About B.R.A.S.S.
Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets

B.R.A.S.S. is a 501 (c) 3 grassroots organization dedicated to:

• promoting bicycling and walking as transportation options in the greater Baton Rouge area;
  
• making these modes of transportation as safe, convenient, and enjoyable as possible, and;
  
• educating the public on the associated environmental, economic, and health-related benefits of biking and walking

• provided bicycle and pedestrian information at public events;
• staffed bike corrals at local festivals;
• helped organize and participated in the first Mayor's Family Bike Day;
• provided input through the Capital Region Planning Commission's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee on local road projects;
•  successfully delivered letters of support and petitions to the Director of the Department of Public Works regarding including bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Brightside Lane, a Green Light Plan project;
• participated in public meetings affecting bicycling and walking facilities;
• took part in the dedication of the Mississippi River Levee Multi-use Path, and;
• established regular monthly meetings, regular bicycle maintenance classes, and a web presence (www.brsafestreets.org). 

• working with BREC to provide regular, League of American Bicyclists-certified bicycle safety classes (we had our first classes in May 2008);
• working with BREC on their Capital Area Pathways Project;
• petitioning and meeting with DPW on their opposition to bike route signs (we have had a series of breakthroughs here);
• working on position papers to present to City-Parish planners on improving bicycle facilities in Baton Rouge;
• celebrating Bike to Work Day;
• organizing very popular and successful Velo! Velo! themed rides, three in the spring and three in the fall;
• participating in the second Mayor’s Family Bike Day and working with the Baton Rouge Police Department - Mountain Bike Division on the third event tentatively scheduled for October 2008;
• petitioning the Mayor and the Metro Council for measures to improve bicycle safety in the wake of yet another recent cyclist death on River Road;
• organizing a memorial ride for cyclists killed on local roads;
• meeting with LSU planners about bicycle facilities and safety on and around the LSU campus;
• helping to organize a public forum on transportation issues, and;
• working on a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plan for the parish, among other projects.

• working with the City-Parish in designing the Mayor's Bicycle Program and co-hosting a Public Input Workshop for that Program;
• holding seven Velo! Velo! rides, 3 in the fall and 4 in the winter and spring;
• providing a Bike Corral at the major downtown events in the spring - Louisiana Earth Day (April 2009), Baton Rouge Blues Festival (April 2009), FestForAll (May 2009), and all the Sunday in the Park events (most Sunday's in April - May and October - November 2009);
• continuing the Bike Corral in the fall for Sunday in the Park;
  
• working with the Tiger Cycling Foundation and Louisiana 3-feet to successfully support passage of the "Colin Goodier Protection Act;" enacted June 2009 as Revised Statute 32:76.1 (3-feet minimum passing distance) and 32:201 (Harassment of bicyclists prohibited);
• working with AARP and other groups to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 110, "To urge and request formation of a Complete Streets Work Group in the Department of Transportation and Development." on which Work Group B.R.A.S.S. serves as the bicycle advocacy representative for the state;
  
• sponsoring the 2nd Annual Colin Goodier Memorial Ride, June 13, commemorating bicyclists killed by motor vehicles in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana;
  
• sending a representative to the League of American Bicyclists' "Smart Cycling Conference: Setting New Directions" in San Jose, CA., June 18 - 20;
• screening "VEER, the movie," to raise awareness of bicycle culture and advocacy;
  
• working with BREC to coordinate a new bicycle education effort for Baton Rouge based on what our representative learns at the "Smart Cycling Conference," and more!
  

• our first 2 2010 Velo! Velo! Rides (January 17 - migratory birds and March 21 - Velo Cache-cache) went well and the 3rd is scheduled for May 30 in St Francisville!
• the 1st Annual Velo Louisiane (Baton Rouge) Bicycle Festival, April 10 - 11, proved a great success and very popular
  
• bicycling related legislation goes before the Legislature and advocacy efforts continue
• an expanded Colin Goodier ride is in the works for June 19
  
• and much, much more
  

• become a member! Your membership is important to the community;
  
• join our listserv at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BRAdvocatesforSafeStreets/;
• attend BRASS WORKS Classes on bicycle maintenance and repair;
  
• volunteer at the Bike Corrals and other events for which we need friendly bike people, and;
  
• attend our meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month, 6.30pm – 7:30pm, Carver Branch Library, 720 Terrace Ave., BR, LA 70802.

• Bicycling education and safety?
• Better on-road facilities like signed routes and bike lanes to ride on?
• More off-road bike paths?
• Advocacy?
• Bicycling and walking routes to schools for children?

• Do you think Baton Rouge is a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly community?
• Do you see it changing for the better?
• Would you be willing to contact your City Council member or state legislators about bicycling policies and legislation?
• Are there other particular ways you'd like to participate, for example by writing grant proposals, mentoring people interested in bike commuting, donating bike-repair expertise, or doing something else?

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