The Bicycle Coalition (that's us!) Wins a 21st Century Solutions Grant

On a snow day it's hard to focus on anything indoors or remotely abstract, but we're pulling ourselves away from sleds and snow goons to share some very exciting news:

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is the recipient of a $50,000 21st Century Solutions grant from NBCUniversal Foundation. In its second year, the 21st Century Solutions program "supports initiatives designed to address emerging and ongoing community challenges in new and creative ways." The foundation awarded $100,000 to three Philadelphia non-profits; The Food Trust and The Trust for Public Land each received $25,000 grants.

This grant supports our Walking School Bus program. A little background: our Safe Routes Philly program trains health and physical education teachers in Philadelphia public schools to teach bicycle and pedestrian safety lessons. Since 2010, these lessons have been taught in 133 schools reaching over 60,000 students. With the recent school closures, thousands of students are travelling farther than ever to get to school, crossing unfamiliar and often busy roads. Our Walking School Bus Program organizes teachers and parents into "walking school buses" or parent-led groups that walk students to and from school. This makes the trip to school safer, and builds physical activity into the children's daily lives.

Not Too Late For Your PA School To Apply For Walking or Biking Grant

Pennsylvania elementary schools (K-8) interested in getting their children walking and biking to and from school should consider applying to a grant made available by the Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center. If you have questions or need help with the application process, you can contact our Safe Routes Philly Community Representatives. The deadline is November 15th.

Details on the grants below:

WHAT: Noninfrastructure grants up to $10,000 each are available from the Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center for walking and biking-related items and activities targeting students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This is for nonconstruction activities that support and enhance Safe Routes to School projects. The funded activities must address one or more of the first four Es of Safe Routes to School: Education, Encouragement, Evaluation, and/or Enforcement.

Grant recipients are also eligible to receive a walkability audit. Walkability audits are a key planning tool that provides schools with the technical assistance necessary to assess walking and biking conditions around the school and create a plan for improving them.

WHO: Schools or school districts in Pennsylvania.

WHEN: Deadline to apply for a grant is by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 15.

WHERE: Go to the Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center website at www.saferoutespa.org/noninfrastructure-grants to view the grant guidelines and obtain an online application.

WHY: Noninfrastructure grants can help to create safer routes to school and encourage more children to walk and bike to school. And, by participating in a walkability audit, schools are taking an important first step in making their communities safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

For more information about Safe Routes to School Noninfrastructure Grants, contact the Pennsylvania Safe Routes to School Resource Center at www.saferoutespa.org, info@saferoutespa.org, or (717) 763-0930 (ask for Safe Routes).