Minnesota Activist Gets Great Advocacy Job
IMBA Trail News
Volume 11, Number 1
March-April 1998
Quality Bicycle Products has hired Gary Sjoquist, the former executive director of the Minnesota Coalition of Bicyclists (MCB), for their new bicycle advocacy position. QBP is one of the very few industry companies to fund staff for bicycle advocacy.
Sjoquist began work full-time as QBP's Environmental and Bicycle Industry Advocate on January 30th. One of Gary's first projects will be lobbying for the reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Sjoquist was one of a handful of state advocates who helped draft the original Bikes Belong! campaign.
After three and a half years with the MCB, Sjoquist had decided it was time to leave the long hours and low pay of non-profit work. "I feel very fortunate that this position came about at an industry leader such as QBP. This position will allow me to continue my work and have more time with my family," said Sjoquist.
QBP President Steve Flagg hopes the addition of Gary Sjoquist will serve as a model for other industry members looking to improve their advocacy efforts. "Guaranteeing that there are mountain bike trails to ride and that motorists share the road with cyclists is a critical component toward future growth in our industry," Flagg said. "We all need to step up and do all we can to promote bicycling. We at QBP are very fortunate that some one with Gary's skills and successful track record was available to help with this mission."
Under Sjoquist's direction the MCB helped publish the Twin Cities Bicycle Map and Commuter Guide. The map was selected by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy as one of the 30 best projects to promote bicycle use in the United States. Sjoquist also successfully sought legislation mandating that Minnesota motorists allow at least three feet safe passing distance when overtaking bicycles. In addition, the MCB was able to influence state legislators to improve Minnesota Driver's Exams by including questions regarding bicyclists' rights. Quality Bicycle Products has been a long-time supporter of MCB and plans to continue its financial support of the MCB in the future.
Gary Sjoquist has been the Minnesota Representative of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) since 1995 and will continue in that role. In 1997 he was awarded one of 14 Shimano Action Hero grants for his advocacy efforts.
Additionally, Sjoquist will be supported in 1998 by IMBA sponsor Subaru of America. Sjoquist will drive a 1998 Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Outback to Minnesota cycling events in his role as Minnesota State Rep for IMBA. "It's really nice of IMBA to recognize what we've done in Minnesota. IMBA membership has grown by some 300% over the last few years and we've forged excellent working relationships with city, county, and state park and land managers, " Sjoquist said. "The IMBA/Subaru Outback will be very visible in Minnesota as I attend races, coordinate trail work sessions, give clinics, and work with city and state agencies to improve mountain biking opportunities."
Some days, however, Sjoquist will leave the IMBA/Subaru Outback at home and commute to work on his mountain bike. "QBP is located close to the Minnesota River, so I can ride the River Valley Trail to work," Sjoquist reports. "It's ten miles of singletrack that weaves through bermed corners, brilliant wildflowers, 100-year-old maplewood trees, and it runs right along the edge of the river." QBP also has a policy of paying its employees who commute to work by bicycle, so Sjoquist will not only have fun mountain biking his way to QBP but will be earning extra dollars to spend on, you guessed it, upgrading his mountain bike!
Quality Bicycle Products is a wholesale distributor of bicycle parts and accessories. The Bloomington-based company services more than 6,000 bicycle retailers around the world. Steve Flagg, owner of QBP, is an avid mountain biker and ardent supporter of IMBA, as are most of the employees.
