SLCBC Hemingway Foundation Grant

Hemingway Foundation Grant

Section 11

Nature of the Grantee

The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

The Collective was founded in April, 2002, by five enthusiastic bicycle advocates. We set out to share the virtues of bicycling with our community and build the bicycling environment with a creative advocacy organization. Along with providing the gathering place, tools, education, art projects, and shop services, the Collective is about having fun while helping others.

The founders of the Collective know the benefits of bicycling for transportation and want more people to travel by bike. Why? We believe this form of clean, healthy transportation is not only more sustainable but more enjoyable. In addition, by putting more bicyclists on the road, we are creating safer conditions for existing bicyclists as motorists become more aware of this form of transportation.

To convert more bicycle commuters, we are always working with the city and county governments to provide useful community resources. Our goal is that, as more folks begin to learn safe riding skills and simple maintenance, bicycle commuting will become more convenient and effective then any other form of transportation around town.

In addition, it is our commitment to the growth of cycling in the Salt Lake Valley that has led us to create educational programs and provide refurbished bicycles, specifically to children and lower income households. Salt Lake City Bicycle Cooperative is proud to support the following community services:

   * Refurbishing donated bicycles for nominal resale and charity purposes
   * Community access to tools and shop space for bicycle repair
   * Bicycle parking at downtown Farmer's Market
   * Road I Effective Cycling courses for adults
   * Earn-A-Bike program for kids
   * Bicycle mechanic courses and certifications
   * Recycling and art projects 

Definition of Problem Areas

• underserved youth
• improving mechanical skills/problem solving
• safety on bicycles
• afterschool activity
• provide transport for other programs
• mentorship
• environmental stewardship

Purposes of Proposed Grant

• objective
• goals

• • To provide a pre-vocational training experience, in which students learn the value of participation, productive work, punctuality and dependability.
  • To provide a safe, supportive, respective environment for all participants.
  • To teach students basic bike mechanics and bike safety skills, and the increased self-sufficiency that comes with having these skills.
  • To provide an opportunity for students to earn bicycles through their participation in the program

• benefits to achieve

Ideally this program would run year round, four days a week, and reach over 300 kids every year. With students working in teams, an instructor is able to assist two teams (4 students). This would require three instructors for each Earn-a-bike class of twelve students. While volunteer instructors are a huge asset to the program, the consistency that comes with a paid instructor creates reliable mentors for youth. Funding for these instructors is essential.

Another imperative aspect for the program is the availability of sufficient tools, workspace, and consumable supplies (see below). Each team of two students would share a work station equipped with the proper tools to rebuild their bicycle. The powder coating process aesthetically transforms someone else's old bike into their brand new bike. However, it is during the dismantling for powder coating that they gain intimate knowledge of every aspect of their bike. Powder coating would be more affordable with the ability to sandblast and prep bikes ourselves.

While certainly the highlight of the course is the completion of their bicycles, the curriculum would be incomplete without bicycle safety education. Currently, students have the option of obtaining their Road I or Kids II certification, a curriculum created by the League of American Bicycles. These courses teach the importance of riding safe with helmets, locks, lights. It is our desire to provide helmets, locks, and lights to students at this time to reinforce and encourage that education.

Impact of Approval of Grant

• The ability to provide a pre-vocational training experience, in which students learn the value of participation, productive work, punctuality and dependability.
• Financially secure and gaurantee a safe, supportive, respective environment for all participants.
• To teach students basic bike mechanics and bike safety skills, and the increased self-sufficiency that comes with having these skills.
• To provide an opportunity for students to earn bicycles through their participation in the program.

On Going Funding

While the funding for this particular grant will allow us build the infrastructure necessary to offer classes. However, we will need to continue paying our instructors, shop supplies will need to be replaced, and powder coating has a cost per frame. All of these aspects are crucial to the success of the program and will require continual funding. However, with the current success, and the support of foundations, we feel our program's funding opportunities will only increase as we seek other funding sources.

Questions for Hemingway

• What is the definition of "Nature" in section 11?
• In section 12, do Problem areas pertain to society or the existing program?