Backroads

As thousands of guests tell us, our leaders are what make Backroads trips unforgettable. Ever wonder what it takes to become one? From bike maintenance to public speaking, our New Leader Training is an intense and highly educational process. Check out this The Wall Street Journal article that chronicles a recent training session in Salt Lake City: https://lnkd.in/gRK5ayrG   Big thanks to Allison Pohle for capturing the excitement and camaraderie of our newest class of leaders!

Last week, Backroads hubs in Berkeley, Canada, France and Italy organized bike rides to support World Bicycle Relief's Pedal to Empower Campaign! Together, these 112 riders from around the globe pedaled an impressive 4,357 kilometers, bringing us more than halfway to our monthly goal of 25,000 kilometers (~15,500 miles). We look forward to making even more progress toward our goal in the coming weeks! Check out our fundraiser page here: https://lnkd.in/geVmD3HN.

Happy #WorldBicycleDay! For over seven years, Backroads has teamed up with World Bicycle Relief whose mission is to change lives by breaking down barriers to education, healthcare and employment through the power of bicycles. This month, Backroads staff in all its global offices (US, Canada, France) will pedal to raise money for WBR as we strive to promote and improve biking in communities where our guests live and visit. Learn more about the cause and follow along with our progress here: https://lnkd.in/geVmD3HN

Don't forget: Bike East Bay's annual Bike to Wherever Day is this Thursday, May 16th. Swing by the Backroads Energizer Station at 1526 6th St in Berkeley from 7-9 AM for snacks, drinks and loads of fun! We're looking forward to seeing everyone there #BTWD2024 🚲

Calling all Bay Area residents! On Thursday, May 16th, Backroads will be hosting a Bike to Wherever Day Energizer Station from 7:00am - 9:00am to show some love to our local cycling community on their morning commute. Swing by the Backroads station at 1526 6th St for snacks, drinks, swag and fun! Be a part of the movement and pledge to ride here: https://lnkd.in/gMGGgkKJ #BTWD2024

Earlier this month, Retold Recycling helped us breathe new life into some of our outdated bike jerseys and gear. The 2,000+ pounds of textiles we sent in will all be down-cycled into house insulation, car seat stuffing, cleaning cloths and other useful items. We're excited to give this gear a second chance to make a difference and encourage you to do the same with any unwanted materials and clothing in your life!

Happy Earth Day! At Backroads, we believe that self-powered travel is key to building a more sustainable, happier, healthier future. Our office staff across the world are encouraged to participate in our Pedaling for Peanuts program which incentivizes alternate modes of transportation to work (biking, walking, skateboarding, public transit) for "peanuts" which can be redeemed for cash at the end of each year. Even the smallest actions can make a big difference in protecting and preserving nature's pristine beauty. How are you celebrating Earth Day this year?

What a month so far! As we gear up for the 2024 summer season, our Field Staff training sessions are in full swing in Salt Lake City, France and Italy. Our new leaders are getting equipped with essential skills, and over 800 returning Field Staff have started attending BLUE (Backroads Leadership Updates and Education). This program is designed to reintroduce and familiarize them with the latest Backroads equipment, systems and procedures. Here’s to another season of great adventures!

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! Bold, adventurous and passionate women have been at the heart of Backroads' success since day one. For over 40 years, women have held the majority of executive level positions and today make up 62% of our global Executive Team and 58% of our global Management Team! We wouldn’t be the company that we are today without these remarkable, multi-talented women.

The results are in! Thousands of votes were cast and here are the five photos you chose as your favorites of our 2023 Guest Photo Contest! Big thank you to everyone who submitted this year and congratulations to our winners who collectively took home $15,000 in Backroads trip credit. Here's to another great year ahead!