BWGI Executive Director Tavel Cowan traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the 2025 National Bike Summit, an annual gathering of bike and pedestrian advocates hosted by the League of American Bicyclists March 11-13. The Summit provides an opportunity for bike/ped industry advocates to learn about innovative bike programs, safety initiatives, and transportation policies from across the country—valuable insights that BWGI can bring back to the Golden Isles.
Left to right: Rudy Mendes (Bike Walk Macon), Grace Tuschak (Go Georgia), Cate Kreider (Go Georgia), Tavel Cowan (BWGI), John Devine (Go Georgia), Rachel Hollar Umana (BWM), Jim Hemphill (East Coast Greenway), Kaylee Pruitt (BWM), and Abby Kacen (Go Georgia) in front
The event kicked off with a group ride down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol, where Tavel joined a strong delegation from Georgia, including partners from Go Georgia (formerly Georgia Bikes), Bike Walk Macon, and other advocacy organizations. During the summit, Cowan also connected with Jamil Modaffari of the League of American Bicyclists, who advised BWGI on our recent AARP Community Challenge grant for a bike/walk audit of the MLK/Altama corridor in Brunswick. For more information about this audit and to find the report, visit the About Us page of our website.
Cowan attended sessions on E-bike education, youth advocacy, national policy changes, and building safer roads for all users, with insights from experts including recently retired U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, a longtime advocate for cycling infrastructure. In addition, Cowan met with representatives from the offices of Congressman Buddy Carter and Senator Jon Ossoff, along with Go Georgia and East Coast Greenway Alliance staff members, to discuss pressing pedestrian and cyclist concerns in our region. Strong partnerships at the local, state, and national levels are key to making our streets safer, and BWGI is grateful for elected officials who support these efforts.
The lessons and connections from the National Bike Summit will help shape BWGI’s ongoing work in Glynn County and the surrounding area. From improving infrastructure to strengthening community partnerships, we’re committed to making the Golden Isles safer for all who walk, run, bike and roll.
