Ira David Levy is the Creator, Executive Producer and on-air Host of Pedal America, the national travel and lifestyle TV series on PBS stations.

Born and raised in New York City, and an avid cyclist, Ira David created and organized the 9-11 NY Education Ride – a 70-day, 4486-mile bicycle trek across the United States in 2002 to raise college funds for children who lost parents in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

He pedaled his bike for Breast Cancer, AIDS, and other charitable causes. He has biked from Minneapolis to Chicago; across Alaska; across Montana; and, from Missoula, Montana to Banff/Lake Louise, Canada.

In the mid-1980’s he worked in radio and television in Upstate NY, and at CNN, in Atlanta. He holds a Masters Degree from DePaul University and has published numerous local, regional and national articles on outdoor activity.

Between 1995 and 2011 he worked as an Assistant Professor of journalism and media studies at Wright College, in Chicago. Between 2018 and 2020 he taught journalism and advised student-run media at Appalachian State University, in North Carolina until Kansas State University snagged him away where he now serves as Director of the Collegian Media Group.

Ira David is a certified League of American Bicyclists League Cycling Instructor. He lives both in Manhattan, Kansas. and Chicago.

Straight From the Heart

As the Executive Producer and Host of Pedal America, I annually ride my bicycle in Project Hero’s Honor Rides. Project Hero is a nonprofit organization that uses bicycling to support 10,000 of our nation’s wounded veterans. It’s former president told me that more than 60% of veterans who had been addicted to opiates eliminated them from their lifestyles after they started bicycling with his organization.

Bicycling repairs damaged cells and increases the body’s natural endorphins; strengthens health, physical endurance, and emotional stability; and builds friendships that can cleanse a former addict’s world of shame and isolation.

If bicycling can help to heal our wounded veterans, it can help to heal civilians too.

Thank you for learning more about us. Before you exit, please support the veterans and civilians fighting the battle to change their behaviors and lifestyles. Click here to  make a difference.

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