Civics Day

The League of Michigan Bicyclists named PEDAL Michigan’s Bike Shop of the Year for 2025. This is a terrific honor. I am very proud of and happy for my coworkers, who actually do the work that makes someone think we’re possibly worthy of such accolades.

The award was presented during lunch at LMB’s Bicycle and Trail Advocacy Day at which volunteers advocate (!) for current and proposed legislative items to Michigan State Representatives and Senators.

My state legislators, Representative Julie Rogers and Senator Sean McMann, are people I’ve known a long time. I was scheduled to meet with them at lunch and was very comfortable talking with them. I was way *less* comfortable talking to legislators that I didn’t know, but I did it. Every legislator and staff person I spoke with was generous and kind. For my part, I was conversant on the material and was partnered with people who were more comfortable talking with, you know, complete strangers than me.

In large part because the shops are in full swing by mid-May, I’d never participated in this event. For that same reason, I was some percent nervous about attending this year, but it was terrific! Of course it was great fun to accept the award for Pedal. Perhaps more so, I was thrilled to participate in government for a few hours. LMB does good work on cycling’s behalf, and it was a pleasure to help out a tiny bit.