BOULDER, CO (February 24, 2019) – The Better Bike Share Partnership has awarded $79,600 in grants to nine projects that will reach and engage residents in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color in shared micromobility transportation options.
This is the fifth round of grant funding that PeopleForBikes will administer as part of its partner role in BBSP.
“Each year we learn a great deal from our BBSP Grant recipients about new and innovative ways to engage and meet the different needs of the communities we serve," said Waffiyyah Murray, Better Bike Share Partnership Program Manager. "We look forward to continue fostering this innovation and improve access for all.”
The following projects received funding:
Community Ambassador Revamp | $10,000
Bike Share Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Healthy Ride bike share system will use this grant to enlist community-based organizations as Ambassadors in three focus neighborhoods and support more team-building for the whole outreach crew.
Community Art Bike Mobile Display & Recognition: Celebrating Community through Mobile Art | $10,000
Heartland Bike Share; Omaha, Nebraska
Two arts non-profits will work with local high school students to design and paint up to 20 Heartland BCycle bikes. The bikes, featuring custom artwork, will be available to rent and featured in community festivals and events.
GO Pass Ambassador Campaign | $10,000
Houston Bike Share; Houston, Texas
Houston BCycle will hire five community ambassadors from the Third Ward neighborhood to provide education and outreach to residents about the new GO Pass — an equity-focused program that provides discounted memberships and hands-on bike share demonstrations.
PikeRide and Springs Rescue Mission Collaboration | $10,000
PikeRide; Colorado Springs, Colorado
Clients of the Springs Rescue Mission can access free PikeRide bike share memberships, along with helmets and gear, as part of this grant-funded pilot program. With an introduction to the system and group rides, the goal is to provide transportation options to more people who can benefit from it.
Red Bike Go Community Rides | $10,000
Cincy Bike Share; Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincy Red Bike will partner with local community-based and social justice organizations to host at least five community bike rides focused on encouraging people of color and low-income residents to experience the joy of bicycling.
Better Bike Share for an Active Linden | $8,550
City of Columbus OH Health Department; Columbus, Ohio
Bike share station design contests, custom station wraps and a mobility block party are just a few of the outreach activities this grant will support as CoGo Bike Share expands its system to the Linden neighborhood.
Latinx Community Outreach | $7,600
Tulsa Bike Share; Tulsa, Oklahoma
This Machine, Tulsa’s bike share system, will hire a part-time bilingual outreach coordinator to connect to and engage the city’s Latinx residents. Events, promotions and marketing efforts will be the focus of this new position, which the organization hopes to make permanent.
Connecting Fitzgerald through Bike Share | $7,200
MoGo Detroit Bike Share; Detroit, Michigan
MoGo’s expansion into the Fitzgerald neighborhood in 2020 will provide bike share options in the area for the first time. This grant will support outreach and engagement efforts, bike skills classes and pop-up events in the community to encourage more of its residents to get out and ride.
Transit Champ | $6,250
Indianapolis Cultural Trail; Indianapolis, Indiana
Twenty students from local high schools in the newly expanded Pacers Bike Share service area will participate in a seven-week program focused on using and navigating transportation options in Indianapolis. This pilot will inform efforts to get more high school students using bike share and transit.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is making better biking for everyone by uniting millions of individuals, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of communities. Because when people ride bikes, great things happen. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
About the Better Bike Share Partnership
The Better Bike Share Partnership is a collaboration funded by The JPB Foundation to build equitable and replicable bike share systems across the U.S. Better Bike Share Partners include the City of Philadelphia, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and the PeopleForBikes Foundation.
