About

The Virginia Bicycling Federation is a statewide advocacy organization working to change public policy and community attitudes, to improve the safety, convenience, and acceptance of bicycling; and to promote bicycling for transportation, recreation, public health and economic development.

With roots going back to about 1980, the current organization was formed in the early 1990s by bike clubs and other organizations, businesses and individuals coming together to form a unified voice.

We work closely with organizations like the League of American Bicyclists, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Adventure Cycling Association, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Virginia Conservation Network, Bike Virginia, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, among others.

We work with other highway safety organizations like Drive Smart Virginia, AAA Mid-Atlantic, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, VA Tech Transportation Institute to promote safer roads and highways for all users.

We also work directly with elected officials and government agencies — the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), various Planning District Commissions around the state — to gain advancements in bicycling access and safety, and development of off-road trails.

We helped develop the VDOT Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations (adopted 2004). We stay engaged with VDOT officials, and with legislators, to ensure implementation and improvement of these policies.

We work with state and local governments to promote bicycling-oriented tourism, and economic development through bicycling. For example, we’ve been working with VDOT, AASHTO, Adventure Cycling, and local planners to improve routing and signage of US Bike Routes 1 and 76; and promoting them with our annual Cross-State Ride.

We raise awareness of bicycling by delivering the Governor’s Bike Month Proclamation and by giving Bicycling Friendly awards.

We promote bicyclist safety through education for bicyclists and motorists.

We promote bicycling as a safe, low cost, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and healthy means of transportation and recreation.

VBF is an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff. Our activities are supported by membership fees and donations. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our membership fees and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Many of our board members are League Cycling Instructors (LCI), certified by the League of American Bicyclists.

2021 Board of Directors

Brantley Tyndall, President, is an avid bike commuter, tourer, adventure cyclist, and former amateur racer. He grew a passion for safe riding in college into an 11th place finish in the 2019 Trans America Bike Race, covering 4,193 miles in 22 days. He is Director of Outreach for Bike Walk RVA at Sports Backers, Vice President of RVA Rapid Transit, and Chair of Richmond Families for Safe Streets. He now calls Petersburg home where he also enjoys woodworking and fresh cooking with his family and pup, Sadie.

Susan Ann Glass, Vice President, has been a cyclist, marathoner and triathlete for over 22 years, but is happiest when she is on two wheels!  Bike/road safety, providing more opportunities for more people to ride bikes for transportation and leisure are paramount and have fueled Susan Ann’s passion for sharing her delight in cycling by working with organizations such as Virginia Bicycling Federation and Sportsbackers/Bike Walk RVA to advocate for greater education, understanding and mutual respect between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on the roads we share. She is a Bike Walk RVA Champion and their 2019 Advocate of the Year. She has volunteered her time, talent and treasury to numerous charities, raising many thousands of dollars primarily for cancer research, prevention and education by serving on national and local boards, chairing fundraising galas and directing cycling events. Susan Ann is a board and founding member of Amy’s Army of Cancer Warriors where she helped develop and continues to be a driver in the development, planning and execution of “Pedal through Petals” and “Climb to Conquer Cancer,” two annual cycling fundraisers supporting the life-saving research conducted by VCU/Massey Cancer Center.  She served for many years as a century-cycling coach and mentor for experienced and new riders with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. In her professional life, Susan Ann is the IT Services Support Manager for the Virginia Department of Health and has received several awards from the Governor for volunteering excellence with the Commonwealth Virginia Campaign.

Marysa Burchett, Secretary, is a newly admitted attorney who commutes but also rides mountain bikes and road. She is on the board and Secretary of Richmond MORE. Marysa also volunteers with the local Liv ambassador for women’s mountain bike clinics. SHe hopes to advocate for safer and accessible bicycling throughout the state.

Jim Lee, Treasurer, is president of Lee Construction Consultants, LLC, an active member of both RABA and Hosteling International, USA; and has ridden 32,000 miles on a road or touring bike in the last 4 years.

Allen Muchnick, a 25+ year veteran of the VBF board, has actively campaigned for on-road cycling accommodations, safe and effective trails, and less car-dominated urban communities throughout Northern Virginia since 1991. A long-time member of the Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee (1991-2013) and the Citizens Advisory Committee of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (1993-2013), Allen led the Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation’s successful 20-year fight for a “wiser, not wider” I-66.  During his decade (1992-2002) on the board of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), a leading metropolitan bicycling advocacy organization, Allen spearheaded scores of advocacy campaigns; represented WABA on VDOT’s statewide Bicycle Advisory Committee; developed two major fund raising bike tours; networked with smart-growth, environmental, and trail coalitions; and guided a six-fold growth in membership, revenue, and paid staff. From 2005-2010, Allen served on the Virginia Board of Transportation Safety which recommended highway safety grant awards by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. A skilled transportation and endurance cyclist and League Cycling Instructor #538, Allen has taught hundreds of bicycle maintenance and traffic cycling classes since 1994.  Now residing in Manassas City, Allen is helping Active Prince William advance bicycling, walking, and public transportation in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Matt O’Toole has been involved in bike advocacy since 1990, starting with mountain bike access in southern California.  From 2002-2008 he lived in Blacksburg, serving as Advocacy Coordinator for the New River Valley Bicycle Association, and on the Bikeway-Walkway Committee for the New River Valley Planning District Commission. He joined the VBF board in 2005, and has been actively involved since — even while living out of state. From 2009-2012 he returned to California, where he was a founding member of bikeNewportBeach.org  From 2012-2015 he lived car-free in the DC metro area. He now lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he rides with the Grand Strand Cyclists.

Champe Burnley – is a life-long cyclist who is a native of Richmond Virginia.  He is the former Co-Chairman of the Mayor’s Bicycling, Pedestrian and Trails Commission in Richmond and a former President of the Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA).  Champe is on the Advisory Board of the September 11 Memorial Trail. He as also served on the  boards of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Richmond 2015 , GroundWork RVA and Partnership for Smarter Growth.

Tom Bowden – a Richmond attorney/MBA, a bike commuter, and frequent bike writer, especially known for  “How to Talk About Cycling to a Conservative.”  Mr. Bowden is also chairman of the board of Bike Virginia.

Bill Conoscenti – A lifetime recreational cyclist, amateur bike road racer and former triathlete. Retired US Naval Officer. 27 year affiliation with Virginia Beach TriPower Cycling (TPC) in various roles as Vice President, Treasurer and currently Secretary. Past coordinator of VB City Cycling Community committee, working with VB City council and Mayor on building more bike friendly and bike safe pathways.

Stan Huie – a longstanding leader with the Fredericksburg Cyclists club and is active in road biking and touring. He is an instructor with the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), on the board of the Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative and a member of the Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee and Trails Committee of the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO). He is also a member of Adventure Cycling and the Rails to Trails Conservancy and is active in cycling advocacy and community outreach on behalf of cycling. Beyond the cycling community, Stan is a skier, a retired commercial airline pilot and is active with Hope Presbyterian Church and with a number of Christian organizations and mentors with a local public school.

Jim Durham – a resident and volunteer in Alexandria, Virginia. He is chairman of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), a volunteer-led organization that promotes walking and biking in the city. He also serves on the Executive Steering Committee for the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria (PHA), a citizen-led coalition of non-profit organizations, schools, municipal agencies, local businesses, government, community leaders, and concerned citizens who come together to promote and preserve a healthy Alexandria; Mr. Durham Co-Chairs PHA’s Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) work-group.

Gregg Hillmar – has been riding with the Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA) since 2010. He was elected RABA Vice President in 2014, was RABA President during the World Championships 2015 year, and has been the Event Director of the Heart of Virginia Bicycle Festival, raising funds for charities, since 2016. RABA has awarded Gregg with the President’s Award in 2016 and the Harvey Award, RABA’s highest honor, in 2017. As a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, Gregg has taught dozens of Smart Cycling Classes. Gregg is also a USACycling Coach, and coaches a highly successful Training Team every summer for cyclists wanting to train to ride 100 miles at the HoVA. In addition to RABA and LAB, Gregg is a proud member of Adventure Cycling Association and the Rails To Trails Conservatory. When not on a bike, Gregg is the Head of the Theatre Program at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.

Eric Martin has bicycled in Virginia for decades enjoying road biking, mountain biking, commuting and touring by bicycle. As a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, Eric has taught Smart Cycling courses to adults, children, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Elementary Schools. Currently residing in the City of Richmond he serves as the Richmond Area Bicycling Association Safety Chair.

Sera Erickson

Daniel (Dan) Girouard is an economic development professional with over 30 year’s progressive experience in state, county and local government and private sector consulting.  Originally, from Colorado, Dan raced bicycles in the late 70s and early 80s.  In 2014, he published an annual calendar of Century Bike Rides in Virginia and posted it on a Facebook page of the same name.  While creating the calendar, he realize there was so much more to cycling in Virginia, but it was hard to find the information.  In 2019, he created the website “Cycling Virginia” to showcase the diversity of cycling disciplines throughout the state and centralized cycling information into one place for everyone to find.  As a Board Member of VBF, he is volunteering his time to advocate for bicycling as a means of transportation, fitness, competition, and recreation.