I support funding for community bike repair programs in Michigan.

For some Michiganders, bicycling serves as a safety-net transportation option, especially low-income folks, refugees, the homeless, and kids. Community bike repair programs fill a key role, but may struggle to find operating funds for parts and supplies, to operate programming, and to compensate instructors.

The League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) can sustainably address this need with a $200,000 state appropriation, which would allow them to fund local Community Bike Repair programs over the next 5-10 years through the successful Better Bicycling Grant program.

LMB has heard from many programs about the need for ongoing support. Upcycle Bikes said the road infrastructure is there – but to increase the diversity of who is using bike lanes, we need to get bikes to people. 99% of their bikes go to people who make less than $25,000 annually. It costs an average of $50 in parts per bike to fix it up.

Example Community Bike Repair Programs:

• Upcycle Bikes, Grand Rapids
• Muskegon Area Bike Library, Muskegon
• Lansing Bike Cooperative, Lansing
• Kids Repair Program, Lansing
• Re-Bicycle Lenawee, Benton Harbor
• Cycle-Re-Cycle, Adrian
• Recycle-A-Bicycle, Traverse City
• Armory Bike Union, Jackson
• Common Cycle, Ann Arbor
• Luki Bike Adventures, Detroit
• Free Bikes 4 Kidz, Detroit
• Back Alley Bikes, Detroit

Please fund community bike repair programs in the next state budget and keep Michigan moving!