Better Bike Share Partnership Awards More Than $81,000 to Nine Bike Share Projects

The Better Bike Share Partnership (BBSP) awarded $81,300 in mini-grants to increase access to and use of shared micromobility across the United States. We are thrilled to continue to support projects that engage with people who are often overlooked in decisions made about bike share design, implementation, and expansion. Mini-grant funding will be used to implement small, time-bound projects in the following places: 

INCREASING ACCESS TO BIKE SHARE IN THE EAST BAY: $9,500

Bike East Bay | Oakland, CA

Bike East Bay will increase access to BayWheels’ BikeShare for All program. The group will also host a series of Bike Share 101 classes by working with affordable housing sites across Oakland and provide a free one-month bike share membership to participants of the classes. The classes are two-part, with an educational classroom component on bike safety followed by a BayWheel group ride to get participants using the bike share system.

SAVVY CYCLING PROJECT: $9,000

Midwest Bike Share, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI

Through free 90-minute classes, Bublr’s Savvy Cycling instructors will show residents how to use Milwaukee’s Bublr bike share system and provide tips for safe bicycle riding in the city. Class participants will receive a bicycle helmet and a 30-day Bublr pass. The goal is to deepen engagement with community partners and further refine engagement strategies to increase access to bike share for Milwaukee’s BIPOC and low-income communities.

HIBIKE BIKE RX PROGRAM: $6,500

People for Active Transportation Hawaii (PATH) | Kailua-Kona, HI

PATH will hold group rides using the HIBIKE bike share system to make people aware of the ease of use of the bikes, the locations of the new stations, the system’s partnership with Mass Transit Agency, and to promote clean transportation options. The program is in partnership with the Hawaii Island Community Health Center. 

NEWARK E-SCOOTER EQUITY + EDUCATION: $8,500

Meadowlands Transportation Brokerage Corporation | Wood-Ridge, NJ 

Newark adults will have the opportunity to participate in free, one-hour classes on its scooter share system. Classes will be held in Scooter Equity Zones, where 30% or more of residents earn less than $30,000/year and experience a commute longer than 60 minutes. Classes will be offered to those who attend group rides put on by the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.  

MOGO 2024 AMBASSADOR COHORT: $8,900

DDP Bike Share Corporation | Detroit, MI

MoGo will train community members to act as ambassadors to provide education and outreach on their bike share system. The 2024 MoGo ambassadors will help existing staff in leading in-person community engagement at events across the city. 

LEARN TO RIDE BICYCLE CLINICS: $8,900

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, NV

Following the installation of new bike share docks in east Las Vegas, it became clear that culturally sensitive marketing and in-person outreach was needed. RTC Bike Share will host bilingual Learn to Ride clinics for adults and families in east Las Vegas community centers. The goal is to teach people how to ride, practice safe riding habits, and sign up for RTC Bike Share.

BUGS, BIKES, AND BOTANY: NATURE ADVENTURE KIT PROGRAM: $10,000

San Antonio River Foundation | San Antonio, TX

The San Antonio River Foundation will work with San Antonio BCycle to pilot its Nature Adventure Kit Program. In partnership with BIPOC community ambassadors and affinity groups, the foundation will host guided rides and offer BCycle day passes. The goal is to increase access to and use of shared micromobility while increasing regular access to nature and strengthening stewardship and accessibility of green spaces throughout the city and beyond. 

SUMA SUMMER SPECIAL: $10,000

Suma Platform | Portland, OR

Suma will bridge shared micromobility and food access by offering micromobility options alongside weekly farmers market subsidies/incentives on their mobile app. The project overcomes the barriers that prevent community members from using their devices to access shared micromobility and fosters new shared micromobility travel routines. Suma app users load money and receive market vouchers to purchase fresh food. Users can take free Lime e-scooter rides on market days.

WESTERN QUEENS MICROMOBILITY GROWTH: $10,000

Transportation Alternatives, Inc. | New York, NY

Transportation Alternatives will initiate an education and learn-to-ride campaign to engage new riders in northwestern Queens through several outreach activations. A field team will promote reduced Citi Bike fare access and host Learn to Ride events, bike marshal trainings, and group rides.

Congratulations to all of our mini grant recipients! In the coming months, we’ll share updates on the development of their projects. Stay tuned! Our next round of mini grant applications will open in spring 2025.