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Honoring the accomplishments of Alex Doty during his time as Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Alex Doty has served on the staff for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for the past 13 years and rose through the ranks from volunteer to Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, Since his start at the Coalition 13 years ago, he has overseen a great expansion of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, including his staff growing from just two in 2003 to 20 people strong today; and
WHEREAS, Under his leadership and vision, the Coalition helped Philadelphia become the most-biked big city in the United States and earn the designation as a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community. Alex was a tireless advocate for the 2009 installation of buffered bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets in Center City making them main thoroughfares for bicyclists. In addition, he worked within the Greater Philadelphia region to build up circuit trails, connecting nine counties throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, He has challenged policymakers to embrace and advance Vision Zero to save the lives of Philadelphians. Vision Zero is a proven public safety model that seeks to reduce all traffic deaths in Philadelphia to zero. Alex helped create a partnership with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital to host the first-ever Vision Zero Conference in Philadelphia history slated for December 3, 2015; and
WHEREAS, During Alex’s tenure, the Coalition also brought the Cadence Youth Cycling Program under the organization. This model program works directly with city youth in West and North Philadelphia, fostering healthy habits, leadership and independence; and
WHEREAS, When Philadelphia announced it would be getting a bike share system in 2015, Alex and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia teamed up with the City of Philadelphia and People For Bikes to create the Better Bike Share Partnership, an equity-based program that seeks to bring bike share transportation services to communities outside Philadelphia’s Center City area; and
WHEREAS, Alex has also been a tremendous regional and statewide advocate and champion to both suburban and rural bicycling communities. This is evidenced by his active membership in the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition, which increased critical funding for transportation, including bikes, in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Alex has made what he calls “ the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my professional life” by leaving the Bicycle Coalition and taking a new job as the Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, Alex has raised his two children in West Philadelphia and has watched his family become a biking family, using their bicycles to get to and from school, work and the local pool. And as part of accepting the new position, he is pleased that the League has agreed to let him continue to live in Philadelphia, the City that he loves; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia conveys its deepest gratitude to Alex Doty for his distinguished service to the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and congratulate him on the occasion of his new position as the Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclist.
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