Bike advocacy group PeopleForBikes is launching a nationwide US series of bike industry/community networking events. DRAFT: A PeopleForBikes Meetup will debut in the DC Metro Area and Los Angeles on 18 October – followed by Duluth, Minnesota, and Park City, Utah, in the following weeks. Six additional cities plan to host DRAFT events in January 2017.
DRAFT is a new program of PeopleForBikes’ Business Network, which brings together start-ups, event organizers, bike industry/suppliers/retailers, bloggers, advocates – ‘anyone who is passionate about bicycling in its many shapes and forms’.
DRAFT events follow a simple format: informal networking, group announcements, four short presentations and audience questions.
“There are so many creative people in the bike space that we designed DRAFT to help tease out great ideas and inspire entrepreneurs,” said PeopleForBikes Vice President, Business Network, Jenn Dice. “Bringing together bike start-ups, tech, product designers, organizers, bike industry of all types, and layering in community has produced an energized group that comes together to celebrate bikes. Each event becomes a catalyst to bring riders together and connect around bike ideas.”
DRAFT builds on the success of seven initial meetups, titled CO Bikes + Biz + Beer that have been hosted this year in Denver by PeopleForBikes. Originally started as a small gathering of passionate bike people, the bi-monthly Denver event now regularly hosts nearly 400 attendees.
“DRAFT brings all sectors of bicycle culture – the riders, brands, advocates, event coordinators and policy makers – into the same room to exchange ideas and build relationships,” said Josh Johnson of Pure Cycles in Los Angeles. “We’re excited to host one of the first DRAFT events outside Colorado.”
Those interested in participating or learning more about DRAFT can email Bryan Derstine via Bryan[at]PeopleForBikes.org.
