Hometown Hero Dorian Grilley: Living in the Bike Lane

Bike more, drive less. These four words sum up Dorian Grilley’s personal mission, as well as the mission of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota , the statewide nonprofit organization he heads.

Boffeli, Seth

Dorian, like many of us, quit biking when he turned 16 and got his driver’s license. But in his mid- twenties, he became more aware of the negative impact driving has on the environment—and his own pocketbook. He also became more aware of the health benefits he was missing out on. So he returned to biking—with a vengeance.

For more than two decades he raced and rode this bike 30 miles round trip to work, even in the winter! “The money saved helped my wife and me pay off our house by the time we turned 50,” says Dorian. “To me, biking is a simple solution to some of society’s most complex problems, including health and energy issues.”

And while Dorian admits bicycling isn’t the easy choice for most people, he routinely wonders, “What if it was?” What if a system of protected bikeways connected people to where they wanted to go? What if children could safely bicycle to and from school? What if cycling was a middle and high school sport? What if older adults gave up their cars in favor of their bikes, at least some of the time?

These are just some of the questions Dorian ponders as head of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, a

six-year old membership organization that’s working to make biking a safe, easy, fun and cool choice for everyone from elementary school students to retirees. The organization promotes biking, educates drivers and bicyclists, advocates for bicycle-friendly laws and policies and helps businesses and communities become more bicycle friendly.

Most recently, the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota partnered with AARP to launch a series of confident cycling classes aimed at getting people back on their bikes. “We’re offering courses on bike safety for anyone who has drifted away from biking in their adult life,” says Dorian. “Biking is a great way to stay active, but it should be safe.”

Get Back on Your Bike this Summer with AARP & BikeMN

Bicycle safety is a facet of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota’s mission that Dorian takes seriously—and more personally. “I was in a pretty bad crash a few years ago,” explains Dorian. “The driver was ticketed for careless driving, but with more education and awareness, the crash might have been prevented altogether.” And although Dorian doesn’t remember the collision, he does credit wearing his helmet with saving his life.

That’s one reason why he’s now donned a new helmet, that of lobbyist. He and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota are teaming up with partner organizations to advocate at the Capitol to ensure that bike safety and other bike funding needs are part of the state’s transportation debates.

“Minnesota has so many wonderful bike routes and trails, and we want to ensure that they’re safe and convenient for all residents, including those who choose biking as their means of transportation, whether that be for running errands, visiting friends or commuting to school or work.”

If you are interested in taking part in the bicycle safety courses offered by AARP and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota find out more at aarp.org/twincities.

Freelance writer Bev Bachel lives and bikes in Minneapolis, mostly frequently along the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, which crosses the Stone Arch Bridge.