Everyone knows that bicycles are sweet. They keep you in good shape, allow you to experience nature in a direct way, and they are a great way to reduce our carbon foot print (bikes don’t run on oil). Which is why it is great news that New York City’s Transportation Alternatives and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation have been selected as the first recipients of REI/Bicycle Friendly Communities Grants of $15,000 each. This new grant fund, administered by the Bikes Belong Foundation and made possible with support from Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), helps aspiring, committed Bicycle Friendly Communities become great places to ride.

Transportation Alternatives (TA) will use their award to support a comprehensive citywide bike parking initiative designed to increase bike transportation in New York by giving cyclists safe, convenient places to park and store their bicycles. TA will conduct advocacy work for “parking spot swaps” and legislation mandating bicycle access to commercial buildings. The grant will also back a bike-rack design competition organized by the NYC Department of Transportation, TA, and city art museums.

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation will use their funding to produce the first of a series of Sunday Parkways events in Chicago, modeled after Ciclovia in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Bogotá, Columbia. With a goal of “transforming communities by invigorating their lifelines—their streets—every weekend from June through October,” Sunday Parkways promises to dramatically increase ridership in the city of Chicago by creating a car-free community celebration that other U.S. cities can adopt.

(video is of Bogota)

“Chicago and New York are already working hard to become bike friendly,” said Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong. “These REI grants will help city governments, businesses, community leaders and nonprofit groups increase cycling for transportation and recreation. The result will be reduced road congestion and air pollution, and better health and quality of life for residents and visitors.”

Bicycle Friendly Communities is a program developed by the League of American Bicyclists to inspire city governments to create safe, appealing bicycle routes and facilities as well programs that encourage people of all ages to ride bikes for transportation and recreation. Currently, there are 72 communities across the country designated with bronze, silver, gold, or platinum BFC awards. The League’s BFC staff provides applicants with resources and technical assistance, and offers workshops and site visits for communities that want to develop and energize their efforts to become more bicycle friendly.

I think that you are going to see a lot more of this, as the economy slows down, and oil prices stay high, the bicycle is going to look better and better. “Take that love handle and use it to power your commute!” or “Hey save hundreds a year by riding your bike” or “Save the earth, ride a bike.” Pick your slogan, it doesn’t really matter why you ride, so long as you do it. Happy riding!