The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club was pleased to grant Portage West Middle School a $500 grant for their Riding with Focus program. Through this program cycling is incorporated into Portage West Middle School’s Physical Education classes, which all students are required to take. Riding with Focus teaches basic cycling skills and safety.
Portage West Middle School received a previous grant of 24 bikes from the Specialized Bike Foundation. The grant from Kalamazoo Bicycle Club will allow them to expanded the program to include more bikes, allowing them to reach more students.
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club periodically awards small grants to help fund bicycling-related projects that meet the Club’s mission to promote the sport of cycling and provide cycling education and advocacy. Terry O’Connor, Kalamazoo Bike Club Grants Committee Chair, said, “We are excited that Portage West Middle School is incorporating cycling in their Phys Ed program. We are happy to support a program that will help create the next generation of safe and responsible cyclists in our community.”
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club is a non-profit, formed in 1971 to promote bicycling in the region. The club’s activities include cycling safety advocacy, club rides, racing, touring, and development of a bicycle-friendly infrastructure.