About the Alliance

The Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw is a joint project of area organizations and enthusiasts aimed at bringing the Washtenaw area bicycling community together.

Our Mission:

Foster better bicycling opportunities and outcomes in and around the greater Washtenaw area by sharing the collective resources and knowledge of area organizations and enthusiasts.

Our Goals:

  • Support and promote a thriving community in which cyclists can learn, grow, and ride

  • Coordinate the strengths of existing bicycle organizations in the Washtenaw area to create a better/safer environment for cyclists

  • Help make the Washtenaw area a leader in cycling culture, education, and infrastructure

What We Do

  • Borrow a Cargo Bike A2

    Inexpensive/free cargo bike lending through a joint partnership of the Bike Alliance, Urban Rider Cargo Bikes, and the City of Ann Arbor.

  • Wheelie Good News & Podcast

    We have a monthly newsletter with news and local bike events and a semi-regular podcast with amazing guests all on our Substack!

  • Washtenaw Bike Summit

    We host an annual bike summit in February to bring together local bike folks to build community, advocate, and celebrate bike joy.

  • Bike Film Fest

    We host an annual Bike Film Fest with the Ann Arbor DDA at the Michigan Theatre with a collection of short bike films.

  • Learn to Ride Workshops

    We periodically host learn to ride workshops for kids and adults. If you are interested in volunteering or leading one let us know!

  • Handlebar Happy Hours

    During the warmer months we bike to local businesses in Washtenaw County monthly and share food, drinks, and bike joy!

  • Bike Month

    We pull together a calendar of all the events in the area happening during Bike Month as well as attend and support some of them too!

Background & History

The Bicycle Alliance grew out of the 2017 Bike Summit, cohosted by Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition (WBWC) and Common Cycle. 60 area enthusiasts, advocates, and leaders of area organizations met to identify common goals and priorities. One of those priorities was to bring the cycling community together to work more synergistically toward our shared interests. The Bicycle Alliance was formed to help foster the cycling community to work better together. Other priorities identified at the summit include: closing infrastructure gaps, expanding education efforts, and changing the culture of cycling in the area. Working together, we can better achieve those aims.

The Bike Alliance currently operates as a 'doing business as' of Walk Bike Washtenaw.