In 1996, Bill Wilkinson and Charlie Gandy of the Bicycle Federation of America (now the National Center for Bicycling and Walking) invited 25 leaders of bicycle advocacy organizations to the remote Thunderhead Ranch in Wyoming.

While these 25 leaders were all facing similar challenges and opportunities in their communities, they had never before all met face-to-face.

As Charlie recalls: “That was the first time that these very talented social entrepreneurs came together as peers. The sense of shared enterprise and collaboration -- I have not seen that anywhere stronger than among this group of bicycle and pedestrian advocates.”

Advocacy leaders from across the United States gather at the first Thunderhead Retreat in 1996. Image courtesy Charlie Gandy

The leading local advocates soon realized the immense power of skill-sharing and mutual support across organizations. By the end of the second Thunderhead Retreat in 1997, grassroots leaders recognized that the efforts generated by gatherings of advocacy peers merited the establishment of a permanent organization. The Thunderhead Alliance, now known as the Alliance for Biking & Walking, was established with the explicit goal to link state and local bike advocacy organizations and leaders.

Since then, the Alliance has held retreats, hosted regional and focused training sessions, energized national and international conferences and, most importantly, influenced policymakers at the state and local levels.  

The Alliance’s Founding Director: Susie Stephens

Susie Stephens was an original attendee of the 1996 Thunderhead Retreat. At the time, Susie was executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington in Washington state. Susie worked with several key local advocates from around the country to form the Thunderhead Alliance, now known as the Alliance for Biking & Walking. Susie served as the Alliance’s first managing director.

Susie gave a keynote speech at the 1998 Pro Walk Pro Bike conference in Santa Monica. Her energy and passion for growing the bicycling movement is on display in the video of her talk.

In 1999, Susie wrote a letter to Randy Neufeld that summed up her commitment to the movement. “This bicycle stuff is my passion,” she wrote. “That simple and efficient little machine represents everything I believe in: sustainable living, a cleaner earth, egalitarianism and community. Also, I can think of no finer group of people to call my peers and mentors.” 

After serving as the Alliance’s founding director, Susie started her own consulting business to help communities and government agencies better plan for bicycling and walking.

In 2002, Susie traveled to St. Louis on her second consulting job. The task at hand: train National Forest Service employees on better planning for bicycle and pedestrian use. While in town, she walked across the street to make copies and grab a cup of coffee. On her way back across the street, she was fatally struck by a turning tour bus. She was 36.

Her sudden death was a huge shock to the bicycling and walking movement. Many advocates had been inspired by her strong advocacy skills and colorful passion for the active transportation advocacy movement.

Since Susie’s untimely passing, Susie’s mother Nancy MacKerrow has used funds from an insurance settlement to plant trees in Susie’s name - creating a Susie Forest that reaches around the world. Nancy also donates funds to the Alliance to award scholarships for new and growing advocates to attend trainings. 

The Alliance continues to honor Susie’s foundational support for the biking and walking movement.

At each Alliance Leadership Retreat, leaders plant a Susie Tree to mark Susie’s lasting impact on our movement. Alliance staff award full and partial scholarships for advocates in need to attend Alliance trainings. And each year in conjunction with the National Bike Summit, the Alliance awards the Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award to an advocate who carries on Susie’s passion for advocating for bicycling as a fun and economical means of transportation, as well as creating a safe biking and walking environment for all.