As 2025 comes to a close, we’re celebrating the inspiring work accomplished by this year’s Community Spark Grant recipients. Each $2,000 microgrant is intended to spark change by supporting local projects that make bicycling safer, easier, and more accessible. Read through the highlights below to find out in the grantee’s own words just how big an impact these small investments can have!
Grantee Highlights
Redemptive Cycles — Kid’s Bike Rodeo Program (Birmingham, AL)
“The goal of this project is to get quality refurbished bikes into the hands of kids who have no bike. We specifically work within the Housing Authority of Birmingham District to target low income families that may be in need of bikes. The goal is to get these kids riding early, commuting safely, and hopefully sparking a lifelong love of cycling.” — Brian Gosdin, Redemptive Cycles
“This program is amazing! Biking is such a wonderful life skill! First, participants are provided access to free bikes and helmets that are fitted just for them! After a safety session to discuss the importance of wearing helmets and following the rules of the road, kids participate in a bike rodeo. Each station is led by experienced bikers to teach and practice a variety of riding skills. It is amazing to see the joy and growing confidence of each child as they go through the course.” — Julie Cole Farmer, MPH, BSN, RN, CPSTI — State Chapter Director, Think First Alabama
The LOVE Building — Youth Earn A Bike (Detroit, MI)
“The Youth Earn A Bike Program brought together three Detroit-based community organizations to serve over 60 youth this summer. Participants left with a solid foundation in basic bike safety and riding skills, along with hands-on knowledge of bike repair. Each youth received a refurbished bike, new helmet, free lunch, and a take-home workbook to continue learning in a fun and engaging way, ensuring the impact of the program extends well beyond the day.” — Mackenzie Rector, The LOVE Building
“What struck me most was seeing how the program embodied our shared vision of empowering Detroit’s youth through cycling. The confidence I witnessed in these young riders as they learned new skills and prepared for their summer adventures on two wheels is exactly why we do this work….Programs like Youth Earn A Bike don’t just teach kids new skills, they weave community fabric.” — Mark Speeks, Founder and Executive Director of Major Taylor Michigan
Fort Peck Tribal Elves — Bike Day (Fort Peck Indian Reservation)
“We did a Bike Day for Children in Poplar on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. We had council members there to hear about what safety is needed, so kids can bike safely in town. All participants were enrolled members of the Fort Peck Tribes. There were many children who attended along with their families. We gave away bikes and had stickers and other little gifts for all the children. One child, who is in foster care, won a Frozen bike and was so excited! One girl who donated her [old] bike won a new bike. It was a good time for the community to enjoy time with their children, grandchildren, and family. It helped 87 kids get a new helmet and we have a few left over in case someone needs one.” — Sunee Erickson, Fort Peck Tribal Elves
Thrive MV — Pedal Forward (Mahoning Valley, OH)
“The goal of our project is to increase access to independent transportation for adults in the Mahoning Valley. Our program was designed to fill gaps in our local transportation infrastructure so that more individuals could have direct access to sustainable means of transportation for work, school, doctor appointments, etc. Through our transportation equity program, we allocated 31 bikes (approx. 44% of bikes allocated YTD in 2025) to adults facing transportation challenges across Mahoning and Trumbull counties between March and July. Each bike recipient received a bike appropriate for their height/needs, a helmet, a lock, and important safety and maintenance information/resources. With direct access to independent transportation, recipients have more freedom in the way they get around the community to conduct their personal, educational, and professional business.”
“Having a bike is like having a game-changing support. It saves me a lot of time moving around campus for classes. Besides, it excites me to enjoy the breeze while riding. Thanks to the bike I was provided with, I can go home earlier and I can forget those exhausting days of walking or running if I am late for school.” — Bao Khanh Lee, Pedal Forward bike recipient
Equiticity — Community Bike Rides (Chicago, IL)
“The goal of our project was to expose more people of Chicago to the joy-filled, health improving, community building, and quality of life improving experiences community bike rides bring people. We planned on executing this by expanding Equiticity’s work of our Community Mobility Rituals pillar through hosting community bike rides on the South side of Chicago, specifically the Bronzeville community. We wanted to show people the beauty and enjoyment of their neighborhoods through bikes while showing them how to do it safely. This activity also encouraged participants to prioritize the improvement of their physical and mental health through biking.”
“It was just such a great time, I met so many different kinds of people. It was a nice way to get in some cardio and spread community love. It was a lot of greeting people on the sidewalk while we were passing, connecting [with] the community, and also marking temporary and spatially different things that happened in the community. [Seeing] different murals, different artworks, and important historical events that happened to real people in this community… is a way to feel more connected with the past and the present… I just really enjoyed that ride and I can’t wait to get back out here when it gets warmer!” — Soyinka Brown, Equiticity Community Bike Ride participant
All Bodies on Bikes — Industry Training for Size Inclusion
“The goal of this project is to equip bike industry employees with the knowledge and tools needed to better serve cyclists in larger bodies. By providing in-person size-inclusion trainings, the project aims to reduce systemic barriers, improve customer experiences, and create more welcoming bike shops and industry spaces. Ultimately, the goal is to make cycling more accessible and inclusive for people of all sizes. Through this project, All Bodies on Bikes successfully delivered size-inclusion training that increased awareness, shifted attitudes, and gave industry professionals concrete strategies to better support larger-bodied cyclists. Participants reported feeling more confident and prepared to create inclusive environments in their shops and organizations. These trainings contributed to a broader cultural shift within the cycling community, helping foster more equitable and welcoming spaces nationwide.”
One participant, a local mountain bike guide and ride leader, said, “This presentation was incredibly well done, and presented a sensitive topic in an approachable way. I’m excited to implement the things I’ve learned, especially how to talk to customers about weight limits and suspension setup, and hopefully be able to better serve all of my customers.”
2026 Spark Grants Are Open
Feeling inspired yet? Good news: the 2026 Community Spark Grant application is now open! Nonprofits and public agencies nationwide can apply for $2,000 awards to support pilot projects that improve access, safety, and inclusion in bicycling. Five of the ten grants are reserved for organizations in GM communities, and we strongly encourage eligible groups to apply.
Learn more and apply here by January 27, 2026 at 5 pm ET »
Thank You for a Year of Sparking Change
Every year, Community Spark Grant projects remind us of the dedication, compassion, and creativity of local groups. Every project sparked change differently, but they all made a difference in their own way: igniting bike joy, fostering community, spreading awareness, improving safety, and breaking down barriers to mobility challenges. Here’s to another round of projects transforming communities across the country in 2026!