BTA hires Rob Sadowsky as new executive director

Rob Sadowsky, the new leader of Oregon’s
largest bike advocacy organization.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has announced that Rob Sadowsky will be their new executive director. Sadowsky comes to the BTA from Chicago, where he is currently the executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly known as the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation).

In a statement about the hire, BTA Board Chair Mary Roberts wrote:

“It is a critical moment for cycling both locally and nationally, and I am proud to have Rob join us at the BTA. I really feel that we are going poised to grow both the BTA, but also to help the cycling movement continue to gain momentum.”

Sadowsky will continue in his position at the Active Transportation Alliance until July. He’s been involved with that organization for nine years, the last six as the executive director. The ATA’s board chair Jane Healy wrote on their website today that, Sadowsky led them to “impressive victories.”

While at the ATA, Sadowsky oversaw a major change in his organization’s mission that could have relevance in his future with the BTA. In 2008, they changed their name from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation to the Active Transportation Alliance. That change occurred in order for them to expand their mission beyond just bicycle advocacy so they could work as advocates for people who walk and take transit as well.

Here’s the mission statement of the ATA:

“To make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. We advocate for transportation that encourages and promotes safety, physical activity, health, recreation, social interaction, equity, environmental stewardship and resource conservation.”

Both the BTA and the ATA have about 5,000 members. Stay tuned for more information following an interview with the BTA’s Roberts and Sadowsky.