For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Shoshana Hoose, Communications Coordinator
207-623-4511
shoshana@BikeMaine.org

Bicycle Coalition Director Named President of Thunderhead Alliance

Augusta, Maine - Jeffrey Miller, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM), has been named president and chief executive officer of the Thunderhead Alliance, the North American coalition of state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations.

Miller has overseen BCM's growth as Maine's statewide bicycle education and advocacy organization from 200 members in 1996 to more than 6,000 members today. He has implemented bicycle safety education campaigns, advanced policies and laws affecting bicyclists, organized numerous cycling events and created partnerships with many other organizations and agencies.

Miller's new position will involve working with more than 130 groups from across the United States and Canada to build coalitions that will fight for stronger policies and increased funding to increase walking and bicycling.

"At a time of great concern about global warming, energy issues and health, bicycling and walking can improve the well-being and sustainability of our country and our world," said Miller. "The Thunderhead Alliance is in a unique position to foster a national agenda to increase bicycling and walking by working with grassroots organizations coast to coast."

John Balicki, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's president, praised Miller as a gifted leader who has helped the BCM become one of the state's most effective grassroots organizations. "The BCM was recognized by the Thunderhead Alliance last year as a national leader among state bicycle organizations," Balicki said.

Miller opened BCM's first office in the bedroom of his Bar Harbor apartment. The group now is based in Augusta, with a staff of five and hundreds of volunteers. Miller is a familiar site in the capital biking to the Statehouse, MaineDOT and other offices.

BCM's major accomplishments include:

• Passage of a landmark 2007 law that requires drivers to pass cyclists at a safe distance and makes other improvements to bicycling law.
• Teaching bicycle safety classes to more than 80,000 Maine schoolchildren and working with more than 100 schools throughout the state to encourage students to walk and bike to school.
• Training hundreds of teachers how to most effectively teach bike safety, and training hundreds of police officers about bicyclists' rights.
• Implementing Share the Road media campaigns.
• Working with MaineDOT on bicycle safety education, development of trails and paving highway shoulders.
• Educating motorists to share the road through additions to the Maine Motorist Handbook and Maine Driver's Exam.
• Sponsoring several major biking events including the Maine Lobster Ride & Roll, Great Maine Bike Swap, Women's Ride for Heart Health and Maine Bike Rally.

"We are grateful for all of Jeff's hard work and efforts over the years, and we are committed to continuing our work on behalf of Maine bicyclists," said Balicki. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has launched a national search for Miller's replacement.

Miller spent his first week working for BCM in 1996 at a gathering of what was to becoming the Thunderhead Alliance. Miller since has built strong relationships with state, local and national leaders of bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups, public officials and bike industry representatives. Next fall, he will open Thunderhead's base of operations in Washington, D.C. The alliance also has field offices in Columbus, Ohio and San Francisco.

Read Kennebec Journal article about Jeff...

Formed in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine is working to make Maine accessible and safe for all residents and visitors so they may comfortably and responsibly bicycle. The BCM also promotes bicycling for transportation, health, recreation and fun to enhance our communities, environment and economy.

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