Jun 5, 2026
Natalie Rainer is the Engagement Manager for Bike Walk RVA, an
organization under the umbrella of Richmond
SportsBackers.
From their website: "Bike Walk RVA is Sports Backers’ program to
advocate for comfortable and connected places to bike and walk for
people of all ages and abilities. From signature, regional projects
like the transformational Fall Line trail to neighborhood traffic
calming and an expanding network of connected, protected bike
lanes, our mission is to get more people biking and walking through
developing advocate leaders who focus on changing our built
environment to make active transportation desirable for
anyone."
The wide-ranging conversation includes topics like cyclist and pedestrian safety, the goal of zero cyclist nor pedestrian fatalities via the Vision Zero program, Sports Backers events, and Natalie's own story of when she and her friend Jonah Holland were struck by an intoxicated motorist while cycling. The horrible event resulted in a long and painful recovery for Natalie, and while she survived, Jonah lost her life. That tragic event caused Natalie to make advocacy her mission.