NORTE YOUTH CYCLING

PROGRAM SERVICE 1: YOUTH CYCLING PROGRAMS NORTE YOUTH CYCLING HELPS RIDERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES GAIN CONFIDENCE, BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, AND DEVELOP LIFELONG HEALTHY HABITS. DURING 2024, NORTE SERVED MORE THAN 1,9693 YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS ACROSS SIX COUNTIES THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL BIKE CLUBS, ADVENTURE TEAMS, SUMMER BIKE CAMPS, BALANCE BIKE PROGRAMS, AND ADAPTIVE CYCLING PROGRAMS. THE 10-WEEK SUMMER BIKE CAMP REACHED 878 RIDERS ALONE. WE ENGAGED AND EMPOWERED ANOTHER 4,959 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR PREDOMINANTLY FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND INITIATIVES, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL PIE RIDE AND BALANCE BIKE RACE, MECHANIC CLASSES, SLOW ROLLS, BALANCE BIKE MEET-UPS, AND MORE GIRLS ON BIKES RIDES. PROGRAM SERVICE 2: COMMUNITY ACCESS AND INCLUSION NORTES COMMUNITY BIKE LIBRARY LOANED APPROXIMATELY 900 BICYCLES AT LOW OR NO COST, ENSURING ACCESS FOR ALL RIDERS. MORE THAN 10,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO ELIMINATE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. NORTES BIKES FOR ALL PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 23 WEEKLY ADAPTIVE RIDERS AT NO COST, PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY AND INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH COGNITIVE OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE ADAPTIVE BICYCLE PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS IN THE REGION. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 400 FREE HELMETS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAM SERVICE 3: EDUCATION AND SAFETY COMMUNITY BIKE TUNE-UPS PROVIDED FREE REPAIRS FOR RESIDENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, THE LOCAL LIBRARY, AND THE SENIOR CENTER, SUPPORTING SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO RELY ON BICYCLES FOR WORK AND DAILY NEEDS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE ESSENTIAL BIKES TO THOSE IN NEED. EVERY CHILD IN OUR PROGRAM RECEIVES SAFETY EDUCATION, AND HELMETS ARE REQUIRED WHEN ON BIKE. NORTE ADVANCED ITS BIKE SMART BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO TEACH SECOND GRADERS SAFE RIDING AND HELMET USE PROGRAM SERVICE 4: INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NORTE CONTINUED PLANNING AND FUNDRAISING FOR A MULTI-PHASE BICYCLE EDUCATION CENTER AT THE GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY CIVIC CENTER, INCLUDING A 19,000-SQ-FT ASPHALT PUMP TRACK, SAFETY TRAFFIC GARDEN, AND RENOVATION OF A COUNTY MAINTENANCE BUILDING INTO A COMMUNITY BIKE HUB. THIS PROJECT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION THAT WILL ENHANCE SAFETY, ACCESS, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. WE CONTINUE TO CREATE NEW AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, THE CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER, SINGLE MOMM, THE WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER, AND MORE. PROGRAM SERVICE 5: VOLUNTEERS MORE THAN 164 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 2,350 HOURS IN 2024 AS COACHES, MENTORS, AND EVENT SUPPORTERS