Mission Statement

The mission of the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition is to educate and encourage Cleveland Heights and surrounding community members to use bicycles as a sustainable and healthy form of transportation and recreation.

Objectives

  • Increase awareness and the reality of Cleveland Heights as an outstanding community for bicyclists and bicycling.
  • Increase participation of Cleveland Heights residents of all demographics in bicycling for commuting and recreation.
  • Enhance perceptions and the reality of safety for bicyclists using all Cleveland Heights roads.

Audience

  • People who already use bicycles for commuting and/or recreation, because we want them to identify their desires and concerns and, if possible, take leadership in finding solutions, including effective ways to work with City and regional governments, business districts, schools, churches and other organizations to improve the existing infrastructure and practices.
  • People who don’t use bicycles for commuting and/or recreation but could, because we want more people to enjoy the benefits of bicycling and believe that more people bicycling will increase the attractiveness, safety and health of our community.
  • School children, because we want the next generation to appreciate the joys of bicycling.
  • The right government agencies and employees, from Cleveland Heights to neighboring cities, NOACA, state and federal bodies, because becoming more bicycle safe and friendly requires their support and, in come cases, active participation.
  • The media, both traditional and social, because they are a conduit for reaching all of the above audiences.

Key messages

  • Cleveland Heights is already a leading bicycle community nationally as measured by bicycle usage and infrastructure, but we can do even better.
  • Cleveland Heights has great opportunities to improve bicycling infrastructure, promotion, education and awareness of the strengths we already have to build upon.
  • Becoming more bicycle friendly will improve the well-being of our residents, and becoming recognized as bicycle friendly will enhance the attractiveness and value of our community.
  • The Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition is dedicated to realizing Cleveland Heights’ full potential as a first-rate cycling city.
  • The Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition looks forward to productive collaboration with our City Government, schools, other Cleveland Heights organizations, as well as relevant regional agencies and partners, to elevate our City’s standing as a bicycle friendly community.

Strategy

  • Position Cleveland Heights as a community that is committed to becoming increasingly bicycle friendly.
  • Collaborate with City Government, regional government agencies and neighboring cities, schools, businesses and other organizations to move forward on implementing bicycle friendly actions and programs.

Tactics

  • Have a table at large community events, such as the Coventry Street Fairs and others, with information about the CHBC, our aims and areas of focus, a sheet listing resources for bicyclists (local bike shops, links to our Web site and to League of American Bicyclist’s materials such as the Ride Better Tips and Bicycle Safety Tips for Adults video, etc.), a sign-up sheet (space for name, e-mail address, any particular areas of interest), tip cards to educate motorists and bicyclists on rights and responsibilities to share the road, etc. Let’s be selective but have enough for diverse interests.
  • Work with the media to increase awareness of bicycling and our organization (and how to join) – once we know what our key messages are and what we want to accomplish and have some members. The media relations effort can include the Heights Observer, Sun Press, Plain Dealer, TV and radio stations. Prep work can include fact sheets, press releases, talking points and sound bites.
  • Continue to develop our social media outreach.
  • Look into becoming a properly registered 501 (c)(3) organization and having a treasurer who can submit the required reports. Consider what structure we will need for this registration. Also look in to insurance issues, if any.
  • Identify champions and, if possible, organize task forces or working groups around key areas where we want to make progress.
  • Enlist champions or task forces to focus on implementation of as many as possible of the League of American Bicyclists recommendations received as a result of our application to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community.