Bikes Belong will award $25,000 in grants this month to three important cycling projects, focusing on education and ridership growth, new trail facilities, and making streets safer for cyclists. These diverse projects will effectively put more people on bicycles more often.

Underground Railroad Bicycling Route

A $10,000 grant will go to the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) to develop and promote the Underground Railroad Bicycling Route (URBR). This exciting project will map the route that slaves followed to freedom in the mid 19th century from Alabama to Pennsylvania, encouraging cyclists of all ages and abilities to travel through history by bike. URBR, which has also gained support from the Center for Minority Health, will help increase the diversity of U.S cyclists and create a long-distance cycling corridor in the east-central region of the country. More about Adventure Cycling.

South Canyon Trail

Colorado's Lower Valley (LoVa) Trails Group will receive $10,000 toward construction of the South Canyon Trail. This extension of the Colorado River Trail will allow bicyclists to continue west past Glenwood Springs without riding on dangerous Interstate 70. The trail, which also received a significant grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), will link to an extensive system of multi-use paths to the east, in Eagle and Summit Counties, and will ultimately stretch more than 50 miles to the west, enabling cyclists to take multi-day rides across the state. More about the Lower Valley Trails Group.

Plum Island Bike Lanes

The Coastal Trails Coalition (CTC) in eastern Massachusetts will receive $5,000 to help fund the Plum Island Bike Lanes. This project will enhance cycling opportunities in the area by improving the safety of the Plum Island Turnpike, so recreational cyclists and families can ride their bikes from the town of Newburyport to the beaches and scenic bike routes on Plum Island. The bike lanes project will be coupled with a $22.9 million utility project alongside the turnpike. This effort is an example of a Complete Streets initiative in which new road projects and reconstructions include the construction of bike lanes, bike paths, and sidewalks to safely accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. More about the Coastal Trails Coalition. :view/grants/awarded:Search all our grants.]