US Postal Service unveils “Bicycling Forever” stamps

New “Bicycle Forever” stamps set to be released sometime next year. Design is by USPS art director Phil Jordan using illustrations by John Mattos.

With just a few days left in a Tour de France that has captivated many Americans, the United States Postal Service has announced a new series of stamps. The “2012 Bicycling Forever Stamps” were made available via preview today through Facebook and Twitter.

USPS plans to preview several stamps in the coming weeks and is asking people to vote on their favorite.

About the “Bicycling Forever” stamps, Stephen Kearney, manager of Stamp Services for the USPS said this:

“We are excited to promote one the nation’s most popular outdoor activities with the issuance of these four Bicycling stamps. These days, increasing numbers of Americans ride bikes to work or use them to run neighborhood errands. Many travel organizations offer cycling tours, from leisurely half-day jaunts to weeks-long excursions. No matter how long the ride, choosing to bike rather than to drive cuts down on traffic congestion, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, which benefits the environment and helps improve air quality.”

As an added bonus, the Postal Service says they are “helping the environment” by delivering the mail by bicycle in locations throughout Arizona and Florida.

For more on the bike stamps, visit BeyondthePerf.com.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Sven
Sven
12 years ago

Of course they chose a bike with time trial bars. OF COURSE! Ugh.

Nick
Nick
12 years ago

If only the stamps depicted people commuting or running errands… unfortunately they reinforce the American notion that bikes are either toys or sporting equipment.

Spiffy
Spiffy
12 years ago
Reply to  Nick

I agree, they should have had somebody dressed normally on an upright bike…

but it’s good that they’re making bike stamps…

Chris
Chris
12 years ago
Reply to  Nick

And you can tell those people aren’t commuting or running errands because……?

A.K.
A.K.
12 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Because people around here are very intolerant of lycra (and sport cycling in general), I think. If you don’t look a certain way, clearly you don’t live up to their stereotype of what a cyclist “should” be.

Jeff
Jeff
12 years ago
Reply to  A.K.

-1. See all kinds of cyclists all over town all the time.

middle of the road guy
middle of the road guy
12 years ago
Reply to  Nick

You DID notice that the road bike has panniers on it, right?

Steve
Steve
12 years ago

Now wait.. the men’s bikes, are designed for performance (road) and rugged adventure (MTB). The woman is also on a road bike.. complete with drop bars.. but hers has saddle bags & baskets? I guess she just rode out to go grocery shopping while her guy was out riding performance?

Chris I
Chris I
12 years ago
Reply to  Steve

Yep, institutional sexism. That’s all I could see when I looked at this stamp. We should boycott it. That’ll show em’.

Pete
Pete
12 years ago
Reply to  Chris I

How is a woman on a touring bike “institutional sexism”?? The truth of the matter is way more men than women ride bikes of any kind in this country. That’s not sexism, that’s statistics. You try coming up with a cross-section of cycling in just four stamps.

Rebecca
Rebecca
12 years ago
Reply to  Steve

I figured the “panniers” were actually her sweet bike stereo system, with main speakers up front and subwoofers in the back. It looks to me like she’s rocking out to the White Stripes but perhaps the artist intended to portray her as more of a Bowie fan.

Or this could be a portrait of a successful beer run. We’ll just never know.

KJ
KJ
12 years ago
Reply to  Steve

Is it sad I was just happy two of the stamps HAD women (well women and girl)?
Unsurprised also by lack of civvies but happy with the woman touring!

KJ
KJ
12 years ago
Reply to  KJ

and why does ther word forever have a line running through it?

over all. if I used stamps I would probably get some if I was at the post office and they were there.

dan
dan
12 years ago

I think the woman at top right is most likely touring. Commuting is also a possibility, but front panniers for commuting seems like overkill.

jered
jered
12 years ago

The lady is actually riding across the country unsupported and the dude with the time trial bars is a rich dude that has never ridden a time trial or triathalon before, but he is signed up for the blue lake sprint tri, so he had to buy the bike. BTW, the BMX rider is also a female… well I can’t actually tell, but there is no reason she isn’t – right? Oh and training wheels are so last year, why isn’t the child on a skoot bike? Everything is wrong, they should cancel the whole project. Seriously people is there ever anything positive, can anyone do anything right, complain complain complain.

Thomas Le Ngo
12 years ago
Reply to  jered

+1

Thomas Le Ngo
12 years ago
Reply to  jered

Oh wait, I should have read the last part of your comment. If only I could revoke my +1.

Jeff
Jeff
12 years ago

You people are ridiculous. It’s just a stamp. Quit all your complaining. I know someone’s going to try to make some counterargument about how it portray’s cycling, the image it creates, marginalization, blah blah… Go out and ride. It’s a nice day!

Sven
Sven
12 years ago
Reply to  Jeff

Me thinks you doth protest too much. 😉
How many of your bikes have TT bars on them?

Richard S
Richard S
12 years ago
Reply to  Sven

I’ll take a run at that. Out family has five bikes. Two have aeorbars on them. They get used a lot. I love aerobars – I find them very confortable for longer distances.

I don’t have them on my commuter though.

Rithy Khut
Rithy Khut
12 years ago

I know personally I would like one that was a kind of vintage commuting one. Maybe harking back to the old schwinn or sears days. Upright city riding with a basket on the front!

Chris
Chris
12 years ago

cycling community: “Everyone should be cycling!!”
USPS: “Here are some stamps promoting cycling”
cycling community:

Chris
Chris
12 years ago
Reply to  Chris

It was suppose’ to say “OUTRAGE” 🙂

BURR
BURR
12 years ago

I’m still waiting for the Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin stamps.

zenriver
zenriver
12 years ago
Reply to  BURR

& john lennon on a postcard stamp– he was a big fan of sending postcards 🙂

zenriver
zenriver
12 years ago

yes at least one image clearly showing use of a bicycle as adult transport — sit-up bike, regular clothes. next issue!

Kittens
Kittens
12 years ago

I for one am outraged that African Americans are being sidelined again. The only person of mixed decent is a token Asian child. As if they are unworthy of full-sized representation. I am burning my stamp collection in protest

dan
dan
12 years ago
Reply to  Kittens

And I am outraged and take serious umbrage at your characterization of an Asian child as being of “mixed descent”. For all you know, that child is a full-blood Han Chinese (or other Asian ethnicity of your preference), as ethnically pure as the palest Finn. For shame, Kittens, for shame.

P Finn
P Finn
12 years ago

FYI – the line through forever appears on non-functional copies of stamp designs to protect against forgeries. I knew that my stamp collection skills would come in handy someday. That day is today.

Also, the lady tourer is going to be suffering from some serious heel strike on those panniers! Hope yer not goin’ far…