Atlanta Launches 'Westside Bike Share Champions'

From Fire Bee - Atlanta Communications Agency:

To build a strong base of bike share users in Atlanta’s westside neighborhoods, the City of Atlanta and several community organizations have received grant funding to launch “Westside Bike Share Champions.” Through this new program, 10 people will be hired to manage community outreach and education about biking and bike share in Atlanta’s westside neighborhoods (where Relay’s bike-share stations are slated to debut over the next year).

The “Bike Share Champions” program is a partnership of the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, WeCycle, Urban Perform, Red, Bike & Green Atlanta, and Relay Bike Share.

This project will primarily serve community members from neighborhoods on the westside of Atlanta, including the Atlanta University Center (Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, and Spelman), the West End, Vine City and English Avenue.A recurring community goal from the many studies and conversations of and with westside communities is workforce development and access for residents to job opportunities and career training. The Champions program will provide westside residents the opportunity for paid training and work, create a pipeline to employment, and help spread awareness that bike share is a useful transportation and health tool for residents of westside neighborhoods.

The Champions will be recruited and trained by local community-based nonprofits and businesses to conduct direct outreach at community meetings events to raise awareness of bike share and generate interest in its use.

The program is made possible with funding from PeopleForBikes and the Better Bike Share Partnership, a national initiative administering $900,000 of grant funds across three years to recipients across the country that are working to make bike share programs more equitable. These grants were made possible with funding from the JPB Foundation. Additionally, matching funds were provided by the Atlanta Regional Commission via the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness Partnerships to Improve Community Health.

Applications are available online at atlantabike.org/westside_bike_champions. Applications are dueSeptember 19 by 5 pm. Interviews will take place the week of September 26 during the evenings. Those selected to participate will take part in 35-40 hours of training October 7-9 and 10-15. Childcare will be provided for those who need it, and provisions will be made to make training convenient for all champions.

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