BOULDER, CO (June 14, 2023) — PeopleForBikes is pleased to announce the award of a three-year grant from The JPB Foundation to support the Better Bike Share Partnership (BBSP), a national collaboration focused on improving social and racial equity in shared micromobility systems across the United States. Better Bike Share Partners — the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS); the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO); and PeopleForBikes — will carry out this work together.
“Shared micromobility means more options for people in need of reliable transportation,” says Tangier Barnes-Wright, PeopleForBikes’ senior partnership and program manager. “When done equitably, it results in significant social, health, economic, and sustainability benefits for lower-income and BIPOC communities. I am excited to continue our support of organizations that are breaking down barriers to using shared micromobility for these groups.”
This is the fifth grant supporting the work of the Better Bike Share Partnership since its inception in 2014. The new funding will assist a second round of Living Lab grantees, which will address barriers preventing the use of shared micromobility in low-income and BIPOC communities nationwide. Grant funds will also finance the Transportation Justice Fellowship to continue supporting professional development for people of color working in the transportation field, as well as NACTO’s shared micromobility roundtable, mini-grants, and a robust storytelling platform.
“Over the last nine years, the Better Bike Share Partnership has been instrumental in addressing issues of equity, access, diversity, inclusion, and justice in the shared micromobility industry. Through grants, research projects, written guidance, presentations, and technical assistance support, BBSP has helped cities and operators implement bike and scooter systems that help folks travel to much-needed resources,” says Waffiyah Murray, Indego program manager at OTIS. “The City of Philadelphia is honored to be a partner in this work, serving as a living example of how BBSP best practices are successful when implemented in an intentional and meaningful way.”
“With more than a half-billion trips in the U.S. since 2010, shared micromobility is an important and growing transportation option in hundreds of cities across North America,” said Cary Bearn, senior program manager for biking at NACTO. “Because of the Better Bike Share Partnership, equity is a central part of the conversation about shared micromobility. NACTO is excited to continue collaborating with PeopleForBikes and the City of Philadelphia for another three years to support cities and operators in making sure these popular systems are equitably serving low-income areas and communities of color.”
The Better Bike Share Partnership plans on disseminating final reports for its first Living Labs cohort by the end of the year. Applications for the new cohort will open in early 2024. In the meantime, the partnership is working with the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) to revamp its Workforce Diversity Toolkit. BBSP will also continue to cover the work of its current grantees, as well as relevant research in the shared micromobility space at www.betterbikeshare.org.
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About the Better Bike Share Partnership
The Better Bike Share Partnership is a collaboration funded by The JPB Foundation to increase access to and the use of shared micromobility systems in low-income and BIPOC communities. The partners include The City of Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), and PeopleForBikes. Learn more at BetterBikeShare.org.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association and a national advocacy nonprofit representing more than 325 bicycle industry supplier members and nearly 1.4 million individuals. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike; advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation; and reduce barriers to access and welcome more people to the joys of riding a bike. Our goal: Become the best place to ride a bike in the world. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
About the National Association of City Transportation Officials
NACTO is an association of 96 major North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues. The organization’s mission is to build cities as places for people, with safe, sustainable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices that support a strong economy and vibrant quality of life. Learn more at NACTO.org.
City of Philadelphia – Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability
The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) directs the policies and practices that improve quality of life in all of Philadelphia’s communities through safe and sustainable infrastructure. The City of Philadelphia owns the Indego bike share system with OTIS serving as the program’s manager. For more information visit Phila.gov/otis.
