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National Women's Bicycling Forum Schedule

The second annual National Women's Bicycling Forum will be held at the Renaissance Washington hotel (999 9th St NW) in downtown Washington, D.C. from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on March 4, 2013. See the program schedule below -- and stay tuned for additional speakers, activities and announcements in coming days.

Online registration is now closed. Registration will be available onsite starting at 7:30 a.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013

6:30 - 11:30 p.m.
Bike Ride and WABA Party

Kick off the Women's Forum and National Bike Summit with a ride led by Black Women Bike DC and a launch of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's new Women & Bicycles campaign.

The ride will depart from the Capital Bikeshare station at 8th and H Street NW (in downtown DC) at 6:30 p.m. and the WABA launch party will be held from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th St NW).

(The launch party is currently at capacity. But swing by Busboys for food, drink and mingling with plenty of Women's Forum attendees!)

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013
Renaissance Washington

7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Registration

Online registration is now closed. Registration will be available onsite starting at 7:30 a.m.

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Women Bike Pop-up Shop

Browse and purchase the products and services of women bike entrepreneurs in the pop-up shop. Click here to see the list of vendors!


8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Opening keynote

Women Mean Business: A Conversation with Georgena Terry
A true bicycling trailblazer, Georgena Terry was the first to create women-specific bikes in the 1980s. She turned her basement operation into an international brand, pushing other major manufacturers to expand their offerings for women as well. Terry will share her reflections on her role in the movement and the evolution of the industry, and will be joined by Natalie Ramsland, founder and frame builder for Sweetpea Bicycles, for a conversation about the challenges, opportunities and excitement around the growth of women who ride -- and build -- bikes.

Moderator: Karen Brooks, editor, Bicycle Times
Speakers: Georgena Terry, founder, Heart of Steel hand-built bicycles; Natalie Ramsland, founder, Sweetpea Bicycles

 

10 - 11:15 a.m.
Break-out sessions

Insight from the Industry: 3 Keys to Closing the Gender Gap
From the bikes we ride to the advertising messages we see, the bicycle industry plays a significant role in encouraging more women to ride. With growing discussion and interest in closing the gender gap, this panel of industry leaders -- representing Giant, Advanced Sports International, REI, and Gazelle -- will discuss successes and innovations in three important areas: product, marketing and workforce diversity, with ideas and take-aways for anyone working to engage more women in their community..

Moderator: Deanne Buck, executive director, Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition
Speakers: Elysa Walk, General Manager, Giant Bicycles USA; Stephanie Genuardi, Marketing Communications Coordinator, Advanced Sports International; Julie Harris, Retail Sales Director, REI; Anne-Marij Berendsen, president, Aika Trading (Royal Dutch Gazelle Cycle Imports)

Community-Based Bike Advocacy: Building the Movement from the Ground Up
Who comes to mind when you hear or see the word "bicyclist"? An athlete in spandex on an expensive road bike? An affluent young professional headed to work? What about a suburban mom pedaling with her kids to school, an African American grandmother biking to church or a low-income service worker trying to get to her job? Different groups form different meanings around bikes and bicycling -- and women are playing a leading role in expanding "bike culture" to encompass and celebrate the diverse communities of people who ride. From the birth of Red, Bike and Green to the spread of Kiddical Mass, this discussion will highlight successful efforts that support a range of people who use bicycles, and will include time for small group discussions. Learn about the intricacies of developing new, inclusive bike cultures from the front lines!

Moderator: Veronica O. Davis, P.E., co-founder, Black Women Bike DC
Speakers: Jenna Burton, founder, Red, Bike and Green; Adonia Lugo, Bicicultures; Megan Odett, founder, Kidical Mass DC

 

11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Bike / Ignite Sessions

From new business ideas to innovative advocacy models, women are taking the bike movement to new heights. In these short sessions, leading female entrepreneurs and advocates will share how they turned their bicycle vision into reality. Each presentation will last 10 minutes with 5 minutes for Q&A. Between each speaker, audience members will have 5 minutes to move to another room for the second round!

12:30 - 1 p.m.
Networking lunch

Have a question for one of the presenters? Want to discuss a particular topic further? Each of the speakers will be been assigned a table number. Find a seat and start the conversation!

1 - 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon keynote and plenary

Pedaling Toward Equity on Capitol Hill
The 2012 election cycle was a record for women, bringing more female leaders to Washington than ever before — including war hero and hand-crank bicyclist Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Here in the nation’s capital, women are helping to drive critical discussions related to health, equity and transportation at the federal level. To inspire and inform our efforts nationwide, we’ll hear from a distinguished member of Congress and key agents of change in Washington, D.C.

Keynote Speaker: Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Additional speakers: Moderator: Anita Hairston, Senior Associate for Transportation at PolicyLink, chair of the Transportation for American Equity Caucus; Amy Scarton, Deputy Assistant Director for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation

2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Break-out sessions

The Bike Shop Barrier: Making Bike Retail More Welcoming to Women
More than half of women who ride did not buy their bicycle at a bike shop. While women are the new majority in the U.S. they remain grossly underrepresented as customers in bike stores. Why? Because the majority of bike stores do not cater to women. Forward-thinking retailers and bicycle co-ops are working to change this paradigm. Each are taking steps to make their spaces more welcoming and comfortable for women (and men!) of all ages, abilities, and interests. During this panel discussion, retailers will share their best practices for making bike shops open and accessible to all and each will engage audience members by addressing many of the barriers and challenges that retailers and the bike industry must overcome in order to create women-friendly bike shops.

Moderator: Mia Kohout, publisher, Momentum magazine
Speakers: Robin Bylenga, owner, PedalChic; Martina Fahrner, co-owner, Clever Cycles; Carmelita Sams, organizer, Women and Trans Night, West Town Bikes; Zack Stender, co-owner, Huckleberry Bicycles

From Road Block to Gateway: Rides and Races that Engage More Women
Challenge or charity. Fitness or friendship. There are so many motivations to start riding. For women, the social aspects of bicycling are often a key motivation and inspiration, making rides and races particularly important in engaging and empowering more female bicyclists. This panel will explore ways to break down the road blocks and turn cycling events into gateways for participation.

Moderator: Sarai Snyder, founder, Cyclofemme, GirlBikeLove.com
Speakers: Tara McCarthy, Race Director Certification Manager, USA Cycling; Nicole Preston, National Campaign Director, Tour De Cure, American Diabetes Association; Jacquie Phelan, Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, founder of Women’s Mountain Bike and Tea Society (WOMBATs)

3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Closing session

Building a Women Bike Friendly City
Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City Transportation Commissioner
New York City is in the midst of a bicycling renaissance, thanks in no small part to the vision and action of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. With innovative facilities and soon-to-be-launched bike share system, the Big Apple is doing big things to get more people on bikes. As one of the nation's top ranking female transportation leaders, Sadik-Khan will share insight from her professional rise to DOT Commissioner and thoughts on engaging more women in bicycling.

Introduction and discussion with Nicole Freedman, Director, Boston Bikes

 

Online registration is now closed. Registration will be available onsite starting at 7:30 a.m.

Women Bike