"Anyone interested in the future of our communities is going to appreciate Mia Birk’s personal account of how we transformed Portland, OR, into the standard for bicycle-friendly cities – and subsequent odyssey in spreading the benefits of bicycling to communities throughout North America."
The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, Member of Congress, a.k.a. the Johnny Appleseed of Livability
It’s 1993, and I start this new job: bicycle coordinator for the city of Portland. “Bicycle Coordinator?” says my Texas family. “What the heck is that and why don’t you get a real job like your brothers?” I had no idea then that it would be such a challenge or have such an impact on me, the City, and the nation.
But nearly twenty years later and twenty pounds lighter, I can tell you this: it’s been quite a ride, a joy ride.
For less than the cost of one mile of urban freeway, for less than one percent of Portland’s transportation budget, we have created a city where thousands of people can and do choose bicycling as a normal, everyday means of transportation. We have more money in our pockets. We are fitter. Our kids arrive by foot or bike at school energetic and ready to learn. We are less stressed. We are more free.
I have worked to spread this message far and wide, all across North America. From the small towns to the suburbs to the large cities and ex-urbs, even to my hometown Dallas TX, we have been finding ways to make communities more human, healthy, safe, and splendid.
Joyride is about change – about creating healthier communities and improving our health. It’s about the people behind the scenes, the battles we fought, our successes and failures. Today, as we face the undeniable and horrific consequences of our addiction to driving – the unrelenting Gulf of Mexico oil spill, air pollution, traffic crashes, and obesity, asthma, diabetes, stress, and other diseases directly tied to our sedentary, auto-oriented lifestyles, Joyride offers hope, for a brighter future for us all.
Enjoy the ride!
Joyride will be in bookstores and libraries in October and on Amazon (yes kindle too) in a week or two. Portlanders, stop by any Bike Gallery location, River City Bicycles, or just send us a note and I'll make sure to get you a copy. Thanks everyone!
Win a free copy of Joyride through KINK Radio !
Contact the author at: joyride@miabirk.com
Mia is available for lectures and events. To inquire about fees and availability, contact: joyride@miabirk.com
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Joyride: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet is pioneering transportation leader Mia Birk’s 20-year crusade to integrate bicycling into daily life. With a table scrap of funding, she led a revolution that grew Portland, OR into the #1 American cycling city.
Through a panoply of hilarious and poignant stories, Birk takes readers on a 20-year rollercoaster journey of global and local discovery and education, while bringing into sharp focus some of the planet’s most pressing and hotly debated energy and transportation issues, policies, shortcomings, and solutions.
Joyride proceeds support non-profit groups engaged in creating active communities where bicycling and walking are safe, healthy, fun, and normal daily activities.
Click here to download the full synopsis (PDF).
Downloaded PDF files require Adobe Acrobat™ Reader
Click here for more great reads from the book.
Click here for an audio excerpt from the book delivered to the Portland City Club during Mia's 'All About the Bike' presentation.
"Bicycling advocates know Mia Birk as one of the most important figures in America’s urban biking renaissance. And now she has produced a witty, poignant and often funny memoir detailing how she persuaded politicians, city bureaucrats and average citizens that bikes are a perfectly sensible form of transportation. You don’t need to ever mount a bike yourself to appreciate this story, which is really for anyone who ever wanted to understand how to make things happen in a modern American city, suburb or small town."
--Jeff Mapes, author of Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists are Changing American Cities
"The world’s climate change problems can be affected by forward-thinking leaders like Mia Birk. The story she tells in Joyride is one for the ages, and is a story of transformational change that anyone in any field can appreciate. Her painstaking research of European bicycle transportation solutions and daring application to Portland OR and other cities offer lessons for all us. The German Marshall Fund has been proud to support her work.”
Ellen Pope, Director, Comparative Domestic Policy
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
“Mia Birk helped shape remarkable transportation changes in Portland that have made it the number one cycling city in the country -- changes that I'm confident her hometown of Dallas can learn from. Joyride is a great chronicle of the vision and tenacity that it takes to transform a city's mindset and infrastructure, and is a great handbook for those of us who want to bring change to our own cities.”
Angela Hunt, City Councilwoman, Dallas TX
“The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) was proud to award Mia Birk the 2007 Professional of the Year Private Sector Award for her force of nature leadership in creating more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly communities, bringing back bicycling and walking to schools, and advancing the professional capacity of the planning and transportation field.”
Kit Keller, JD, Executive Director
“For a long time, Mia Birk has been a leader in the transformation of cities into better places for people traveling on foot and by bicycle. Her work strikes at the heart of what it means to make cities healthy and rewarding places to live, create, and thrive. Students and professionals will find both practical knowledge and inspiration in this important new book."
Ethan Seltzer, Director, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
“Mia Birk a tireless go-getter who’s driven by her passion for sustainability. There are some people who love bikes. Mia loves what bicycling does for a city. She loves the impact that accommodating bicycles has on a neighborhood, a city and the way people live in it.”
Catherine Ciarlo, Transportation Director, Office of Mayor Sam Adams, Portland, OR and former director, Bicycle Transportation Alliance
"The creation of a bicycle-friendly Portland helped spur a $100 million local bicycle industry, bringing 1500 green, sustainable jobs. Take note: bicycling isn't just good for your health and community, it's good for the economy. Mia Birk's delightful Joyride is one you all want to go on."
Jay Graves, President, National Bike Dealers Association
To purchase Joyride please click here.
September 10th
Mia will be signing books during lunch in the 3rd Floor Ballroom, Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway
Mia is the keynote speaker at Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2010, the nation’s premier gathering of bicycle and pedestrian professionals, advocates, and leaders.
Chattanooga, TN
Sept. 13-17
Register before Sept 1 to receive 10% off autographed copies of Joyride!
September 22-24
Headed to Interbike? Make sure to stop by the League of American Bicyclist's booth where Mia will be signing books.
October 7th
As Part of MJCC's Ask An Expert Series, Mia Birk, Linda Ginenthal and Mark Ginsburg will tell you everything you've ever wanted to know about bicycling in Portland including safe routes to school, biking laws and women on bikes. Receive a copy of Mia Birk's new book: Joyride: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet. Co-Sponsored by MJCC, Bike Gallery, Mia Birk. For more information, visit www.oregonjcc.org
October 11th
Join Mia at a Joyride reading and book signing, hosted by the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation at PSU. More details coming soon!
October 13th
ReSources hosts Mia at WWU, where she'll read excerpts from her book, discuss her personal journey to integrate cycling into her daily life and share her inspirational ideas for healthier communities. For more info, visit the ReSources events page.
Portland, Oregon
October 18–21, 2010
November 19th
Active Transportation Symposium
March 8-10, 2011
