Sunday, August 19, 2018
FABB Needs You!
Since FABB’s founding, volunteers have been critical to our success and especially to our recent growth and expanded advocacy. This success has only increased our need for more volunteers to help make bicycling better in Fairfax County.
Sadly, we occasionally have to turn down opportunities to help with outreach, leading social rides, working with allied non-profits, and representing bicyclists’ interests with government.
Looking ahead to the fall and into early 2019, FABB has a diverse set of volunteer opportunities to offer that should appeal to a range of member interests and skills and, hopefully, to YOU. If not exactly right for you, then please share the following with friends who might be interested.
Tour de Mount Vernon. On Saturday, October 27, FABB will again co-host the Tour of the Mount Vernon. FABB is working with Supervisor Dan Storck, Fairfax County government offices, and local community and bicycle enthusiasts to build on last year's successful ride. We need volunteers for the day of event to register, distribute socks and t-shirts, and support the riders at pit stops along the route.
Social Rides. When not sponsoring its own social rides, FABB is regularly asked to lead rides for other organizations promoting bicycling. Social rides usually focus on education and encouragement, are at a slower easier pace, and take time to explore points of interests in our communities. These rides are a great way to make new friends and to get people involved in biking. Do you have any ideas for fun rides? FABB is happy to help you get started.
Outreach. Are you a people person? Do you like engaging the public on issues you care about such as health, the environment, and bicycling? FABB could really use your help. Throughout the year FABB has multiple opportunities to increase public awareness about bicycling in Fairfax County and build support for better bicycling opportunities. In addition to multiple Bike Month events in May, we attend Fairfax County’s Springfest, local health and wellness fairs, and other transportation-related events.
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| Virginia Advocates at 2018 National Bike Summit |
Advocacy. Have you been thinking about getting more involved in bicycle advocacy? FABB can help! We can provide you the basic training and help support your advocacy efforts. FABB also sends volunteers to attend major bicycle advocacy events where you can increase your skills and network with other bike advocates, all while also supporting FABB’s outreach to other organizations and government officials.
- National Bike Summit. FABB will be looking for volunteers to represent us at the National Bike Summit, which will be held in Washington, DC, from March 9-12. This is the biggest bike advocacy event of the year and includes workshops, group rides, and opportunities to meet with national legislators to advocate for better bicycle laws and infrastructure.
- Mid-Atlantic Greenways & Trails Summit. FABB, as part of its collaboration with the Capital Trails Coalition, is considering sending one or more volunteer representatives to the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Greenways & Trails Summit, hosted by East Coast Greenway Alliance. This summit, which will be in Philadelphia from April 4-6, 2019, will bring together active transportation advocates and leaders to help advance bicycling and walking innovations across the mid-Atlantic region.
Communications. Do you love social media and have a desire to help spread a pro-bicycling message? FABB welcomes volunteers to help us in getting out the word on opportunities to make bicycling better in our region. Our Communications Coordinator can help match your interests and skills to our needs on social media, our website, and with local media outlets.
FABB needs YOU! Even the smallest contribution of your time and efforts will go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal of making bicycling better in Fairfax County. Please help us keep up the momentum and volunteer by contacting FABB at info@fabb-bikes.org.
Please volunteer now! It’s interesting, fun, and rewarding. We look forward to working with you.
Labels: volunteers
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Dutch Dreaming
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| Photo courtesy of The Economist |
The Netherlands continues to be the premiere bicycle-friendly country and sets a very high bar for US aspirations. The Economist reports that a new underground bicycle park at the Utrecht Central railway station, which opened last year, is three stories deep, has electronic monitors indicating where spaces are available, and has room to park 7,500 bicycles!
The national government’s latest bicycling plan, released last month, envisions spending €250 million ($293 million US) to the end of 2022 on new paths and parks. The aim is to lure 200,000 motorists to switch to cycling and to increase annual bike travel by 3 billion bicycle-kilometers (1.86 billion miles) in 2027.
The Netherlands has roughly three times the population of the DC metro area, but imagine what could be accomplished if the region devoted $97 million to news paths and parks over the next four years. Definitely a “reach,” but with your help and support, FABB will be working hard with like-minded groups across northern Virginia to move local government and businesses to provide more and better bicycle infrastructure. Please volunteer or donate now, so we can continue our advocacy to make bicycling better in Fairfax and the region.
Labels: donation, Netherlands, volunteers
Friday, May 11, 2018
Bike Month And You
It's Bike Month and if you haven't seen our video, take a minute and give it a view.
Labels: bike month, volunteers
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
FABB Needs You!
FABB volunteers have been an effective voice for more bike infrastructure, bike commuting, and education for bicyclists and motorists for many years. There is so much more we can do if more members get involved in our wide range of advocacy and supporting efforts.
Check out our new informational video and then send us a note.
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| FABB Needs You! |
Labels: video, volunteers
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Lots of Great Perks for Tour de Fat Volunteers
We now have the official volunteer signup link, so please join FABB in participating in the region’s biggest bike party of the year, the Tour de Fat.
FABB is going to be working with WABA to provide two shifts of 15 volunteers each to handle IDs & wristbands for the event on Saturday, July 22, from 4:00 – 9:00 pm.
As of July 9th we already have 10 volunteers, so we just need 20 more. Please help out by going to the New Belgium Brewery Tour de Fat Volunteer page and signing up for either Shift 1 (from 3:00 - 6:00 pm) or Shift 2 (5:30 - 8:30 pm).
In addition to the joy and satisfaction that comes from helping FABB earn money for its advocacy efforts, volunteers get free admission to the event for the shift they are not working (Full Ticket Price: $25), free admission to the event for a guest (Full Ticket Price: $25), one free beer token (Regular Price: $5), and a FABB t-shirt!
So, please sign up and please spread the word to your friends and family about Tour de Fat and the awesomely fun time to be had. Check out the Tour de Fat website for details on location and events.
Labels: tour de fat, volunteers, waba
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Tour de Fat is Coming!
FABB's major fundraising event of the year is coming up this month, so please mark your calendars to attend and perhaps even volunteer for New Belgium Brewery’s Tour de Fat.
This charity event featuring beer, music, friends, and fun returns to DC on Saturday, July 22. FABB has again volunteered to check identification and issue the wristbands needed to purchase beer. We plan to do two shifts of 2 /12 hours each and need 15 volunteers for each shift for a total of 30 volunteers. In addition to helping FABB earn its share of the gate, our volunteers get free admission to the Tour and will have time to experience some of the awesome music and fun.
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| Vintage Trouble |
This is FABB’s best opportunity of the year to raise needed funds for our work on making bicycling better in Fairfax County. Please plan on joining us at the Tour as a volunteer or as just a music- and beer-lover. Also, please encourage your friends and family to attend this wonderful, family-friendly festival.
Labels: tour de fat, volunteers
Sunday, May 28, 2017
National Bike Challenge: Thanks for A Great First Month
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| FABB is 16th in the nation as of 26 May. |
The first month of the National Bike Challenge ends on Tuesday. Be sure to log your miles by then to be eligible for prizes.
FABB is still doing relatively well among advocacy groups participating in the challenge. With 169 members participating, our average points per member have kept us in the top 20 nationwide. Not bad, but we can do better.
FABB is planning future events to help promote bicycling and enhance the culture of healthy and active living in Fairfax County. Please plan on joining us and, if you have the time, please consider volunteering to help our advocacy, education, and encouragement efforts. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact president@fabb-bikes.org
Labels: national bike challenge, volunteers
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Last Call for 2017 National Bike Summit Volunteers
FABB still has openings for volunteers to attend the 2017 National Bike Summit from March 6-9, 2017, in Washington D.C. at the Renaissance Hotel. FABB will pay the registration costs and reimburse volunteers for reasonable expenses (Metro tickets, parking,etc.) related to their participation.
The event, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, gathers bicyclists from around the country to learn about topics such as regional planning, national and local messaging, and collaborative techniques to advance bicycling. Workshops this year will include topics such as youth bike education, Vision Zero safety initiatives, and Bicycle Friendly Community applications. The summit’s final day is spent on Capitol Hill lobbying legislators on bicycling.
If you are interested in participating to learn more about bicycle advocacy and are able to commit to the three-day summit, please contact Jeff Anderson at president@fabb-bike.org.
Labels: league of american bicyclists, national bike summit, volunteers
Friday, January 20, 2017
Call for Volunteers: 2017 National Bike Summit
Interested in learning about bicycle advocacy? FABB is looking for up to three of our members to participate in the 2017 National Bike Summit. The summit is the nation’s premier annual bike advocacy event, and it will be held from March 6-9, 2017, in Washington D.C. at the Renaissance Hotel.
The event, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, gathers bicyclists from around the country to learn about topics such as regional planning, national and local messaging, and collaborative techniques to advance bicycling. Workshops this year will include topics such as youth bike education, Vision Zero safety initiatives, and Bicycle Friendly Community applications. The summit’s final day is spent on Capitol Hill lobbying legislators on bicycling.
If you are interested in participating to learn more about bicycle advocacy and are able to commit to the three-day summit, please contact Jeff Anderson at president@fabb-bike.org and tell us why you would like to attend the summit.
Labels: league of american bicyclists, national bike summit, volunteers
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Clips in Reston: Party Like Its 1991!
Clips 2016 will celebrate the 25th anniversary of New Belgium’s founding in 1991. To commemorate its anniversary, the brewery reached out to some of its favorite filmmakers around the country and asked them to pay homage to the year of New Belgium's beginning with their films.
We haven’t been told what the films are about, but just imagine what the filmmakers have to work with! 1991 was the year that the internet was made available for unrestricted commercial use, the first web browser was introduced, and the number of computers on the Internet reached one million. The Washington Redskins were on their way to a 14-2 season and a victory in Super Bowl XXVI. We danced or exercised to C+C Music Factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat. Beverly Hills 90210 premiered on TV while Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Silence of the Lambs were two of the year’s top movies. Oh, and the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Get a sneak peak at the films here.
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| Internet Messenger by Israeli artist Buky Schwartz. |
Please join us for what is shaping up as a fabulously fun night of film and foam! The beer starts pouring at 7:00 pm with offerings on tap--available in 3-ounce samples or 12-ounce pours--or in cans. The films begin showing at dark (between 8:30 and 9:00 pm). A bike valet manned by volunteers from The Bike Lane will be available on site.
We still need a few more volunteers for event set-up, pouring and selling New Belgium’s craft beers, and checking ID’s. Volunteers will receive a Clips T-shirt, pizza before the event, and a special beer to celebrate afterwards. For details on volunteer positions and to sign up, check out the volunteer signup page.
We still need a few more volunteers for event set-up, pouring and selling New Belgium’s craft beers, and checking ID’s. Volunteers will receive a Clips T-shirt, pizza before the event, and a special beer to celebrate afterwards. For details on volunteer positions and to sign up, check out the volunteer signup page.
Labels: clips beer and film, reston, volunteers
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Help FABB Kick Into Gear!
FABB is thrilled to announce we received our 501(c)(3) status in March. We are now officially an independent non-profit working to improve bicycling in Fairfax County. FABB has some specific plans for making bicycling better in 2016, and we need your help to put them into action. Here are two ways you can help:
Make a Donation – FABB is developing an advocacy leadership workshop that will train and empower a community of advocates and grow our movement for a bike-friendly Fairfax. We also plan to update our website to help provide a fresh public interface for local bike news and reach new supporters. Your donation here will help make these plans a reality.
Volunteer -- As an all-volunteer organization, FABB relies on supporters like you to donate their time to improve bicycling in our neighborhoods and around the County. Volunteers can provide outreach at local events, advocate for better bicycling, and provide administrative support and guidance. Visit our volunteer webpage to learn about specific opportunities and get in touch with us. We’ll find the right fit for you.
FABB has already been off and running in 2016:
- Holding district meetings in Mount Vernon and Mason Districts meeting new cyclists and learning about the most pressing local needs.
- Advocating for new bike lanes in the Mason and Braddock Districts as part of VDOT’s summer repaving program.
- Leading the charge for a parallel trail along I-66 outside the Beltway.
- Utilizing short videos like the recently released bike parking video to advance a bike-friendly Fairfax.
Labels: donation, FABB, volunteers
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Help Celebrate Bicycling on Bike to Work Day 2016
FABB is encouraging all members to participate in this year's Bike to Work Day (BTWD) on Friday, May 20. We also are seeking volunteers to help represent our group at Fairfax County’s 14 pit stops. This is a major opportunity for FABB to reach out to the community and celebrate bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work.
BTWD 2016 for the greater DC area is organized by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. It will include 83 BTWD pit stops all over the Washington metropolitan region. The Fairfax pit stop locations are: Burke VRE Station, Fair Lakes, Fairfax City Downtown, Fairfax County Government Center, Falls Church, Fort Belvoir, Herndon, McLean, Mosaic, Mt. Vernon–Collingwood Park, Reston–Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station, Springfield/Metro Park at Walker Lane, Tysons Corner Center, and Vienna.
Each pit stop welcomes bicyclists with refreshments and provides registered attendees with free t-shirts and chances to win bicycles and other great prizes. FABB representatives will engage riders about our group’s work and sign them up for the FABB newsletter. Whether a volunteer or commuter, make sure to register with your pit stop location by May 13 to be eligible for the free t-shirts and prize raffle.
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| FABB Table at 2015 BTWD Reston Pit Stop |
If you are willing to volunteer to help FABB promote better bicycling at this event, please sign up at VolunteerSpot.
Labels: bike to work day, volunteers
