The state of Kentucky ranks 48th in Bicycle Friendly States in the U.S. There is no Vulnerable Road User law, no safe passing distance law, no statewide Safe Routes to School program or coordinator. In spite of the beautiful rural roads ideal for touring and robust mountain biking culture, Kentucky has never had a statewide advocacy organization.

Until now.

This past January, a seed group of 50 cycling enthusiasts gathered in Lexington, Kentucky to lay the foundation for the country’s latest statewide bicycling advocacy organization: Pedal Kentucky (website coming soon!).

The founders of Pedal Kentucky want to make this a common scene in Kentucky. Image: texfstop / Alliance for Biking & Walking

The thing that first impressed us upon hearing Pedal Kentucky’s story is the amount of thoughtfulness and planning going into the creation of this organization:

• Organizational structure? Decided.
• Bylaws? Drafted (with a little help from sample documents in the Alliance’s Resource Library).
• Board of Directors? Being recruited right now.

Pedal Kentucky is determined to everything the right way. Their ambitious organizational goals include establishing their Board of Directors and hiring their first full-time Executive Director by January 1, 2015.

Characteristically, they’ve given as much thought to their initial policy goals as everything else. Near the top of their list is getting a Vulnerable Road User Law passed. (The current attempt has been buried in committee in the state House of Representatives.) The dedicated advocates also plan to seek funding for more state bicycle routes, a safe passing law, and a reversal of the current mandate to use bicycle facilities wherever they are available.

Are you impressed yet?

We recently caught up with Steve Roggenkamp, a founding Steering Committee member who just attended his first Winning Campaigns Training in Indianapolis, IN.  A longtime cyclist and commuter, Steve was excited to attend the Training and meet the staff of Bicycle Indiana. He cited the opportunity to meet with a similar statewide advocacy organization as one of the draws for attending the Training.

Another attraction for Steve? The chance to work on his own personal passion: extending Lexington’s Legacy Trail from the Kentucky Horse Park to Georgetown, Kentucky, doubling its length to provide residents of rapidly-developing Georgetown and Lexington with 15 miles of gorgeous, low-stress, off-street infrastructure.

Since attending the Training, Steve has already put his Power Map to good use, scheduling a successful meeting with an ally to develop a funding plan to make the trail extension a reality.

We are delighted to have Pedal Kentucky in the Alliance for Biking & Walking family as a first-time member organization this year.  We can’t wait to hear about their progress toward full tax-exempt incorporation and a professional staff. With such a committed group of advocates, we’re already making plans to bike the completed Legacy Trail! Please join us in wishing the best of luck to Steve and the rest of the Pedal Kentucky Steering Committee during this exciting year.