Pedal America
by Ira David Levy
Pedal America nat’l TV show celebrates recreational bicycle travel as an economical, healthful, safe activity for friends and families.
- Launched: Nov 16, 2012
- Funding ends: Dec 16, 2012
Pedal America is the only national television show in the United States that educates and inspires viewers to re-discover the travel, environmental, and health benefits of recreational bicycling. Whether you’re physically abled or challenged, young, single, a couple, or senior citizen, the series showcases cycling as an all-inclusive activity that can build a sense of community. Even noncyclists will discover great travel ideas.
With WTTW National Productions as the presenting PBS station, and distributed by American Public Television (APT), Season One now reaches more than 87% of Public TV households.
We’re touched that both viewers and PBS stations are requesting more episodes. But because the current economic climate still poses a challenge to secure corporate underwriting, we will use your help to fund the start of producing Season Two. If we exceed our goal we will produce more episodes, even all of Season Two if we can.
Many enthusiasts who know about Pedal America have written us, asking where they can find the series online. Raised funds will also pay for music licensing so that viewers who don’t have access to television can enjoy the series on the Internet.
Season Two’s content, logistics, production and post-production crew are in place; and WTTW National Productions, other PBS stations, and viewers all await more fun, educational, and inspiring episodes. To meet the demand and ensure a summer 2013 broadcast date, we need to produce, master, and deliver at least our first episode of Season Two to APT by February 1st.
Thank you for helping us to bring you terrific travel ideas, education, inspiration, and stories of how enjoying the outdoors have helped to transform lives.
RISKS AND CHALLENGESLearn about accountability on Kickstarter
Broadcast Risk:
The agreement that Pedal America’s production company, Out-Write Media, has with WTTW National Productions guarantees national distribution through APT. Once completely funded and then produced by February 1st, broadcast is guaranteed by summer 2013, the latest.
Weather Risk:
Weather can typically pose a production risk, but the risk factor is low. As the show’s Executive Producer and Host, it’s my intent to create a genuine viewer experience. So when unexpected weather plays a factor, I simply work it into the content to educate viewers on how to safely ride (or why choose not to ride) in certain conditions.
Pedal America’s award-winning crew is highly adept at working in precarious terrain and weather conditions. Combined, our crew members have previously captured video and audio in mountains, desert, ocean, blizzard, and heavy traffic conditions. Their bio’s are posted on Pedal America’s website. We travel well equipped to meet unexpected conditions that both Mother Nature and human-made challenges impose.
Personal Safety Risk:
Shooting in vehicular traffic and on mountain trails can pose risks to personal safety. The safety of Pedal America’s crew and talent remain all of our foremost concerns.
Out-Write Media distributes and verbally reviews safety rules and procedures for its production crew, drivers, and on-air talent and guests. On-air talent and guests can opt out of performing in any conditions that extend beyond their comfort levels. Given the nature of the series, every person on location must wear a buckled helmet at any moment while operating a bicycle or other two or three-wheel vehicle used for either aesthetic value or capturing video and audio content.
Experience:
As the Executive Producer, I bring 30 years of experience as a road cyclist that includes having pedaled across the United States and conducting bicycle safety seminars and rodeos for both adults and children. I’m a member of the League of American Bicyclists, International Mountain Bicycling Association, and Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance. I also serve as an advocate for bicycle safety and visit with members of Congress in D.C. each March to make sure they commit to preserving dedicated federal funding for bicycle infrastructure in our nation’s transportation budgets.
You can read my entire bio on Pedal America’s website.
backers
pledged of $130,000 goal
days to go
- First created · 1 backed
- Ira David Levy (233 friends)
- Website: http://pedalamerica.tv
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Pledge $5 or more
0 backers$5.00 or more: A special thanks on Facebook
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013 -
Pledge $10 or more
2 backers$10.00 or more: A special thanks on Facebook and on Twitter
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013 -
Pledge $25 or more
0 backers$25.00 or more: All above plus a special thank you on the Pedal America website with access code to a special montage of “Behind the Scenes” footage.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013 -
Pledge $50 or more
2 backers$50 or more: All of the above, plus your name listed with American Public Television as a contributor to Season Two.
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013 -
Pledge $100 or more
0 backers$100 or more: All above, plus host and executive producer, Ira David, will record a general out-going voice message for your phone. (m4a format).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013 -
Pledge $500 or more
0 backers$500 or more: Everything above plus host and executive producer, Ira David, will record a personalized (mention of your name) out-going voice message for your phone. (m4a format).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013 -
Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers$1,000 or more: Everything above plus a one-year subscription to American Bicyclist magazine. Plus, your name listed on screen in the funding pod of all Season Two episodes. Plus, you’ll be among the first to receive a Pedal America/Voler bicycle jersey. (Shipping outside the U.S. not included)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Add $35 to ship outside the US -
Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers$5,000 or more: Everything above plus an International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) magazine, DVD and pair of socks. Plus, a DVD set of Season One. (Shipping outside the U.S. not included)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013Add $35 to ship outside the US -
Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers$10,000 or more: Everything above, plus your name appearing as a rolling Billboard at the beginning and end of every Season Two Pedal America episode. Plus, a DVD set of Season Two after all the episodes have broadcasted.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013
Florida Biking 
