Deb Dauphinais is co-owner of Bicycles East, with her husband Steve. Deb is passionate about bicycle and pedestrian advocacy, and works tirelessly on a local and state-wide level to make our communities safer for cyclists. Deb believes in the value of alternative active transportation to benefit the environment and to improve health and wellness.

Deb currently serves on the State of CT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. This board was created as part of the state’s Complete Streets Law in 2009. The board advises the Governor, Legislature, Transportation Committee, and Department of Transportation on topics related to bicycle and pedestrian issues.

Deb is also a founding and current member of the Board of Directors of Bike Walk Glastonbury, our town’s bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group. In that role, she was one of the original writers of the Glastonbury Master Bicycle Plan and chaired a sub-group that focused on road safety. One tangible, direct result of that effort was the installation of “Share the Road” signs throughout town. This work also resulted in the completion of the 1^st leg of the town’s anticipated cross-town multi-use paths, the path that connects Bell Street to Smith Middle School. The next section is anticipated to begin soon, connecting the path to the center of Town. Recently, the group teamed with the Glastonbury Town Center Initiative to bring attention to cross-walk safety. Not taking herself too seriously, Deb could be seen wandering around in a chicken costume as part of their “Help a Chicken Cross the Road” safety education campaign!

Deb also serves on the Glastonbury Bicycle Advisory Group, and works with town staff and officials to make the town more bicycle friendly. They worked to create and implement initiatives to enhance bicycling in town and to complete the application for the League of American Bicyclist’s Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Glastonbury successfully received the honor in 2015, and the group continues to meet to discuss further improvements.

Deb was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Central CT Bicycle Alliance, a group that later evolved into the state-wide advocacy group Bike Walk CT. While a member of the Board, she served as Chairperson of the Advocacy Committee, successfully leading the efforts to obtain passage of the state’s 3-foot passing law and working with a group of colleagues for the successful passage of the Complete Streets Legislation.

While attending the national Trek dealer show’s keynote address by Trek Bicycle President John Burke, Deb was surprised and humbled to be called on stage by Mr. Burke, in front of hundreds of her fellow bicycle dealers, to receive an honor for her work in bicycle advocacy. In a future keynote address, Mr. Burke encouraged bicycle dealers to work on bicycle advocacy efforts, saying that any individual can make a difference, and referred to “the lady from Connecticut” who got the 3-foot law passed in her state. In 2015, at the same show, Bicycles East was one of 5 dealers nation-wide to receive Trek's "Excellence in Advocacy Award."

When not working in the store or working on her various advocacy efforts, Deb finds time to ride her bike. She enjoys road riding and usually leads the “C” group at Bicycles East. She also enjoys bicycle commuting, riding for transportation, and enjoys bike path/rail trail riding. Deb can completely relate to people who are nervous to ride on the road and encourages them to give it a try. She was one of those individuals, and, with experience and safety education, she now loves it!

Deb’s other hobbies include many outdoor activities, including kayaking, hiking, and most passionately, SCUBA diving. She is a certified rescue diver, divemaster, and Assistant SCUBA Instructor and loves New England diving. She enjoys teaching about marine life and conservation and has volunteered at the New England Aquarium in Boston and the Mystic Aquarium.

Before purchasing Bicycles East, Deb worked for over 20 years managing mental health and substance abuse programs. She earned her Masters Degree in Public Affairs, with a concentration in healthcare administration, from UCONN – many years ago.

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