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PeopleForBikes announces community grants

  • Ron 

PeopleForBikes, the national organization making bicycling better for everyone, has announced its latest round of community grants. Projects supported in the Spring 2016 round will create better places for bikes for all ages and abilities in nine communities across the country.

To date, the grants program has funded more than 350 projects in all 50 states totaling more than $3 million in direct funds and leveraging more than $760 million.

PeopleForBikes shares the announcement of two key projects in conjunction with its long-term partner, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA):

Theodore Wirth Park Mountain Biking Event Trails (Minneapolis, MN): The Loppet Foundation will use this $10,000 grant to add 3.5 miles of trail, a dual slalom course, a skills training area and a pump track to the existing facilities at this Twin Cities park. This project will support existing youth programs and provide a more accessible venue for the local high school mountain bike league.

Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails – City of Cuyuna Connector Trail (Cuyuna, MN): The local IMBA Chapter, the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew, will help more people “ride to their ride” with this 4+ mile singletrack trail from the City of Cuyuna to the popular Yawkey trails. A local funder is matching contributions, further leveraging PeopleForBikes’ $5,000 grant.

Other grant recipients for the Spring 2016 round of funding include:

Advocacy for Charlotte’s First Protected Bike Lane (Charlotte, NC): This $7,500 grant will help Sustain Charlotte garner support for better bicycling from elected leaders and the public. The organization’s goal is to get a commitment to build at least one protected bike lane in the downtown/central part of the city by January 2017.

Morristown Bike Depot (Morristown, NJ): With the help of this $7,500 grant, the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition will provide safe, secure, weather-protected storage for 72 bicycles at the NJ Transit Train Station in Morristown. The organization will follow their successful Montclair model, using rental fees to support future bike depots.

Neighborhood Loops (Newport, RI): The $5,970 grant award for this Bike Newport project will be used to paint and sign neighborhood loops where children and adults can practice bike skills and increase their on-road confidence. The routes will include popular destinations such as the local community center, schools and park, and complements Bike Newport’s popular Bike Library, a fleet of restored bicycles available for local youth to borrow and earn.

Collins Ferry Connector Trail (Morgantown, WV): This half-mile trail will provide easy and efficient access to the 48-mile Mon River Rail-Trail from residential areas and businesses along the Collins Ferry Road. The Monongahela River Trails Conservancy will use their $5,000 grant to leverage $60,000 in federal funding to surface and sign this key connector.

The Connection (Springfield, MO): PeopleForBikes’ $5,000 grant will help TrailSpring fund the design of a critical quarter-mile trail segment connecting two greenways separated by a freeway. This project will significantly improve safety and encourage more bicycling and walking in the area.

Wild Chile BMX Track Upgrade (Las Cruces, NM): PeopleForBikes’ grant of $5,000 will match more than $18,000 in city support to provide important additions and upgrades to the track facilities. Planned renovations include adding fencing and other barriers, enhancing drainage, and redesigning the track to improve safety and spectator viewing areas.

St. Albans Community Bike Repair Station (St. Albans, VT): St. Albans City School will use this grant of $1,365 to purchase and install a bike repair station next to the bike parking area that serves both the school and the neighboring community pool. Staff will also hold bike repair workshops, promote bike to school days and host rides for specific classes as part of their efforts to make biking fun and accessible to all.

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