Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/124935
THE ADVOCATE BETSY POPELKA MASSNICK bicyclists and pedestrians," she explains. "Right now, if a motorist kills a bicyclist, that person doesn't have to appear in court. It's alarming." Meanwhile, Bike Fed also plays an important role in statewide goals such as creating a connected intrastate bike system, developing more mountain bike destinations and increasing the number of "Bicycle Friendly Communities" in the state. "Bicycle Friendly Communities are designations received through a national group called the League of American Bicyclists," Popelka Massnick explains. "We assist communities with achieving the designation because [they] become a destination for people who want to live in a healthy community that provides safe cycling options." As Bike Fed celebrates its 25th year, Popelka Massnick says she's privileged to be part of one of the largest bike advocacy organizations in the country. "I love the fact that biking helps me feel more connected to my community," she says. "And I just love encouraging that type of community building through my professional work." STREET CRED: Marketing and membership manager, Wisconsin Bike Fed Setting the pace: After graduating from college, Betsy Popelka Massnick's friends talked her into a three-month journey to bike the length of the Mississippi River. "We started at the headwaters in Bemidji and went all the way to New Orleans," she explains. "It was a fantastic trip. We also wrote and self-published a book about our journey called 'It's Not All Downhill.'" Still high from her biking odyssey, Popelka Massnick returned to the Midwest and landed a job in the Milwaukee office of Wisconsin Bike Fed, the state's largest biking advocacy and education organization, as a bike/walk instructor for fifth and sixth graders. The program also included afterschool sessions and weeklong camps in the summer, where Popelka Massnick helped many kids who had never been on a bike take their first ride. "It was such a cool experience," she says. In early 2012, she and her husband moved to Madison and she accepted a job with the local Bike Fed office as a membership coordinator. Soon after, she became the marketing and membership manager and got more involved in organizing community leaders, business owners and everyday bicyclists to promote opportunities and issues in Wisconsin. The chain reaction: "At the Bike Fed, we represent the several million people who are cyclists across the state," Popelka Massnick says. "The larger our membership, the louder our voice." And Popelka Massnick is all about holding the bullhorn for that collective voice. As a key spoke in the wheel at Bike Fed, she helps organize volunteers as well as various programs and events, including Lobby Day, which this year brought local cyclists and legislators together to discuss bike-related laws. "We're pushing to get harsher penalties for motorists who kill vulnerable users like Biking style: Dodging turkeys, monitoring the progress of the seasons, enjoying an evening sunset. This isn't what most of us get to do during our daily commute. But Popelka Massnick considers herself one of the lucky ones. "My commute is six miles through the Arboretum, so it's really the best way to start your day," she says happily. "It puts me in such a good mood." Dream bike: "I think it would just be bikes, plural. I'd love to have the perfect bike for any kind of weather," she says. Required gear: "A helmet, obviously," she says. "For winter, I have a pair of lobster claw gloves, which I love, and a windproof and waterproof jacket are a must." She also notes that wearing her work clothes, even a skirt, during her commute helps her feel like she's spreading the message that you don't have to wear Lycra to be a cyclist. "I think seeing regular people in regular clothes makes biking seem more accessible," she says. May 2013 bravamagazine.com 41