The Bike Virginia Tour is both a program for advocacy and a fundraiser. Read more to see where our funds are used throughout the year.
Bike Virginia at the Capital receiving the Governor’s Award for Bicycle Transportation Safety Initiatives in 2012.
- The first initiative type (supporting cycling related tourism), we do by working with communities all across the state to encourage supporting biking events. This includes gaining access for the Bike Virginia tour, but also includes promoting other bike events of all kinds. By having a presence and voice in communities large and small we help leaders and residents see the value of cycling for health and economic benefit. Through our Bike Virginia event we demonstrate the economic value of cycling to the state. We also drive return tourism for cycling by introducing cyclists to the riding potential of Virginia from end to end.
A community Rest Stop on the Bike Virginia Tour
- Second, we work with policy makers and elected officials. Our staff and board sit on a variety of committees and provide consultative services to Transportation Planning District Commissions and other agencies as they work on cycling related projects. We share information and ask residents of Virginia to contact elected officials at key times as legislation is considered. A list is included in the above Annual Report.
- Third, we offer grans to communities across the state for bike related projects. We develop the grant process, receive and review applications, and make award decisions to support a varied approach to improving biking. We also make contributions to agencies and non-profits that help support cycling. See the above Annual Report for a list of 2013 awards. We work with media outlets to promote those cycling initiatives following the award.
- Fourth, we use a variety of methods to encourage riding for health, environmental, and economic reasons. We participate in events, public speaking, and media to deliver a message of encouragement to people about riding (both existing riders and non-riders). We work with news agencies to develop bicycling related news stories. See list of activities in the above Annual Report.
- Income 673,000
- Expenses 723,000
- Net Gain/ Loss -50,000
Cost of Goods – Event Related at 356,000 Cost of Goods includes meals, transportation services, permits, venue fees, etc… for operating the tour.
Operational Expenses- 367,000 Operational expenses include all functions of the organization not categorized as tour operation budget and include board expenses, outreach work, media, communications, staffing, special projects, non-profit fees, memberships, advocacy travel, etc. Within expenses are the following costs: Salaries252,000, Grant Awards (expense) $4,700, Contributions to other organizations $20,000, State Cycling Website Project (expense) $10,800
As you can see, our entire budget is intertwined with cycling advocacy, and historically has been fully self funded. Our largest expense related to advocacy is in tour operation, then in salaries, specifically the manpower to be a voice for cycling in all kinds of places. We have a staff of 5. Our staff spend 100% of their time working on one of the four areas described above. We have a dedicated board as well that provide support of cycling in Virginia through a wide array of unpaid activities.
We had a loss of $50,000 last year due to some investments in projects and due to rising tour operational costs, thankfully we have some savings so we can ride that loss out. However tour attendance is critical to us being able to do all the kinds of advocacy work we do.