Where We've Come From
Bike Walk Nebraska began as the Nebraska Bicycling Alliance in 2013. Founding President Brent Davis and a small group of volunteers initially focused on smaller legislative efforts and working to improve state roadways for cyclists. It soon became clear, though, that progress towards making Nebraska truly bike friendly would require a more sustained effort through use of professional staff.
Julie Tuttle Harris moved from board Vice President to become Executive Director in April 2015. Despite a limited budget, the Nebraska Bicycling Alliance began to make progress through partnerships, education and advocacy. The organization achieved legislative and policy changes and emerged as a subject matter expert and an influential voice for people who bike and walk.
In the fall of 2018, the Board of Directors modified the organization’s mission to include walking and decided to formally change its name to Bike Walk Nebraska in March 2019.
Our Key Achievements
- 2016: Passed a bill in the legislature to provide cyclists with the same rights as a pedestrian in a crosswalk (cyclists no longer are required to yield to oncoming traffic when in a crosswalk), and abolished the mandatory sidepath law.
- 2017: Recognized by Governor Ricketts for our role in helping to successfully lobby for the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) to become the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), on the premise that all road users would not be considered with the emphasis being on solely "roads" in comparison to "transportation."
- 2018: Negotiated with AAA Nebraska to offer roadside assistance for cyclists to their members.
- 2019: Established the MoPac Alliance after setting the goal at the 2018 Nebraska Bike Walk Summit to complete the gap in the trail between Omaha and Lincoln. Quick wins included formalizing an on-road route through the gap, installing wayfinding signage, and improving trailhead amenities.
- 2021: Championed the creation of “The Good Life is Outside” license plate to raise funds for Nebraska trails maintenance and construction. As of 2025, it has generated over $100,000 since its introduction.
- 2021: Fully funded and defended the installation of the Market-to-Midtown Bikeway Pilot Project in Omaha.
- 2022: Formation of The Cowboy Trail Coalition to oversee maintenance, improvement, and completion of the trail system, which encouraged the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to include the trail in the proposed route for The Great American Rail Trail.
- 2022: Successfully advocated for an $8.3 Million appropriation from the legislature to fund the gap in the MoPac Trail.
- 2023: The 3-tier classification of e-bikes passed in the legislature to cultivate informed access to infrastructure for e-bike riders.
- 2023: Launched the first-ever, adult learn-to-ride programming for the state in partnership with ROAM Share.
- 2023: Founded Bike Walk Give Day, a 24-hour online giving event designed for active transportation nonprofits in Nebraska to infuse local and regional organizations with capacity-building opportunities and additional streams of funding.
- 2024: Published our first-ever, statewide crash analysis for vulnerable road users.
- 2024: Successfully lobbied and supported the MoPac Alliance in securing the necessary votes from Cass County commissioners for the route to complete the MoPac Trail.
- 2024: Celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the HWY 75 Platte River Bridge after years of community engagement and advocacy to secure the necessary funding.
