December 2, 2020 – FORT COLLINS, CO – New “Bikes May Use Full Lane” and “Motorists Must Give 3-Feet Clearance” county road and highway signage, new bilingual wayfinding trail/bikeway signage in North Fort Collins, and delivering Safe Routes to School bicycle education curriculum to area PSD students are a few examples of the impact Bike Fort Collins (BFC) can continue to make in the community when you support its’ “Keep Us Rolling!” campaign on Colorado Gives Day, December 8th, 2020. Donations can be made at this link, or at bikefortcollins.org/donate. Transactions that are scheduled now (at the link) on Colorado Gives Day’s secure site won’t be processed until December 8th.
This year, the community’s donations will help BFC “roll” even further thanks to a $5,000 matching gift from long-time Fort Collins resident, former BFC board member and loyal supporter, Wendy Poppen.
“I believe Bike Fort Collins has played an integral role in establishing the strong bike culture that Fort Collins is known for nationwide,” said Wendy Poppen. “That said, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Organizations like Bike Fort Collins need our support during this challenging time. I know my bike has been an invaluable escape for me during this pandemic. And, judging from the increase in the number of bikes I’ve seen out and about, it has been the same for many others who have discovered or rediscovered the joy of riding. Ride on Fort Collins and remember BFC on December 8th!”
A contribution to BFC not only means support for Wendy Poppen’s matching gift, but will also:
- Support the delivery of Safe Routes to School programming, a joint effort between BFC and the City of Fort Collins to teach bicycle skills, rules of the road and safe bicycling etiquette to elementary, middle school and high school students within PSD. While the ability to deliver programming has been compromised this year due to remote learning, a Safe Routes to School video series has been created in an effort to still reach kids this year.
- Help enable Bike Fort Collins to innovate and develop new programs, such as Wish for Wheels Foco—an effort to provide a FREE bike and helmet to every 2nd-grader in PSD’s six (6) Title 1 schools (400 kids). Working with generous partners, sponsors and donors, nearly 260 bikes and helmets were delivered this fall in the program’s inaugural year.
- Support bicycle advocacy efforts to improve the ability for all (any ability or identity) to ride safely in and around Fort Collins, such as:
- Adding new road signage throughout Larimer County and up Highways 14 and 34 that more effectively communicate expectations and road use regulations/laws by all road users;
- Bringing to light opportunities to improve intersections and road facilities as it relates to bicycling with appropriate city officials and committees/boards;
- Spearheading an initiative to develop “Creative Streets,” that cost effectively improve intersections by aesthetically painting missing curb infrastructure and traffic control devices—in lieu of costly street renovations and construction;
- Having bi-lingual wayfinding signage installed along the bike trails and bikeways in North Fort Collins, to better enable Spanish speaking users to find their way to area amenities;
- And, participating in, or as a member of numerous organized groups to spread pro-bicycle and advocacy messages, as well as help identify and solve active transportation challenges and problems.
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About Bike Fort Collins
Located in one of the most bike friendly cities in the country, Bike Fort Collins (BFC) is a growing bicycle advocacy and active transportation 501(c)(3), delivering on four primary programs, as well as a number of other advocacy initiatives and events. These primary programs include: Safe Routes to School (a partnership with the City of Fort Collins to deliver bike safety education to Poudre School District students), the Bicycle Friendly Business Network, support of Fort Collins Bike Share program, and its Active Living initiative to promote inclusion and access to active transportation in marginalized and distressed communities in Northern Colorado. To learn more, visit bikefortcollins.org, or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.
About Colorado Gives Day
Colorado Gives Day is presented by Community First Foundation, a local community foundation dedicated to fueling positive change throughout Colorado, and FirstBank, one of the nation’s largest privately held banks and recognized leader in Colorado corporate philanthropy. The event is one of the most successful “give days” in the nation. Since its inception in 2010, the statewide movement has raised more than $257 million for Colorado nonprofits. Last year, 60,000 donors supported 2,610 nonprofits totaling $40 million. Donations are accepted online at ColoradoGivesDay.org, an online giving resource featuring more than 2,900 Colorado nonprofits, providing comprehensive, up-to-date information on the organizations and a safe way to donate online. Donors can schedule a Colorado Gives Day donation beginning Nov. 1 on ColoradoGivesDay.org that will benefit from the Incentive Fund of $1 million, shared among all nonprofits receiving Colorado Gives Day donations.