The Board of Directors of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition officially announces the resignation of Robert Raburn, the executive director (ED) since 2002. Mr. Raburn left the Bicycle Coalition in order to pursue other projects.
Mr. Raburn joined the EBBC in 1992 and became the Chair of the Board of Directors in 1992. In 2002 he became the first ED of the Bicycle Coalition. During these 18 years, Robert Raburn worked tirelessly on a wide variety of bicycle-related advocacy efforts. He played a major role in building the Bicycle Coalition from a volunteer-run organization of 300 members to its present status with over 2500 members and four people on staff.
“The EBBC and cyclists throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have benefited greatly from Robert’s hard work over many years,” said Tom Ayres, the current Chair of the Board. “We will miss his knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm. We are fortunate that the Bicycle Coalition has a dedicated staff, board and volunteers to carry on our bicycle advocacy work.”
According to Robert Raburn, “We have come a long way together in building a strong organization that has influenced billions of dollars in transportation funding and helped guide even State and National policies to favor bicyclists. The role of the bicycle advocate has evolved to the point where we now often find our goals integrated within the jurisdictions and agencies we urge to make improvements for bicycle access and safety. I am pleased to leave the East Bay Bicycle Coalition in an unprecedented position of membership strength and financial solvency.”
The Board plans to review the organizational structure, and may seek a new full-time ED in the future. In the meantime, the Board has appointed Rick Rickard as the Acting Executive Director to represent the Bicycle Coalition and to oversee operations. Rick has a long history with the Bicycle Coalition. An active member since 1999, he has served on the Board for the past six years and represents the Bicycle Coalition on Oakland Measure DD Coalition.
Founded in 1972, East Bay Bicycle Coalition is a membership-based, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting bicycling as an everyday means of transportation and recreation. Safeguarding the interests of bicyclists in thirty-three cities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, the Bicycle Coalition makes bicycling in the East Bay safer, easier and more enjoyable.