GEARs has awarded $2500 in mini-grants to promote bicycle education and safety.  Recipients of the 2012 mini-grants are Safe Routes to School, Nearby Nature, the University of Oregon Outdoor Program, the City of Eugene “Sunday Streets” program, and St. Vincent dePaul’s.

Applications for GEARs mini-grants totaled over $16,000, reflecting a huge need for bicycle safety in the Eugene area.  Mini-grant funds will be used to provide bicycle parts, lighting, and locks for students and low-income people, purchase bicycles for bike safety classes in the Bethel School District, and install a 24-hour “Bike Fixit” station on the University of Oregon campus.

GEARs also has offered free registration in its “Confident Cycling” classes to organizations that applied for mini-grants.  These classes provide both classroom instruction and on-the-bike practice in riding safely and legally on city streets.  For more information on GEARs Confident Cycling classes, see http://edu.eugenegears.org/classes.