26 Mar Meet Bike Austin’s New Executive Director

From Bike Austin:

Bike Austin is pleased to announce the engagement of Mercedes Feris as the organization’s new executive director. She joins Bike Austin during a pivotal moment as the organization leads the initiative to make our city safe and accessible for all Austinites to embrace bicycling for transportation, recreation and fitness.

Feris, who begins work on March 23, takes over a newly re-energized organization formed last year with the merger of Bike Austin and the long-established Austin Cycling Association (ACA). “We are confident that Mercedes’ experience and passion to improve lives will help make Austin a safer, healthier and even more active community,” said Erick Benz, chairman of Bike Austin’s board of directors.

A longtime Austinite, Feris has years of experience in the Austin community that will benefit her work to help grow Bike Austin’s profile in the city. Prior to her new role, she was charged with community outreach, event organization and fundraising for the American Diabetes Association of Central Texas. In her role there, she initiated and managed the nonprofit organization’s signature cycling event, the Freescale Central Texas Tour de Cure, a fundraising recreational ride in the Texas Hill Country. Earlier, Feris was director of events and tourism for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“I am excited to be at the forefront of the movement to increase accessibility and awareness of cycling in the Austin community,” Feris said. “I’ve been a longtime advocate of obesity prevention in Central Texas. In my new role at Bike Austin, I will have a larger platform to engage Austin’s current and future commuters on the importance of living a healthier lifestyle. Additionally I look forward to reaching out to those whom have never had the opportunity to experience the joy of riding a bike.”

Last year, Bike Austin hosted a city-wide Cycling Summit attended by over 200 participants with a wide array of cycling interests who shared their aspirations and vision for what they believe a truly cycling-friendly Austin will look like in the future. Based on that input and the direction of Bike Austin’s board of directors, a strategic plan was developed to guide the organization in its efforts to transform the environment for bicycling in Austin. One of its first initiatives was to play a key role in the election of a new city council. Bike Austin gathered more than 5,000 pledges from voters who agreed to support candidates who will support biking and walking policies if elected. Bike Austin will build on that initial effort by providing information and guidance to local and regional transportation policy makers.