MADISON, Wis. (BRAIN) —The PeopleForBikes Coalition board of directors held their biannual meeting here this week, where it approved eight new Community Grants for bike projects.
The board also welcomed a new member, Chad Price of Specialized. The board met prior to the start of the first PlacesForBikes conference, a three-day conference focusing on quickly improving bike infrastructure and better connecting people to schools, work, recreation and transit. More than 275 people are attending the conference.
The Community Grants Program is funded through an employee pro purchase program that collects donations from individuals who work in the industry and take advantage of pro-pricing on bike equipment. Cannondale, Fuji, Giant, Shimano, Specialized and Trek currently participate.
Newly funded projects are as follows:
- Clippership Connector: $10,000, Arlington, Mass. PeopleForBikes' grant will fund design and engineering of a 0.5-mile section of the Mystic River Greenway, creating a 10 mile path when complete.
- Trails at Jakes Rocks: $10,000, Warren, Pa. PeopleForBikes' grant will supplement local, regional and US Forest Service funding to add 10 miles of mountain bike trail to an existing network.
- Peaks to Creeks Initiative Trail Infrastructure: $10,000, Helena, Mont. The Prickly Pear Land Trust will add the PeopleForBikes award to state grants to complete Phases 1 and 2 of this connector trail, helping people to ride from Helena to new public open space.
- 2017 Better Bike Project: $8,000, Mobile, Ala. PeopleForBikes' contribution will match dollars already raised by the Delta Bike Project to install nine bicycle repair stations and parking for 70 bikes near the new Three Mile Creek Greenway.
- New York Mechanical Gardens Bike Repair Outpost: $6,500, New York, N.Y. PeopleForBikes' grant will help transform a shipping container into a public resource for bike maintenance, outreach, and education along a popular Queens bike route.
- East Rim Mountain Bike Trail, Phase 2 Expansion: $3,000, Peninsula, Ohio. The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will use this grant to add 6.5 miles of intermediate trail to the existing network.
- Historic District Bike Rack Stations: $3,000, San Elizario, Texas. The City of San Elizario will use this funding to add bicycle parking in historic locations and other key destinations throughout town.
- Norwalk River Valley Trail – WilWalk Section: $3,000, Georgetown, Conn. Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail will use this grant for a two-mile segment of their planned 38-mile trail connecting train stations and work centers.
The PeopleForBikes board members are: Pat Cunnane, Advanced Sports; Jessica Klodnicki, Vista Outdoor; Michael Mercuri, SRAM; Steve Flagg, Quality Bicycle Products; John Burke, Trek; Jeff Frehner, Saris Cycling Group; Todd Grant, National Bicycle Dealers Association; Zack Grice, Rodale Press; Nick Hage, Cycling Sports Group; Pat Hus, Interbike; An Le, Giant; Nolan Moser, Shimano American Corporation; Patrick Seidler, WTB; Bill Smith, Huffy; and Chris Speyer, Accell North America.
In addition to approving new grant recipients, the board discussed the organization's priorities and reviewed their progress over the last six months. Updates included work on the new PlacesForBikes and Big Jump programs, the Business Network's summer congressional targeting events and the success of the inaugural Ride On For Red Nose Day collaboration with Walgreens. The board also reviewed the Coalition's work on e-bikes, federal policy, grassroots support, partnerships and state and local policy.
