February 14/08 1:32 am - BTAC Makes Grants to Bike-friendly Community Initiatives

Posted by Editor on 02/14/08
 

BTAC Makes Grants to Bike-friendly Community Initiatives

The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) has announced the six recipients of the $25,000 in grants. Awarded twice a year and available to cycling focused community groups, BTAC's Grant Program will support projects that put more people on bikes.

This spring the funding goes to organizations that are conducting projects which fall into the following categories: education, advocacy and facility enhancement. An important selection criterion is whether the project will make measurable improvements to the overall cycling landscape in Canada.

Education:
Vancouver's After School Bikes Program receives $5000. Developed by PEDAL Energy Development Alternatives (PEDAL) and partially funded by Translink, the three year program will seek to improve access to bicycles and cycling in Vancouver elementary schools. PEDAL is a Vancouver based non-profit with a mandate to reduce the environmental impact of our community by getting more people riding bicycles.

Edmonton's Bike Rodeo Resource Kit Program receives $2,500. The combined efforts of Shape Alberta, Capital Health Edmonton, City of Edmonton and United Cycle will provide a Bike Rodeo Resource Kit as a resource to educators, parents, and community and bicycle representatives to successfully teach youth the importance of bicycle safety.

Velo Quebec's three year project Towards Pedestrian Friendly Communities will receive $5,000 for activity in the first year. Velo Quebec's target is to provide the necessary technical and organizational tools to help municipalities plan, facilitate and promote cycling and walking in communities across Canada. Velo Quebec Association is an international leader in the promotion of cycling for the transportation, leisure and tourism with 40 years of experience.

Advocacy:
Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation's - Cycling Policy Conference scheduled for spring '08 will receive $5,000. This policy conference expected to garner worldwide attention, will feature high profile speakers and detailed presentations of studies, statistics and facts that are supportive of the position that governments which dedicate funds to programs that encourage cycling reap a broad range of societal, transportation and economic benefits.

Toronto Cyclist Union (TCU) will receive $2,500. As the first membership-driven bicycle advocacy organization in the Greater Toronto Area, the TCU has a target of engaging one million cyclist across the region. This is consumer focused group are dedicated to promoting bicycles use, create positive perceptions of cycling and to shift the gears of political culture towards sustainable and bike friendly planning.

Facility:
Moncton's Centennial Bike Zone will receive $5,000. Dedicated volunteers in Moncton focused on promoting healthy living through cycling, working with the City are in year two of a five year process to create the only mountain bike park in the region. Located within Moncton's Centennial Park, the 12 acre site features free ride, dirt jumps and skills areas and is focused on promoting healthy living through cycling.

To learn more about the BTAC grant program or to reach the representatives of the organizations receiving BTAC grants, please contact: Janet O'Connell, BTAC Executive Director, at 866.528.BTAC (2822) or 905.853.5031 or joconnell@btac.org.