AT’s new Community Bike Fund – get into it!

AT’s new Community Bike Fund – get into it!

Bike Auckland

Some great news, especially for our Bike Burbs and other local heroes out there getting stuff done: Auckland Transport’s Walking and Cycling department has opened up a special funding pool to encourage community bike events.

As AT’s Walking, Cycling, and Road Safety manager Kathryn King said, ‘Many community organisations have great ideas to get more people on their bikes, and we are keen to work with them to deliver some creative projects that encourage more people to ride bikes more often.’

Wellington has a similar fund which has achieved fantastic things, so we’re overjoyed to see something similar here and hope this one-year trial grows to represent the vast range of enthusiastic local bike culture we know is out there.

The Auckland Transport Community Bike Fund is a pool of $35,000. There will be three application rounds across the year, with closing dates of: 13 December 2017, 4 February 2018, and 25 March 2018.

Groups with a formal legal status can apply for funding from $300 up to $5000, and informal groups can ask for up to $1000, or ask a more official group to be their umbrella partner for the event.

The fund aims to support projects that:

  • Encourage and support people new to riding bikes.
  • Further normalise cycling as a viable mode of transport.
  • Support local people to encourage riding within their own communities.
  • Support initiatives that showcase new cycleways to local people.
  • Develop and encourage community participation in cycling.
  • Support an increase in cycle safety.
  • Encourage community collaboration and partnerships.

The grants can be used for community events, activities, training programmes, and the development of resources and information for specific communities.

Note: the grant can’t be used for infrastructure improvements or capital purchases of equipment, including bike parking. It’s specifically about people power and activation. It’s also not available to political parties, commercial entities, schools, or members of the council family.

Check out the full grant policy here and you can apply online here

Applications are now open for the first round, closing 13 December and announced 20 December – so if you have some summer fun in mind, get Christmas-cracking!

 

Header image: Bike Te Atatu out and about on a group ride to explore local bike paths – an example of the kind of community activity that’s eligible for the new grant. 

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