Why is being a board member of NABSA important to you?
I would like to be part of the NABSA Board to support the growth and success of the bike share industry. From infrastructure like bike lanes to national and local policy a lot of work is needed to remove the many barriers in place limiting bike share access to everyone in our communities. I believe NABSA can play role in addressing climate change through advocacy of transportation programs that are green, accessible, and inclusive.

What experience or insight do you bring to your position on the board?
I bring over ten years of experience in the electric vehicle and bicycle industry, in addition to 20 years of project management and leadership experience. I have worked in IT, finance, and logistic departments within companies from various sectors in France, Spain, Argentina, and in the United States which has provided me with a diverse and broad professional background.

I started my own eBike business in Paris in 2005 (one of the very first!). I was also very close to the Velib project that launched a couple of years later. I moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and worked for an electric car startup before joining Bike Transit as General Manager of Metro Bike Share in 2016.

I am a lifelong bike commuter. I am a board member of a local chapter of Safe Routes to Schools. I believe in education and advocacy for alternative transportation modes to cars. Joining the NABSA board will let me share my global perspective, my enthusiasm and energy for bike advocacy, and my experience as a leader of a bike share program in one of the biggest and most difficult US cities for transportation access.

More details coming soon!

Why is being a board member of NABSA important to you?
I believe that NABSA is a valuable and powerful collaboration that can influence the future of transportation in North America; I want to be a part of this effort. NABSA’s stated organizational values ring true to me, particularly the “community first” ethic and the commitment to equity and diversity. A large part of my industry knowledge is owed to my fellow NABSA colleagues. I’m excited to serve this organization as our field continues to evolve at this historic moment.

What experience or insight do you bring to your position on the board?
As Program Director for Chicago’s Divvy system, I am uniquely qualified to serve on the NABSA board of Directors. Divvy’s 100+ sq. mi. footprint encompasses a variety of cultural and political arenas giving me insight into diverse operational and community needs –not just a downtown, big city framework. Chicago has been a stalwart during the ebb and flow of industry change, as a player in this field I will be a strong addition to the Government sector seats on the Board.

My cross-sector and cross-agency coordination skills are well-honed, as I spearhead Chicago’s three-pronged bikesharing system transition (contractual, operational, and geographic). I’m not just bringing a broad perspective, I’m committed to making teams work together to find common ground, define goals, and excel cooperatively.

My 14-year career in active transportation planning, policy, and advocacy includes six years of equity-focused programming with the Divvy system. This sets me firmly in-line with NABSA’s intentional focus on inclusiveness and equity for the industry.

Why is being a board member of NABSA important to you?
I would like to support NABSA’s vision in connecting folks in bike share and shared micromobility to support, promote and enhance shared alternatives to traditional transportation across North America. At Heartland Bike Share our mission as a local, nonprofit exists for the development, promotion, and operation of bike sharing programs throughout the Heartland region for the benefit of the general public, aimed at promoting health and quality of life as well as mitigating climate change and promoting the use of sustainable forms of transportation for all people. We serve a population that expands across multiple counties, cities, and two states in the Midwest and I am interested in sharing my experience with our mission to enhance NABSA as well collaborating with other NABSA Board Members to learn more about our industry and how we can best move forward.

What experience or insight do you bring to your position on the board?
Benny Foltz began his career in the online payments industry where he also was the sustainable leader and bicycle coordinator for a large technology company earning the business a Nebraska Gold Bicycle Friendly Business award.  Benny is a co-founder, former officer, and currently serving on the board of directors for Nebraska’s statewide non-profit advocacy group Bike Walk Nebraska and also serves on the board of directors for the Nebraska Trails Foundation.  He is a League Cycling Instructor and has taught multiple bicycle safety courses to riders of all ages and skills.  Benny joined Heartland Bike Share as the Special Projects and Business Manager working for both the Heartland B-cycle (Omaha Metro) and BikeLNK (Lincoln) programs, and then launched the organization’s third bike share program, Valentine Bike Share, as the Executive Director.

Education:
M.A., Recreation Management, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE
B.G.S., Public Affairs & Community Service, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, NE

Reporting Violations of the NABSA Code of Conduct

If you feel that a NABSA member organization may be in breach of the Code of Conduct, a complaint may be filed. Once a complaint is filed, NABSA follows the below procedure:

1. A notification letter of the filed complaint is sent to the member
2. An Investigating Director from the NABSA Executive Committee is assigned
3. The Investigating Director compiles evidence
4. If enough evidence is found that may indicate a Code of Conduct violation, a hearing is scheduled for at least 20 days from when the member receives notice of such hearing
5. A notice is sent to the member in question of the hearing date
6. A hearing is held with member representation and the NABSA Board to gather more information
7. Deliberation is held by the NABSA board to decide the outcome and any corresponding disciplinary action
8. A notice is sent to the member of the board’s decision and any corresponding disciplinary action
9. The member has 2 weeks from the date of the notice to appeal or respond
10. If an appeal is made, it is either rejected or goes before a second and final Board vote

Micromobility System Affiliation(s):

Bird

Why is being a board member of NABSA important to you?

First, if you’re fortunate enough to work with great people, it makes every opportunity to engage on commonly held goals worthwhile. So far, my experience has been that the NABSA Board members and staff are outstanding. Second, I’m passionate about the work that we’re doing to expand not only the conversation but the actual mobility options that are environmentally friendly, aren’t cost prohibitive, and are also fun. NABSA also has demonstrated the ability to promote opportunities to unlock the power of data to support and shape future policy to help metropolitan transportation networks solve problems in a people-centric manner through bikeshare and other micromobility devices, including e-scooters instead of strictly focusing on cars.

What experience or insight do you bring to your position on the board?

Nearly my entire professional career has been spent working towards providing equitable access to opportunities for people often left behind by status quo thinking. Previously, I’ve done this as an educator, working in the public sector (e.g. Virginia Governor’s office, DC Technology Office, Portland’s Transportation Bureau and Mayor’s office), advocating for working people under the banner of organized labor, or on the campaign trail fighting for individuals and causes. Most recently, I have done so through my work in the Smart Cities arena, particularly as it relates to mobility. As a member of the NABSA Board, I am excited to continue this work to provide full access to mobility options for everyone.

For more than a decade, I fought for protected bike lanes to transform streets in New York, and I have carried this activist spirit with me as I have worked in a variety of positions to expand bikeshare across North America. Now leading micromobility policy at Lyft, the largest bikeshare operator in the United States, I firmly believe in the role that our bikes and scooters can play in creating cities that are more livable, safe, and healthy. At the same time, I believe in NABSA’s role in creating an environment where a diverse array of providers and governments have the standards, know-how, and network to make micromobilty successful. Overseeing Citi Bike, Capital Bikeshare, Divvy, and more, Lyft is now the largest bikeshare operator in North America, and I believe my experience there will provide the NABSA board with an important national view of the most key issues in our field today.

In October 2015, I attended my first NABSA conference where I participated in a workshop on creating a new data standard for the bikeshare industry. After hard work by Mitch Vars, Mike Frumin, Marcin Pyla, and so many other bikeshare leaders, one month later, GBFS was born.

GBFS enabled leading mobility apps, like Google Maps, Citymapper or Transit, to make bikeshare information accessible to a wider audience, and incorporate bikeshare into multimodal trips. It allowed for greater public oversight over bikeshare, such as when advocates in New York City verified a sudden drop in the number of available Citi Bikes and pressed for service improvements. It was the foundation of and incorporated into the Mobility Data Specification (MDS), which guarantees cities the data they need to manage the bikes and scooters on their streets.

I want to be a NABSA Board Member to champion the values – transparency, collaboration, innovation — that resulted in GBFS, and help maintain a bikeshare tradition that is open and fair.

Why is being a board member of NABSA important to you?
NABSA plays a critical role in micromobility and micromobility is critical to increasing accessibility for everyone, especially those who do not have automobiles. As a NABSA Board Member, I want to help the organization plan strategically to continue to be an industry-leading resource for shared, active mobility among the widening range of vehicles and changing models of service. I want to continue to help our members provide these critical services.

As a Board member, I have supported the Research and Data Committee. This committee has an opportunity to provide guidance to NABSA’s members on critical issues related to the expanding world of micromobility, such as privacy and program evaluation. During my time on the committee, I’ve supported the Privacy Principles Partnership, reviewed the first two installments of the State of the Industry report, and lent my expertise to research inquiries. I would continue to support the work of this committee as a Board Member.

What experience or insight do you bring to your position on the board?
I have unique experience related to the regulation and evaluation of dockless bike and scooter programs. My entree into micromobility was as a Research Program Specialist at the District Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. I worked extensively with the Policy and Legislative Affairs and Sustainable Transportation branches as we established the new dockless mobility program. I supported program evaluation efforts and worked directly with the service providers to receive data on the services. I helped DDOT intake, process, and use this data.

I am currently the Research Practice Lead at Toole Design Group. I lead and support a wide range of projects related to equity, safety, and new mobility. I continue to work on projects related to micromobility data and system evaluation as well as more general micromobility program support and active transportation planning.

Specific to the position as Board Member, I have completed one term on the NABSA Board, serving as secretary and on the Research and Data Committee. I have also served on many executive boards including the Board of Directors for Young Professionals in Transportation and the TRB Committee on Social and Economic Factors.

I have a background in research, transportation equity, strategic planning, and performance-based decision-making. I am a skilled writer, critical thinker, and motivated supporter of active transportation.

Bird was founded with a mission to partner with cities to help get people out of cars and make communities safer and more livable. Micro-mobility has demonstrated that people will make environmentally friendly choices when they have greater options for safe, affordable and convenient travel. A seat at the NABSA Board is an important opportunity for Bird to expand on the foundation established by the bike-share industry to continue pushing for best practices and infrastructure changes that will support the transportation of the future. We are also eager to continue working with cities to increase transportation alternatives to the car. In cities such as Portland, data from its pilot program demonstrated that bike-share use increased as shared e-scooters were introduced, demonstrating the potential for partnership and collaboration. Bird is eager to share its experience and learn from industry leaders around shared core values — such as safety and equity — that affect our communities and riders.