COMPLETE STREETS CONSULTING

April Economides has helped create complete streets, bicycle-friendly business districts and placemaking programs around the U.S. and Canada. She is hired to advise, speak, facilitate workshops, engage stakeholders, write action plans, and help implement visionary projects. Here are some of those engagements:

• International Downtown Association Southeast Summit (May 2024): Lead Presenter, “Activating Streets and Spaces through Human Movement and Walkable/Bikeable Placemaking”

• Biophilic Leadership Summit (March 2024): Small-Scale Urban Greening Panel Moderator

• APWA Technology and Complete Streets Conference (April 2015): Speaker

• Live Ride Share – Economic Development panelist at SoCal’s First Shared Use Mobility Conference (February 2015): Speaker

• Atlanta Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Business Forum (October 2014): Presenter and panelist

• Silicon Valley Bike Summit (2014): “Business and Bikes: How the Corporate World Can Move the Needle on Biking” presenter and panelist, alongside leaders from Google, LinkedIn and Stanford

• ProWalk, ProBike, ProPlace conference (2014): Pecha Kucha presentation “Landing Business Support for Walk- And Bike-Friendly Communities: It’s Possible!”

• Canmore, Alberta (2013–14): Speaking presentations, workshop, action plan, and implementation consulting

• Palm Springs, CA (2013–14): Speaking presentations, workshop, and action plan

• Bike Walk Montana Conference (March 2014): Pre-conference workshop and conference speaking presentation

• Culver City, CA (2014): Speaking presentation to mayor, other elected officials and business leaders

• Tucson, AZ (2013): Speaking presentations to city council, parking commission, and the public

• International Downtown Association World Conference (2013): Panel speaking presentation

• Tacoma, WA (2013): Speaking presentation, workshop, and action plan

• Orange County Healthy Communities Forum (February 2014)

• Calgary, AB – Two, multi-day trips of workshops, presentations, outreach and media interviews (June & November 2013)

• National Association of Latino Elected Officials Annual Conference (June 2013)

• Annual Boise State University Bicycle Congress Speaker & Workshop Presenter, Boise, ID (May 2013)

• Leadership Long Beach (May 2013)

• Salt Lake City, UT (May 2013)

• University of Wisconsin–Madison (April 2013)

• League of American Bicyclists Summit (March 2013)

• Oakville, Ontario (April 2012 presentation, March 2013 workshop)

• Kingston Bike Summit & Forum (March 2013)

• Region of Niagara, Ontario (2012-13): Bike Summit speaking presentation, workshop, and Bicycle-Friendly Business District Guidebook

• Eugene, OR (February 2013)

• Vancouver, BC (November 2012)

• Mobility 21’s 11th Annual Southern California Transportation Summit (September 2012)

• Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference (September 2012)

• Alliance for Biking & Walking 2012 Leadership Retreat (September 2012)

• San Diego, CA (September 2012): Created a Bike-Friendly Business District plan for the San Diego Business Improvement District Council’s 17 business districts and San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and advised on implementation

• San Jose, CA (August 2012)

• Miami, FL (July 2012)

• Carlsbad, CA (July 2012)

• Green Long Beach Festival (June 2012)

• Ontario Bicycle Summit (April 2012)

• San Diego Bicycle Summit Panelist (March 2012)

• League of American Bicyclists Summit (March 2012)

• Pomona, CA (February 2012)

• Lynwood, CA (February 2012)

• San Diego, CA (January 2012)

• Los Altos, CA (November 2011)

• Presidio Graduate School (November 2011)

• 2011 California Bike Summit (November 2011)

• Green Festival L.A. (October 2011)

• Creating a Bicycle Friendly LA County Summit (September 2011)

• Moving Planet: A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels (September 2011)

• HerWorld Conference (November 2010)

• City of Long Beach Dept. of Public Works (2010-2012): Designed, managed, and implemented the nation’s first Bike-Friendly Business District (BFBD) program in partnership with four business districts. Engaged the districts about the economic benefits of bicycling and turned some skeptics into supporters. Managed programs, budgets, implementation, outreach and promotions. Wrote the BFBD toolkit for L.A. County.

Media Coverage:

• Upstate Trail Talks podcast interview about active transportation and healthy communities (2024)

• Video by Filmmaker Michael Lowe: Bikes Mean Business: Bike Friendly Business Districts (2017)

• Metro LA – The Source: Biking is Good for Business (2017)

• Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts Inspire Growth, Smart Cities Drive | Sustainable Cities Collective (2016)

• Bikes Welcome: Case Study - Bike Friendly Business Districts (September 2016)

• Active Transportation & Infrastructure interview in Tanea, an Athens-based Greek newspaper (July 2016)

• Activate a Diamond in the Rough: RFP Released for Design of Temporary Space at Ocean & Pine in DTLB (September 2015)

• Rabble.ca: The right to ride: Everything you need to know about urban cycling (August 2015)

• Could An Activated Corner Be The Catalyst For Revitalization on Pine? (June 2015)

• League of American Bicyclists: Case Studies: Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts (May 2015)

• The Coast - Halifax, Nova Scotia: Advocacy and the Future of Cycling (March 2015)

• Nearly 3,000 Visitors Get a Sneak Peek of the Broad Museum – article and video (February 2015)

• LiveMove Full Report on Bicycle-Friendly Business Districts (2015)

• Long Beach Post: Operation Firefly Distributes Free Lights to Bicycle Commuters in Long Beach (January 2015)

• Orange County Register: Garcia Picks 13 To Join Key Commissions (October 2014)

• Salt Lake Tribute: New downtown Salt Lake City bicycle track worries small businesses (September 2014)

• Longbeachize: The New(est) Urbanist Mayor of Long Beach (June 2014)

• Long Beach Post: One-On-One With Mayor-Elect Robert Garcia (June 2014)

• Press Telegram: Long Beach Mayor-Elect Readies Transition Team (June 2014)

• Montana Standard: Cycling tourists boost state economy (May 2014)

• Long Beach Post: LACBC to Host Bike Ride Through Central Long Beach (May 2014)

• Streetsblog LA: MyFigueroa Achieves Consensus, Auto Group Withdraws Appeal (May 2014)

• Rocky Mountain Outlook: Canmore Could Take Bike Tourism Further (May 2014)

• Smart Growth America: Biking means business in Long Beach, CA (May 2014)

• The Missoulian: UM study shows cyclists spend more money (May 2014)

• Atlantic Cities & Planetizen: Is There Such a Thing as a ‘Feminine’ Way to Ride a Bike? (April 2014)

• Billings Gazette: Study – Cycle Tourists Contribute to Local Economy (March 2014)

• The Atlantic – City Lab: The Importance of a Giant Doughnut (February 2014)

• LADOT Bike Blog: LA’s first Bicycle Friendly Business District is coming to Northeast Los Angeles (February 2014)

• Long Beach Post: Operation Firefly Distributes Bike Lights to Riders Who Need Them (January 2014)

• Longbeachize: The Top 10 Stories of 2013 – Urban Living (December 2013)

• Inside Tucson Business: Biz Brief News (November 2013)

• Commercial District Advisor: IDA Recap – Bike Friendly Business Districts and Their Impact on Local Business (October 2013)

• Bicycling: Meet 14 Innovators Flush With Ideas About How Bikes Can Change the World (October 2013)

• Bicycling: How to Organize a Bike Train (September 2013)

• Bicycling Magazine: While You Were Out Riding, Bike Advocacy Became Cool (September 2013)

• Huffington Post Business: Bike-Friendly Companies Doing Brisk Business As Bike Culture, Infrastructure Gains Ground (July 2013)

• PBS SoCal and KCET Departures: Southern California’s Seven Women of Vision (July 2013)

• CSMonitor: The Bike Boom (June 2013)

• Calgary Herald: Expert Says Cycling Boosts Nearby Businesses (June 2013)

• Calgary CTV News (June 2013)

• GOOD Ideas: Good Ideas Beyond Biking (May 2013)

• StoryCommercialLLC Blog: A Bicycle Friendly Downtown?! (May 2013)

• Urban ABQ: Building a Better Business District (May 2013)

• HuffPost Live (May 2013)

• Orange 20 Blog: Lobbying for Bike Love (April 2013)

• Bikeshare.com: The Nuts & Spokes with Bicycle Friendly Business District Creator April Economides (April 2013)

• Momentum Mag: Help April Economides Name Her New Bobbin Birdie (March 2013)

• Kingston Herald: Kingston Bike Summit Opens (March 2013)

• BikePortland.org: April Economides is Bringing Bicycling to Businesses (February 2013)

• Long Beach Magazine “April in April” article (2012)

• Oakville, Ontario.Swoop’s World Online Radio (December 2012)

• Long Beach Post: The Long Beach Cyclist (December 2012)

• Sustainable Cities Collective (October 2012)

• Mode Shift: Bicycle Friendly Business Districts Inspire Growth (October 2012)

• Niagara This Week: Making Cycling Better (October 2012)

• Inside Halton: New Oakville Cycles Hits the Ground Cycling (October 2012)

• Project for Public Spaces – Place Capital: Re-connecting Economy With Community (October 2012)

• Project for Public Spaces – Reflections from an Engineer on Advocacy for Transportation Reform (October 2012)

• Fast Company: Bikes Aren’t Just Good For You, They’re Good For The Economy Too (October 2012)

• LA Streetsblog: Pro Walknomics/Pro Bikenomics (September 2012)

• Momentum: San Diego Announces Largest Bicycle-Friendly Business District Initiative (September 2012)

• Momentum: Meet April Economides (September/October 2012)

• Herald-Tribune: For a California city, investment in bicycle infrastructure boosting business (August 2012)

• Santa Monica Daily Press: Officials raise red flag over Bike Action Plan (August 2012)

• League of American Bicyclists’ Blog: Women Who Ride – April Economides (July 2012)

• Girl Bike Love: Women Who Inspire – April Economides (June 2012)

• B.I.K.A.S. Blog: Bike Facility Needed: Bicycle Stairways or Wheeling Ramps (June 2012)

• cdmCyclist: The Economic Impact of Bicycling (May 2012)

• Los Angeles Times – Atlantic on the Move (May 2012)

• Los Angeles Times – Long Beach shopping: Cool finds in Bixby Knolls (May 2012)

• Oakville Beaver: Cycling Good for Business (April 2012)

• Momentum Magazine – Urban Travel Guide (March 2012)

• Streetsblog USA – Why Bicyclists Are Better Customers Than Drivers for Local Business (March 2012)

• Commute by Bike – Tom Bowden’s 230-Mile Round-Trip Commute to The National Bike Summit (March 2012)

• 562 City Life – Saturday Discounts for Bicyclists (March 2012)

• Bike Saturdays By Melissa Bell fan video (March 2012)

• Long Beach Business Journal – Bike-Friendly Business Districts: Where Going Green and Making Green Meet (January 2012)

• Planetizen: Long Beach out to Prove that Bikes are Good for Business (January 2012)

• Grist: Cycles and cents – One city sets out to prove that bikes are good for business (January 2012)

• The Nation: Can Long Beach Prove that Bikes Are Good for Business? (January 2012)

• Sunset: Long Beach day trip – East Village (January 2012)

• Pedal Love: Bike-Friendly Business Districts (January 2012)

• Long Beach Business Journal: National Bike Advocate Mia Birk Speaks in Long Beach (December 2011)

• deLab: Long Beach Bike Tour (December 2011)

• Los Altos Patch: Can a Bike-Friendly Downtown Provide a Low-Cost Boost of Vitality? (November 2011)

• Long Beach Press Telegram: Small Business Saturday (November 2011)

• American Planning Association, Los Angeles: Transportation Planning: Off the Grid in Los Angeles (October 2011)

• National Center for Bicycling & Walking’s CenterLines newsletter (October 2011)

• Long Beach Business Journal – Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference Coming to Long Beach in 2012 (October 2011)

• The Path Less Pedaled: Is Long Beach Bike Friendly Yet? (September 2011)

• Video by Filmmaker Mike Bauch: Dengue Fever in Cambodia Town (September 2011)

• OC Weekly: Dengue Fever in Cambodia Town, Then Fingerprints, Last Friday (September 2011)

• Examiner.com: Cambodian Rockers Dengue Fever Promote Biking in Long Beach’s Cambodia Town (September 2011)

• Losanjealous: Ride Bicycles With Dengue Fever in Long Beach Tomorrow If You Are Not Working (September 2011)

• Video by Filmmaker Mike Bauch: Park(ing) Day in Long Beach (September 2011)

• The Patch: Friday's Global PARK(ing) Day on 4th Street (September 2011)

• 4th Street Long Beach blog: 2011 Global Park(ing) Day (September 2011)

• Streetsblog L.A.: Long Beach’s Leap Towards Livability (August 2011)

• Streetsblog L.A.: Long Beach: Good for Bikes, Good for Business  (August 2011)

• KCET website: Long Beach Unveils Bicycle Business District Program (June 2011)

• Uptown Gazette: Businesses Welcome Bicyclists (June 2011)

• LA18 Evening News: Bicycling in Long Beach (June 2011)