Running, walking and cycling groups can be a powerful voice for safer streets—or they can be excluded from active transportation conversations because of their focus on recreation. 

On a recent Alliance Mutual Aid Call, advocates discussed what their organizations are doing to engage tight-knit communities of athletes in advocacy for safer facilities for all road users. 

Why do many athletes see themselves as targets and outsiders to the advocacy community? How have advocacy organizations worked to bring the two worlds together?

Brendan from WalkBoston pointed outt hat people who run athletically are more likely than people who bike athletically to use the same built environment as their commuting counterparts. Walking advocates can take advantage of this symmetry to call on support from runners. This is a tactic that has been especially effective for WalkBoston. 

Brantley from BikeWalkRVA noted that people who ride bikes for recreation or competition often prefer long stretches of open road in suburban or rural locations to infrastructure on city streets. Also, athletic bicyclists often limit riding to training and may drive or take public transit for transportation. In contrast, many advocates focus on making biking better for everyday transportation. 

Cyndi from the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition agreed that bicycle infrastructure projects are not the way to most athletes’ hearts. On the other hand, athletic cyclists DO care about legislation, especially laws that cover issues like safe passing and vulnerable users' status. 

Missed the call? No worries. Check out notes from the call below, or listen to a recording here.