Washington County advocacy group changes name to WashCo Bikes

Take note of changes to the main bike advocacy group in Washington County:

Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition Announces Name Change

The Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition (WashCo BTC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose members have been a consistent voice for the bicycling community in Washington
County, Oregon.

While the roots of the organization can be traced back to the late 1990’s, WashCo BTC officially became an independent non-profit agency in 2005. The mission of the organization is to promote bicycle transportation, protect bicyclists’ rights and improve bicycling conditions throughout Washington County, Oregon through education, advocacy and community. In short, WashCo BTC makes bicyclists and bicycling better in Washington County.

As an organization, we take pride in what WashCo BTC has accomplished to date, but recognize there is much opportunity for future growth. Over the past several months the board and staff have closely examined what we must do to take WashCo BTC to the next level.

As a part of this effort, we have looked at the name of the group itself. Although long-time members of the cycling community are familiar with the name and associated mission of WashCo BTC, we feel it may not effectively communicate what the organization is all about to those who are new to our area.

It is with this thought in mind that we want to share with you our new name: WashCo Bikes.

In choosing this name, we are putting the emphasis on what our organization is all about – Bikes. We are all about the noun – Bikes. We teach people how to ride bikes safely and how to repair their bikes too. Our shop refurbishes, repairs, and sells affordable bikes. This means more people who need or want a bike can buy one.

We are also equally about the verb – Bike. Our summer camps introduce kids to the freedom and joy of riding a bike, and strive to instill in them a lifelong love of biking. By encouraging our members to be the voice of advocacy for those who ride bikes, we help make Washington County a friendlier, safer, and more enjoyable place to bike. And by promoting community rides, we help create opportunities for all county citizens to get out on their bikes and bike!

The change in of name also reflects our overall commitment to further organizational growth and doing things differently. As we move forward, we plan to expand the organization’s programs to more fully meet the Bike needs of everyone who lives in Washington County. Ours is an organization that has historically relied on volunteers for leadership and staffing. As we take this next step in our organization’s growth, we plan to hire additional professional staff who can provide strong leadership and vision, bring fresh perspectives, and offer expertise in areas like program development and program management.

While these changes are going to help take the organization to the next level, they will never diminish our need for dedicated volunteers and supportive members who are committed to making bicyclists and bicycling better here in Washington County.