April 3, 2025 3:20 a.m.

A $25,000 grant is meant to improve bike safety education for Oregon youth and will help the work of a Douglas County non-profit organization.

A release from the Oregon Department of Transportation said the state is one of just three states receiving a grant aimed at making biking safer for young people in underserved communities.

The funds are from the Governors Highway Safety Association and the National Road Safety Foundation,

In partnership with Thrive Umpqua’s Safe Routes to School program, ODOT will use the funds to purchase a fleet of 40 bicycles, along with helmets and safety materials. These resources will support hands-on bike safety education for students in at least seven low-income rural schools, helping young riders gain confidence while learning essential road safety skills.

The release said the goal of the program is to create safer walking, biking and scooting options for young people while fostering a culture of active transportation in Oregon’s rural communities. By providing the necessary equipment and instruction, the grants will help ensure that children can safely and confidently use biking as a transportation option.

Oregon’s Safe Routes to School Education Program manager at ODOT Heidi Manlove, said, “By working with local partners and schools, we’re creating opportunities for students to be active and safe in their daily lives”. Manlove said, “We’re excited to see the impact this project will have on these communities”.

Similar grants have been awarded to Missouri and Washington, with all three states working toward safer transportation options for youth nationwide.