During 1999 ten club members started a focus-group to examine ways on how to inform motorists about the rights of bicyclists in Vermont, and at the same time, inform bicyclists that many of the state's traffic laws apply to them too. 

It became clear that the club did not have the connections (nor the resources) necessary to make a significant difference.  Around the same time a member of the focus-group became aware of (and active in) the Montpelier-based Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition.  This is a state-wide advocacy group for bicycles and pedestrians that was only a few years old at the time.

VT Bike/Ped had the connections and resources (to a certain extent) to lobby law-makers, and it was quickly determined that joining forces was better than trying to go it alone. Working together, several GMBC members and Bike/Ped members successfully petitioned law-makers to have the Vermont Drivers' Manual revamped to include references to bicycles.  This was a big win!

In 2002 at the annual club meeting it was proposed that GMBC become a "member club" of the coalition.  This designation required that monetary donations be made from the club to the coalition.  The proposal passed unanimously, and since then, GMBC has proudly donated $2 of each of memberships to the coalition. 

A decade later GMBC still proudly supports VT Bike/Ped!

GMBC has developed close ties, too, with Burlington-based Local Motion.  This is a Chittenden county based advocacy group that has been very successful in transforming Burlington and surrounding communities into more bike and pedestrian friendly areas.  It is through their efforts that Burlington has been designated as a biking destination by various publications in the U.S.  GMBC has been active in their Safe Streets Coalition program and other programs.