Over the course of the next several months, the Alliance will become integrated into the League of American Bicyclists in the form of the “Active Transportation Leadership Institute,” a new program at the League which will build leadership capacity in local and state bicycling and walking organizations and recruit and develop new leaders. The Institute will have a strong focus on equity, diversity and inclusion; working to recruit new leaders; and helping existing organizations to develop and diversify their leadership. The Institute will also produce the Benchmarking Report, with the next publication scheduled for 2018.

We believe that the next generation of the biking and walking movement is best supported by investing both our legacy and our remaining assets into the Active Transportation Leadership Institute, and we are excited about this transition.

What will happen with Alliance Programs?

The Alliance’s two signature programs — the Leadership Retreat and the Benchmarking Report — are to be picked up by the Active Transportation Leadership Institute.

The Alliance completed the 2016 Benchmarking Report. The Benchmarking Report is seen as vital work to support the broader movement, and the League is committed to this ongoing effort.

The 2016 Leadership Retreat has been delayed until 2017. In our preliminary discussions about the Institute we saw an opportunity to build on the concept of the Leadership Retreat so that it was accessible to more people and could happen more frequently than every other year. During the listening sessions we hope to hear how you would like to see the retreat or other leadership development opportunities in the future. The location and timing of the 2017 Retreat will be informed by the initial listening sessions.

What is the timing for the launch of the Institute?

Planning and development of the Institute will occur throughout 2016. The first order of business will be hosting listening sessions to inform structure and priorities. The League’s Executive Director Alex Doty is leading the planning and development of the Institute. The Alliance board will provide advisory support. The League will be working with a consultant to facilitate the listening sessions.

So what is happening in the meantime?

The League will operate Alliance resources including the website and listservs. We will continue to update the jobs board and provide basic support for member communications. Alliance Board members will be working with the League to transfer our remaining assets (financial and intellectual).

What happens to my Alliance Membership?

Current Alliance members will be automatically grandfathered into the Active Transportation Leadership Institute. There will be no 2017 dues. As part of the program development we will assess our membership model.

What about technical assistance and mentoring? Who do I go to now?

The Institute will strive to raise funds to continue to provide core technical assistance and mentoring. In the interim we will be working to form peer networks to provide support.  For now, you can put out a request for assistance on the “People Powered Movement” listserv. The Alliance board will be monitoring this list for these requests and work to assign you a partner group who can best meet your needs.

How did we get to this point?

The Alliance and the League have been in extended discussions about a potential merger for more than five years. The overall goal of these talks was to reduce operating expenses and provide more resources to the overall active transportation movement. These talks led to the first collaborative step of partnering on the successful Advocacy Advance program.

In addition, the Alliance has experienced profound and challenging leadership changes over the past year and half. This is in addition to a challenging funding landscape. While we are proud of our legacy of leadership development and capacity building, we have not been able to sustain both the work and our own organizational financial stability.

The Alliance has a long history with the League. Our origin story is rooted in the desire to support state and local groups in a way that was not a priority 20 years ago. The Alliance has had successful collaborations with the League for several years through our Advocacy Advance programs and other partnership efforts. These experiences showed us what was possible in collaboration.

Lastly, the League has been undergoing its own challenges and organizational change. As our respective Boards of Directors met and discussed possibilities, we saw an opportunity to move forward together.

How will the Alliance let us know what’s planned?
We’re committed to keep members and supporters updated. League staff will be supporting Alliance communications until the Institute launches. We will share updates via emails and blogs. We will also be hosting listening sessions this summer to inform the development of the Institute.

Will the Alliance have a presence at Pro Walk Pro Bike Pro Place 2016?

No. We are talking with the League about how to transition the legacy of the dance party.