Advocacy
WABA has a 50-year history of successful advocacy in the D.C. region. We depend on members and supporters like you to help us fight for better bicycling in the District of Columbia; Montgomery, Prince George’s, Fairfax, Arlington counties; and the city of Alexandria.
Want to take action right now? Check out our active action alerts here. Read our latest Advocacy Updates here. Check out our how-tos on everything from requesting a bike rack to attending public meetings at waba.org/tips. Find news, testimony and useful info on our blog. There’s always an important public meeting coming up, so find the next one here. Chip in a few bucks a month to keep this work going.
Here’s what we’re working on:
An 881-mile regional trail network: WABA spearheads the Capital Trails Coalition, a collaboration of public and private organizations, agencies, and citizen volunteers working to advance completion of an interconnected network of multi-use trails for metropolitan Washington, DC. Learn more about individual trail projects and sign up for updates at capitaltrailscoalition.org, and follow along on Twitter at @TrailsCoalition. Are you involved with an organization, business, or agency that wants to help our efforts? Reach out to our Trails Coalition Manager, Steph Piperno (stephanie.piperno@waba.org) to learn about joining the Capital Trails Coalition!
A network of protected bike lanes and other low-stress, on-street Infrastructure: We know that our streets get safer when we organize with our neighbors and demand better places to bike. Our District-wide campaign takes a ward by ward, street by street approach to building support for building the low stress network across DC. Get involved in a campaign at waba.org/network
We also work with grassroots advocates across the region to support better places to bike. Looking to get involved? Check out our Action Center, or send us an email.
A transportation network that’s safe for everyone: WABA works in coalition with organizations across the region to advance transportation equity. We also convene the annual Washington Region Vision Zero Summit, which brings together elected officials, decision-makers, advocates, thought leaders, and the private sector to share best practices, insights and innovations to build a safer, more equitable transportation network.
Learn more, submit a speaker/keynote proposal, register, and view past Summit event recaps at waba.org/vzsummit. Contact our Vision Zero Manager, Hannah Neagle with questions or to get involved as a Planning Committee Member!
Supporting victims and elevating voices: WABA’s Crash Reporting Tool connects crash victims with legal support and other resources. We also support regional chapters of Families for Safe Streets, a national organization founded in 2014 by the families of loved ones who were killed or injured in crashes in New York City. Families for Safe Streets confronts the epidemic of traffic violence by advocating for life-saving changes and providing support to those who have been changed by crashes. Regional chapters include DC Families for Safe Streets, NOVA Families for Safe Streets (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax), and Montgomery Families for Safe Streets (website coming soon!).
Still have questions? Email us! advocacy@waba.org