June 17th, 2024 – The City of Decatur Jasper Street Implementation Committee has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur, Hope Academy, the Decatur Bicycle Club, and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to launch the Learn & Earn Bike Program.
The kids meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. until July 3rd. Over the next few weeks, youth will learn how to safely ride a bicycle, get some practice riding, and eventually they will earn a free bike and helmet from Decatur Bicycle. A community ride is planned for July 3rd for participants, and there is a “graduation” ceremony on July 10 celebrating the completion of the program.
Assistant director of economic and community development Richelle Dunbar states, “I think it’s exciting, we are doing a neighborhood revitalization throughout the city, but we have two phases of our Jasper Street neighborhood project. One is placemaking and the other one is transportation……we have been working ongoing for probably over a year with different entities.”
Dunbar also stated, “We have kids that are so excited, they got fit for their bikes, they got fit for their helmets, so it’s all been a process. Again, this is the first time we’re doing this so hopefully we’ll get people interested in donating and giving us funding so get the bikes because it’s an expensive project.”.
This Program is funded in part by the USDOT’s Thriving Communities Program.
For more information, click HERE.
By: Ahsaan Spence, Isaiah Bradford, and Andreas Walker
