What Happened?
Bikes Belong has invested more than $2.1 million in community bike-sharing programs while taking advantage of $654 million in funding from state, federal and private sources to support alternative mobility projects.
The Goal
More than 250 municipalities across the country have benefited from the Bikes Belong grants program, gaining access to various funding sources to support the establishment of new bike paths and rail trails, bike trails, bike parks and other bicycle-related initiatives. Encouraging residents to take advantage of bike-friendly amenities is a priority in many cities looking to reduce traffic congestion, improve residential safety and lower their carbon footprints. Understanding the alternative options for funding can help municipalities make bike-sharing programs and trail development a reality without digging into budgets.
Success Stories
The Bikes Belong program has created new trails and paths in many communities, helping officials make strides in improving the quality of life for residents.
In Dallas, Texas, the Bikes Belong grant program helped fund three miles of rail trail to connect 10,000 students to their schools. By expanding the community’s trail system, children and families are able to safely navigate to schools and other locales without combating busy roadways.
The Brooklyn Greenway Initiative used the Bikes Belong grants to break ground on a 14-mile commuter route and recreation corridor in the New York borough. The initiative was able to acquire $18 million in federal funds through the program that was used by the city’s Department of Transportation and parks agencies.
The Colorado River Bike/Ped Bridge was made possible through a $1.8 million investment from state and federal funding sources to the Moab Trails Alliance. The bicycle and pedestrian structure allows residents to navigate a busy highway bridge for safe transit and increased access to other areas of the city.
In addition, the Cuyuna Range Trails Committee in Crosby, Minnesota, is utilizing federal funding from Bikes Belong to develop a five-mile, multi-use trail to connect the town and Cuyuna Lakes State Recreation Area. The project has future plans to extend the pathways even more to provide mobility to the Paul Bunyan State Trail.
Not A Passing Trend
According to the Earth Policy Institute, bike-sharing programs are gaining traction and popularity across the United States and worldwide. The eco-friendly initiatives are appealing to advocacy groups and local governments in all regions, resulting in more than 500 cities in 49 countries hosting bike-sharing programs.
Data shows European cities have introduced the largest number of bike-sharing programs and established bike-friendly infrastructure to support the efforts from 2006 to the present. In the United States, there are currently 26 active bike-sharing programs in place, with many major cities such as Chicago in the planning stages of their initiatives. The largest program in the U.S. is located in Washington, D.C., and offers more than 200 pickup stations for 1,800 available bicycles. Nice Ride Minnesota in the Twin Cities offers residents access to 1,550 bikes from 170 dispersed stations, to come in a close second.
Popular Biking
Gov1 has followed planning efforts to incorporate biker safety into urban designs, as well as bike-sharing programs across the country.