes this season so special. Remember to check the Purple Way guide as you get around the next couple of weeks for all the tips you need to know to bike there, take transit, and use bike share among other options. I plan to come out a couple of days to lend a hand to our friends at Blue Krewe at their station on Fortin Street. With all of this energy in the air, Im excited to invite you to join us at several upcoming Bike Easy events in the weeks ahead:Give NOLA Day (May 5) is right around the corner, and early giving begins April 28! This year, Bike Easy is proud to be part of this powerful community-wide effort organized by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, with a goal of raising $20,000 to support safer, more equitable streets across our region. If you believe in this work, I hope youll consider making a donation starting on April 28th, every donation helps us continue advocating, educating, and building a culture of safety for all who use our streets. Bookmark this link and set a reminder to donate As part of our Give Nola campaign, we will be co-hosting a bike ride with Blue Bikes:We are also bringing back our Lemonade Happy Hour on Tuesday, May 5th in partnership with Blue Bikes and the Lafitte Greenway Partnership at the Greenway Circle from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Come and say hello! Youll have a chance to learn about all of our organizations, donate to our Give Nola campaigns, and get some of Bike Easys merchandise, also available at Bayou Bicycles!Other upcoming events include:Bike Easy is excited to have you join our 3-PartSmart Biking Workshop.ThisFREEcourse is designed for those who want to becomesmarter, safer and more confident bike riders. To learn more and to register, click here.Bike Easys~Biking After Dark~is aFREE workshopfor those who want to learn how to be safer biking at night! Biking after dark can be fun, but it is important to plan ahead and make sure you always have the right equipment to be visible every time you get on your bike. To learn more and to register, click here.Last, but not least, we have a couple more Bike Valets at Wednesday at the Square in the next couple of weeks. Ill be there on Wednesday, April 29 to promote our Give Nola campaign and answer any questions you may have for us! So come and say hello.Thank you again for all your support and enjoy this lovely biking weather!In Service,{{broadcaster.name}}Executive Director

Early giving for GiveNOLA Day is officially open (April 28May 4), and now is the perfect time to support Bike Easy.Whether youre signing up as a member, renewing your commitment, or simply giving a little TLC to an organization you care about; your support makes a real difference.Donate TodayRight now, the landscape for nonprofit funding is shifting. Federal funding continues to dry up, and grant opportunities are becoming more competitive than ever. That means community support isnt just helpful; its essential. We need your help now to keep pushing forward safer, more equitable streets across Greater New Orleans.If Bike Easys work has meant something to you, I hope youll consider making a gift during early givingand help us build momentum heading into GiveNOLA Day.Donate HereYou can also make a big impact by sharing our GiveNOLA page with your friends, family, and networks. Every share helps grow our community of support. Share this link: https://www.givenola.org/organization/bike-easyAlso, make sure to check out some of our upcoming events:And also find us at our Bike Valet at Wednesday at The Square on Wednesday, April 29th and during our annual lemonade Happy Hour with the Greenway Partnership and Blue Bikes on Tuesday, May 5th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Greenway Circle.Thank you for being part of this work! We truly couldnt do it without you.With gratitude,Bike Easy Team

In March, we teamed up with Louisiana Cancer Prevention (LCP) to promote colorectal cancer awareness, during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.We worked with the local team to invite people around the region to host group bike rides and provide them with educational and promotional materials for attendees as well as promoting their rides to our audience. LCP ordered special blue lights that could be attached to the bikes and said Start at 45 to educate people around starting to test at age 45 and using the color for colorectal cancer awareness.We encouraged groups to theme their bicycle ride around blue to help promote this great cause. Blue Bikes was a clear partner and they led the charge by leading the first community ride at the beginning of March.Check out their Instagram post.The Crescent City Rollers teamed up with us on the final Thursday of the month with people meeting outside of our office and Rosa with LCP came out along with a pop-up display to better educate everyone in attendance about why this effort is so important, especially in Louisiana.Colorectal Cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in Louisiana, and its very manageable if caught so early detection saves lives.Were happy to have found this partnership to help promote this great cause and thank everyone who helped organize or came out and joined a ride!

In March, we teamed up with Louisiana Cancer Prevention (LCP) to promote colorectal cancer awareness, during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.We worked with the local team to invite people around the region to host group bike rides and provide them with educational and promotional materials for attendees as well as promoting their rides to our audience. LCP ordered special blue lights that could be attached to the bikes and said Start at 45 to educate people around starting to test at age 45 and using the color for colorectal cancer awareness.We encouraged groups to theme their bicycle ride around blue to help promote this great cause. Blue Bikes was a clear partner and they led the charge by leading the first community ride at the beginning of March. The Crescent City Rollers teamed up with us on the final Thursday of the month with people meeting outside of our office and Rosa with LCP came out along with a pop-up display to better educate everyone in attendance about why this effort is so important, especially in Louisiana.Colorectal Cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in Louisiana, and its very manageable if caught so early detection saves lives.Were happy to have found this partnership to help promote this great cause and thank everyone who helped organize or came out and joined a ride!

A letter from our Executive DirectorAround this time of year, Id usually be returning from the National Bike Summit hosted by the League of American Bicyclists, where Ive served as Louisianas State Representative for years lobbying at Senate and Congress level. Unfortunately, due to a challenging 2025 fundraising year, travel outside of New Orleans was one of the many expenses we had to cut.Consider making a donation to Bike Easy today by clicking hereThe silver lining is that Ive been able to stay local and continue meeting with new and returning Council Members: This week I met with Council Member McCarron and her team to add to my meetings with Council Member King and his team,Council Member Hughes team, and Council Member Harris Team. I also connected with the Blue Bikes team, the New Orleans Health Department, and Department of Public Works. On top of that. Ive been writing and submitting grants and supporting in-person events like Bike Valet at Wednesday at The Square and March Madness with the Lafitte Greenway Partnership during the Crescent City Farmers Market. Suffice it to say; its been a hectic week with long days doing what I love: advocating for a safer, better future for our bike community!Todays message isnt just and update: its a call to action. We have a major opportunity to make our voices heard! Next Thursday, April 2nd, the City Councils Transportation Committee will meet to discuss several projects that are critical to the future of biking and transit in New Orleans. The Agenda will be posted the day before (Sorry I dont make the rules) and will include the following:Safer St Claude: LADOTD (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development) will be giving an update on the St Claude Ave Study they committed to last year during the meeting hosted by Distric C at the St Roch Community Church.Safe Streets for All: Remember the Mobility Safety Summit and the surveys sent out to identify concerns, guide priorities, and determine the high injury network, among other done last year? Well, the Safety Action Plan will be presented that day!Transit Updates: We will also hear presentations on the Amtrak Mardi Gras Line and updates from the Louis Armstrong Airport.The full agenda will be posted on Wednesday, along with the link to submit public comments (typically open till 8:00 am on the day of meeting).Ways to take action:Show up in person:Tuesday April 2ndCity Council Chamber (1300 Perdido Street)Make a Public comment:If you cant attend, your written voice still matter. Save this link and check the day before so you can submit comment.Learn more about the Safer St Claude CampaignClick here for 5 quick actions about this campaign. The presentation has also been updated with findings from our interactive activity during SPARK: Light Up St Claude event on January 10 hosted by the Bywater Marigny Business Organization.Click here for 5 quick actions around our Safer St Claude CampaignLets make sure to make our voices heard!Other ways to support the direction of our city and regionFill out the New Orleans Department of Health and Human Services Community Health Assessment. Input gathered through the survey will help to determine how NOHSSS can best serve the City ofNew Orleans and its residents and work towards a healthier city. Deadline is May 31stFill out the New Orleans Heat Action Plan Public Survey. This survey will identify where heat is worst in our cuty, who is most affected and what the city can do to keep people safe. Deadline is May 31stFill out the Regional Planning Commission Survey. Your input will help identify current challenges, prioritize future projects, and ensure that the transportation system meets the needs of all!Last, but not least, Ive had a few requests to start doing weekly video updates on our social media channels to meetings and keep you in the loop. It could also be a space for me to answer questions about our work. What do you think? Is there something you would like to learn more about?Looking forward to hearing back from you no idea is a bad idea IMO In Service,Allene La SpinaExecutive Director at Bike Easy