Meet Adam Reel: Building Bicycle Travel Initiatives

There have been many developments at Adventure Cycling over the past few months. Armed with a new strategic plan, we've launched a new department, called Travel Initiatives that is devoted to the continued development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) as well as bolstering bicycle tourism by making bike travel easier and more accessible to anyone traveling in North America. As director of this new department, I am thrilled to announce new staff that will assist the Adventure Cycling team as we work toward our five-year goals. Meet Adam Reel.

Name: Adam Reel

Hometown: Lexington, VA

Schools, Majors, Degrees: Virginia Military Institute, BA English; The College of William and Mary, MBA

Hobbies: I am an avid outdoor enthusiast. Some of my favorite hobbies are cycling, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and fly fishing. I also love playing the guitar and going to concerts!

Little known facts about you:  I grew up riding horses, not bikes.

What's your favorite mode of transportation around town? By bike of course! I love cruising around Missoula's awesome bike-route system on my Surly Long Haul Trucker.

Why did you move to Missoula? The mix of great community and unbelievable outdoor recreation.

How did you come to learn about Adventure Cycling Association? I learned about Adventure Cycling while planning my Transamerican cycling trip during graduate school.

Why do you want to be involved with the U.S. Bicycle Route System? I believe the formal designation of bicycle routes around the country will lead to the advancement of cycling as a viable travel and recreation option.

What do you think is the number one barrier to bike travel? How should we fix it? I would say the number one barrier is the perception by some people that bike travel is beyond their skill level. I don't think there is a single "silver bullet" for a fix. However, Adventure Cycling is actively working on projects that will help to change this perception, such as making bike-travel information readily and easily accessible, making sure accommodations are available for cyclists, and advancing the U.S. Bike Route System. These projects will help to make bicycle travel an option for everyone.

How do you see this work benefiting America? This work is benefiting America by encouraging the continued growth of cycling through the creation of safe, convenient, and designated cycling routes. I see the growth of cycling helping to build a healthier, greener America.

What are you looking forward to most about working here? Definitely coming to work everyday and being surrounded by people who are just as passionate about cycling as I am.

Welcome aboard Adam! We're thrilled to have you. Now, let's get to work!

Photo by Adam Reel.

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/12/meet-adam-reel-building-bicycle-travel.html

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