The award will be used to fund Green Lane Project grants in each of the six focus cities. The grants are designed to build public support for green lanes with particular attention to equity issues, business engagement and building ridership. Grant recipients must engage their local REI store in the project and provide a clear plan for measuring success.

"Thanks to REI’s support, we will be able to demonstrate the many benefits that come to a city when it invests in safe, accessible bicycle infrastructure,” said Bruno Maier, senior vice president of Bikes Belong. “The Green Lane Project is transforming many communities and shining a light on how bicycling helps create vibrant urban neighborhoods.”

Bicycling is experiencing unprecedented growth in U.S. cities as mayors and transportation officials appreciate the multiple benefits and low-cost of investing in bicycling. The number of people riding bikes frequently has grown 40% nationwide in the past decade and 62% in America’s 70 largest cities, improving public health, decreasing traffic congestion, and saving city governments costly road maintenance and parking-related expenses. Sixty percent of Americans say they would bike more often if they had a safe place, like a green lane, to ride. This point was validated by a recent study in Washington D.C. that revealed bicycling increased 200% on Pennsylvania Avenue after green lanes were installed.

Applications for the first round of Green Lane Project grants are due in February 2013, and projects will conclude at the end of the year.

The Bikes Belong Grants Program is funded by our Employee Pro Purchase Program. Many thanks to the following participating members and their employees for making these awards possible:

• Cannondale
• Fuji
• Giant
• Shimano
• Specialized
• State Bicycle Company
• Trek

Overton Broad Connector (Memphis, TN)

Livable Memphis is spearheading the development of bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly routes as part of efforts to create healthy, thriving, and economically sustainable communities throughout Greater Memphis. This $20,000 grant from Bikes Belong will allow them to finalize engineering documents for a critical link between the Shelby Farms Greenline and the neighborhoods, schools, and business district stretching west to Overton Park.

Neighborhood Bikeways Campaign (Chicago, IL)

Bikes Belong’s $20,000 grant to Active Transportation Alliance will focus their community outreach and organizing work on four projects that are part of the city’s Green Lane Project goals. Supporting Chicago’s Streets for Cycling Plan 2020, Active Trans will generate aldermanic and community support in the neighborhoods where the projects are taking place while continuing their education around the benefits of a safe, connected network of protected bicycle lanes.

Bicycle Master Plan Protected Bikeway Amendment (Austin, TX)

This $20,000 grant will help the City of Austin amend their Bicycle Master Plan to incorporate protected bikeway information and map out a protected bikeway network. The process will include extensive community outreach and opportunities for public input and will result in an adopted City Ordinance that recognizes where a network of cycle tracks are appropriate in Austin. This effort will also provide a replicable and straightforward planning process that will serve as a model for other cities.

Market Research and Message Development (San Francisco, CA and Portland, OR)

Bikes Belong will work with San Francisco and Portland to determine which messages best resonate with key audiences around two topics: more people on bikes benefits cities and city investment in bicycling infrastructure is good. This $40,000 Bikes Belong grant will provide critical information on what existing research tells us, who we need to reach, and what arguments are most effective in advancing bicycling as an activity and an investment.

Three "Build More Than Bicycles" Grants Awarded at Interbike 2012

To inspire a spirit of giving back to bicycling, Bikes Belong held a “Build More Than Bicycles” challenge at Interbike 2012. More than 200 industry members—ranging from small mom-and-pop retailers to large suppliers—submitted stories about how they are working to improve bicycling.

Bikes Belong awarded three $1000 grants to the top initiatives. Read about the winners here.

Bikes Belong Grants In Action

We are always delighted to hear of the successes of our past grant recipients. Here are a few reports from the field:

Community Cycling Center of Portland, OR celebrated the grand opening of the Bike Hub, a community bike repair shop located in the New Columbia housing development, on September 5, 2012. Next up: a pump track where neighborhood children can ride safely.

Housatonic Heritage in Connecticut is encouraging visitors and residents to Ride It Now with their promotion of the HouBike Trail which will extend for 45 miles once complete. Maps, a website, and loop routes into some of the towns and villages along the trail are making it a popular destination this fall.

The City of Columbia, SC held a grand opening of Phase I of the Vista Greenway, which included paving the former railroad tunnel from Lady to Taylor Streets, on July 7, 2012. Community members now enjoy a multi-use trail connecting residential neighborhoods to shops, restaurants, galleries, employment centers, and more.

The Bikes Belong Grants Program is funded by our Employee Pro Purchase Program. Many thanks to the following participating members and their employees for making these awards possible: 

• Cannondale
• Fuji
• Giant
• Shimano
• Specialized
• Trek

Indianapolis Bicycle Planning Summits (Indianapolis, IN)

INDYCOG, the bicycle advocacy group serving Indianapolis, is partnering with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to help five underserved urban neighborhoods develop bicycle infrastructure plans that improve current bike routes and add more to serve key destinations. This $10,000 Bikes Belong grant will fund planning summits in all five neighborhoods. The City of Indianapolis has committed to incorporating the results of these community-led events into their master bicycle planning document.

Open Streets: Jackson (Jackson, MS)

Bike Walk Mississippi will host the state’s first open streets event – in which city streets are close to motor vehicles so people can walk, bike, rollerblade, and enjoy - this autumn in an effort to boost walking and bicycling in the capital city. Bikes Belong’s $4,000 grant will provide seed funding for an initiative that is expected to engage partners from the business, government, and non-profit communities and make Jackson a healthier and more bike-friendly city.

Pilot Bike Corrals (Hoboken, NJ)

Complementing its ongoing investments in bike lanes, bike parking and a bicycle repair station, the City of Hoboken will use a $5,000 grant from Bikes Belong to install three pilot bike corrals holding 12 to 24 bicycles each. The corrals will be located in high traffic areas and will build on city plans to put bike lanes on 80% of its streets by the end of 2012.  

Three Sisters (Grand Junction, CO)

When the value of land slated for development plummeted in the last recession, the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA) partnered with Mesa Land Trust to make the most of the situation. Bikes Belong’s grant of $5,000 will help the organizations finalize the land purchase and develop trails on the Three Sisters property. This new network, adjacent to Grand Junction’s Lunch Loop trail system, will provide much-needed beginner-level trails and advance the bike path development that will link these trails with downtown.

ZAP Twin Cities Bicycle Commuter Program (Minneapolis, MN)

Commuter Connection, St. Paul Smart Trips, and the University of Minnesota will use this $10,000 grant from Bikes Belong for an innovative project to track and reward bicycle commuter trips in the Twin Cities downtown areas and the university district. Using RFID technology and ZAP readers, the project will enlist 625 initial riders, record their commuter travel, and provide incentives for choosing to bike. The University of Minnesota plans to conduct an assessment of the program’s impact on the health and well-being of the participants.

BMX Track Grants

Bikes Belong is awarding $2,000 to each of the following BMX projects:

• Aztec BMX Track Relocation and Rehabilitation (Aztec, NM): The City of Aztec will relocate their track to a safer, more accessible location that connects to an existing trail system.
• Farmer City BMX Track Revitalization (Farmer City, IL): Farmer City BMX will use grant funding to convert the starting hill from dirt to asphalt and improve erosion control.
• Tri City BMX (Kearney, NE): Tri City BMX will hard-surface the three corners of their track, drastically reducing maintenance time and improving safety.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition worked with the University of Northern Iowa to produce the report, titled Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling in Iowa (view full report). Bikes Belong supported the study through our Research Grant program. The report totaled spending by individual cyclists, bicycle retail sales, economic activity generated by bicycle organizations, and health cost savings in the State of Iowa. The result: $435 million per year in economic activity, plus $82 million in annual health cost savings. Not bad for an annual infrastructure investment by the state of approximately $3 million. Here's the breakdown of where the benefits come from:

• $365 million - Recreational cyclists (plus $74 million in reduced health care costs)
• $52 million - Commuter cyclists (plus $13 million in reduced health care costs) 
• $18 million - Bicycle retailers 
• $0.3 million - Bicycle organizations

The report doesn't explicitly include the economic benefit of the popular bike event RAGBRAI, which in a separate study by University of Northern Iowa is listed at nearly $17 million per year.

With a total annual benefit of more than $522 million dollars versus a $3 million investment, bicycling is a great investment for Iowa. Still, we need more studies like this. That's one reason why Bikes Belong created our Research Grant program. If your state advocacy group is in need of an economic impact study, please consider partnering with a local university and applying for one of our grants.

The Bikes Belong Grants Program is funded by our Employee Pro Purchase Program. Many thanks to the following participating members and their employees for making these awards possible:

Trek
Specialized
Fuji
Giant
Cannondale
Shimano

Oakland Bikeways Campaign (Oakland, CA)

While Oakland, California has the fifth highest bicycle mode share of any major U.S. city - 2.2 percent and growing - its bicycle facilities are fragmented and incomplete.  A Bikes Belong grant of $10,000 will help Walk Oakland Bike Oakland advance their campaign to see the city complete the entire bikeway network by 2020 with 50 miles of priority projects implemented by the end of 2012.

Vista Greenway Project (Columbia, SC)

This multi-use path will link two major destinations, the Congaree Vista area and Finlay Park, and create a direct route from multiple neighborhoods to downtown Columbia. Organizers hope that the facility's popularity will inspire additional trails and eventually create a network that will connect more than half the city. Bikes Belong's $10,000 grant supports this public-private partnership to bring more transportation options to South Carolina's capital city.

Area C Mountain Bike Park (Orlando, FL)

When the City of Orlando requested citizen input on the public use of a parcel of land donated after the decommissioning of a naval base, local mountain bikers spoke up. The result is Area C, a facility centrally located in a highly developed part of the city with access to the Cady Way Trail and connections to multiple parks and neighborhoods. Bikes Belong's $7,500 grant will add to the park's appeal by funding an expanded skills area and an advanced singletrack course.

Carrabassett Moose Bog Loop (Carrabassett Valley, ME)

This $5,000 grant will help the Carrabassett Region chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association build a beginner mountain bike trail as part of the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center in western Maine. With the goal of expanding recreational resources for both residents and summer tourists, this facility will appeal to novice cyclists including children from the local day camp and students from the nearby Carrabassett Valley Academy. 

Dallas Ciclovía (Dallas, TX)

The first car-free streets day in Dallas will not only provide a safe and fun event for the local community, it will also show the appeal of car-free public spaces. The event will include a design contest to demonstrate how a dedicated bicycle facility can be added to an existing bridge to connect the bustling neighborhood of Oak Cliff with downtown. With the unanimous adoption of the City of Dallas Bicycle Plan and broad public support for bicycling, this $5,000 grant from Bikes Belong will further the quick wins Dallas needs to make bicycle infrastructure projects permanent.

Viva Streets (Denver, CO)

Bicycling in Denver has made a big leap since 2008. The launch of its own bikeshare program, a doubling in bike lane mileage, and the city's recognition as a Silver level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists are all signs that Denver is committed to cycling. BikeDenver hopes to build on this momentum - and spur greater investments - with the city's first ciclovía, Viva Streets, in August 2011. Bikes Belong's grant of $2,500 will fund operational costs for what is hoped to be the first of many car-free streets events in the Mile High City.

Bikes Belong Foundation Research Grants

The Bikes Belong Foundation is delighted to announce the recipients of its first round of research grants. These studies cover a range of environments and facility types and we look forward to the data they will provide regarding the economic impact of bicycling.

York Boulevard Road Diet Economic Impact Study (Los Angeles, CA)

With the help of an $8,000 grant from Bikes Belong, researchers from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition will compare economic activity between two halves of a a transportation corridor: one with car lanes reduced by half and bike lanes added, one unchanged. The study will look at commercial and residential property sales, number of new businesses, and perceptions about how the road diet may have affected property values and commerce.

Economic Impact of Bicycling in Iowa (Coralville, IA)

This $6,000 grant will help the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa Sustainable Tourism and Environment Program, study the statewide economic impact of bicycling by looking at retail sales, tourism, and bicycling-related events. With the goal of completing the study by the end of 2011, the Coalition will use the results to guide policy development and spur investments in bicycle transportation and infrastructure. 

Raystown Lake Economic Impact and Visitor Use Research Study (Raystown Lake, PA)

A research team from Southern Illinois University is collaborating with the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) to conduct a two-phase study of the Raystown Lake mountain bike trail system. Part one will count trail users and part two will assess the regional economic impact of the trail system. A Bikes Belong grant of $6,000 will fund equipment and analysis during the first phase.

The Bikes Belong Grant Program is funded by our Employee Pro Purchase Program. Thanks to the following participating members and their employees for making these awards possible:

Trek
Specialized
Fuji
Giant
Cannondale
Shimano

Adams Road Path (Granger, IN)

This multi-use path is the first phase of a larger project by the Friends of Granger Paths to connect the county’s population centers in a network of bike lanes, multi-use paths and greenways. The Adams Road path will link two elementary schools to an existing bike path and join to six subdivisions, a local shopping center, and a library. With Bikes Belong funding, as well as a Safe Routes to School grant, this project will allow more than 950 children to walk or bike to school safely for the first time.

Duluth Traverse Trail System (Duluth, MN)

A strong relationship between the City of Duluth and the Cyclists of Gichee Gumee Shores is transforming multiple small mountain bike trails into a single trail system of more than 100 miles. Bikes Belong’s $10,000 grant will help complete the system to link seven biking centers, connect neighborhoods directly to trails, and turn Duluth into an epic destination for mountain biking enthusiasts from all across the Midwest.

Jocko Valley Trails System (Arlee, MT)

The Arlee Community Development Corporation is partnering with the local school district, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and other state and local organizations to build the first trail system in this rural community on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Motivated by a high rate of childhood obesity and the absence of safe routes to school, the community is promoting active transportation and physical fitness. The Bikes Belong $10,000 grant will fund the first phase of the project, creating a set of “hub” trails connecting residents within a one mile radius of the school complex and town center.

Open Streets – Ciclovía Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN)

The Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition will use their $5,000 grant to encourage bicycling, educate city leaders on local cycling needs, demonstrate the benefits of better on-street bicycle infrastructure – and have a whole lot of fun – during this June 2011 event. The route runs 20 city blocks, and efforts are already underway to engage local businesses in the planning process and reach out to the culturally diverse neighborhoods along its course. Organizers hope the ciclovía will attract 10,000 participants and become a Minneapolis tradition.

Philadelphia Pumptrack (Philadelphia, PA)

Pumptracks – dirt sculpted into mini tracks of bumps and corners – are attracting cyclists of all ages as a place to practice bike skills and increase fitness. Building on this trend, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department, Neighborhood Bike Works, and the local bicycle industry will use their $5,000 Bikes Belong grant to bring the first pumptrack to their city. Planners hope to attract 200-300 riders every year and will locate the facility near an existing recreation facility and with access to trails and bike lanes.

The Bikes Belong Grants Program is funded by our Employee Pro Purchase Program.  Thanks to the following participating members and their employees for making these awards possible:

Trek
Specialized
Fuji
Giant
Cannondale
Shimano

Deckers Creek Trail Undercut Repair (Morgantown, WV)

The Deckers Creek Trail is part of a 48-mile trail network connecting downtown Morgantown with communities across three counties. Utilized by riders of all ages and abilities, the trail provides direct routes to and from schools, work, shopping centers, and parks, and is incorporated into West Virginia University Hospitals’ rehabilitation and wellness programs. This $10,000 grant will allow the Monongahela River Trails Conservancy to complete critical repairs to the trail surface and foundation while improving drainage and stabilizing the stream banks to prevent further erosion. These necessary repairs will keep the trail system accessible to thousands of users each year.

More about the Deckers Creek Trail...

Grainger Road Bike Trail (Conway, SC)

The City of Conway has ambitious plans for incorporating bicycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure into its community and this $2,250 grant will contribute to those efforts. New bicycle-safe drainage grates and a redesigned trail crossing at U.S. Highway 378 will improve the connection between an existing recreation center, a new recreation complex, neighboring subdivisions, and a low-income neighborhood. Conway sees this project as an important part of its goal to create a bike route around the city and ultimately connect to the East Coast Greenway.

More about the Grainger Road Bike Trail...

Northampton and New Haven Canal Rail Trail (Northampton, MA)

This trail connecting Northampton to Hatfield is an important addition to the growing network serving riders throughout Hampshire County. Bikes Belong’s $5,000 investment will fund survey and design work to get the project to the “shovel ready” phase with the goal of leveraging a much larger investment of state and federal dollars for construction. When completed, the project will tie to more than 24 miles of trail and serve some of the largest affordable-housing residential areas in Northampton.

More about Northampton...

Saddlebrook Connector Trail (Omaha, NE)

Activate Omaha is participating in the ambitious effort to increase bicycling in Omaha and Douglas County, and its work has resulted in the development of 20 miles of on-street bicycle facilities. This project will use Bikes Belong’s $7,750 grant to connect the large Hillsborough neighborhood to the Saddlebrook Joint Use Facility and Omaha’s Metro Area Trails System through a simple connection over a short levy. Saddlebrook is a great example of the huge impact that short connectors can have on a community, giving kids a safe route to school and allowing cyclists to avoid riding on major arteries. The organization will evaluate project success by measuring the number of riders before and after levy construction.

More about the Saddlebrook Connector Trail...

Wolf Creek Bicycle Trail (Poplar Bluff, MO)

Local mountain bike enthusiasts advocated for good trails close to home, and the U.S. Forest Service’s Poplar Bluff Ranger District responded by partnering with the city, county, a local bike shop and a cycling club to make it happen. The completed 21-mile trail network will provide beginner- to intermediate-level mountain biking and, through increased use, will prevent illegal dumping in this section of the Mark Twain National Forest. Partnering groups will contribute matching funds, materials, and volunteer labor, seeing this as the first step in creating a more bike-friendly environment with cycling routes throughout the city of Poplar Bluff. Bikes Belong’s grant is for $5,000.

More about the Wolf Creek Bicycle Trail...

The Bikes Belong Grants Program is funded by our Employee Pro Purchase Program. Thanks to participating members and their employees for making these awards possible.

Austin Metro Trails and Greenways 2010 Advocacy Initiative (Austin, TX)

This $5,000 advocacy grant will help the Austin Metro Trails and Greenways (AMTG) organization to promote a new transportation bond package, which is up for voter approval in November. Included in the bond package is $40 million in funding for a diverse mix of 15 bike and pedestrian projects, totaling more than 50 miles of facilities. Projects will include bike lanes, trails, parking, an underpass, a bridge and streetscape improvements. One goal of the project is to increase bicycling in underserved areas by improving bike connections in lower-income neighborhoods. Many of the projects will connect to existing trails—popular with Austin residents for both recreational and transportation riding—such as the Lance Armstrong Crosstown Bikeway and the Barton Creek Greenbelt, significantly improving the integration of Austin’s regional trail network. After the November election, this grant will also help AMTG build community support for future bicycling initiatives.

More about the Initiative...

Housatonic Covered Bridge Bike Trail (Salisbury, CT)

The Housatonic Covered Bridge Bike Trail will extend for 45 miles along New England’s scenic Housatonic River Valley, eventually linking more than 100 miles of trail, dozens of town centers, one high school, two elementary schools, a major prep school, and six-dozen heritage sites. The wide, flat trail will provide cyclists with relief from the region’s hilly topography. In addition to this $5,000 grant from Bikes Belong, the National Park Service has committed one year of technical assistance to the trail’s development. The trail will be part of a system running from New Milford, CT, to Pownal, VT, and will connect to the East Coast Greenway in the future.

More about Housatonic...

Kings Mountain Gateway Trail (Kings Mountain, NC)

The first two miles of the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail opened in November 2009, and already the trail has become a popular recreation destination for Kings Mountain bikers, hikers, and walkers. This $5,000 grant will fund a 2.8 mile extension of the multi-use trail, including stream and rail crossings. The new trail will allow cyclists to start their ride from downtown Kings Mountain and improve connectivity within the town as well. Future phases of the trail will connect to nearby state parks, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, the Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina, the cities of Shelby and Cherryville, NC, and the Carolina Thread Trail. Land has also been allocated along the Kings Mountain Gateway Trail for three future singletrack mountain biking trails.

More about Kings Mountain...

Since the Bikes Belong Grants Program began in 1999, we have awarded 215 grants in 49 states and the District of Columbia, granting more than $1.7 million in cash and leveraging close to $650 million in federal, state, and private funding. Our facilities grants alone have helped finance 1,500 miles of bike paths and trails that link almost 8,000 miles of bike facilities.