Velo Cruces, Inc
Grants Awarded
Children with disabilities can benefit from riding adaptive cycles. Physical benefits include increased joint motion, muscle movement, circulation, cardiovascular health, core development, and improved coordination and balance. Emotionally, riding adaptive cycles can help foster inclusion and a sense of independence. Barriers to obtaining an adaptive cycle include prohibitive cost, lack of local availability, and lack of support and guidance as to which cycle or accessory is best suited for a rider’s needs. Every Body Rides with Grace seeks to draw attention to these barriers and increase accessibility to cycle riding for New Mexican youth with disabilities.
The proposed program aims to increase outdoor access for disabled youth in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, by providing adaptive cycles and fostering environmental stewardship. Key activities include distributing adaptive cycles to financially disadvantaged youth, conducting a Bike Safety Rodeo for properly educating them on road protocols, organizing a Reduce the Carbon Footprint Ride to promote environmental awareness, and staging an adaptive cycle parade to celebrate participants and foster community inclusion. The program will also raise community awareness of adaptive cycling, while offering repair services and workshops at The Hub Community Bike Shop operated by Velo Cruces.
Youth with disabilities benefit from cycling. Cycling activities improve joint motion, muscle strength, circulation, cardiovascular health, core development, coordination and balance. Cycling also develops critical problem solving skills, pre-planning skills, risk awareness, and self-awareness. Additionally, cycling creates opportunities to connect with others and fosters a sense of independence for riders. Opportunities to connect with others and independence are areas where youth with disabilities often struggle, particularly in the outdoors. Barriers to obtaining an adaptive cycle include prohibitive cost, lack of local availability and lack of support and guidance as to which cycle or accessory is best suited for a rider’s needs. Every Body Rides with Grace (EBWRG) seeks to draw attention to these barriers and increase accessibility to cycling activities for youth with disabilities in New Mexico. EBWRG has been awarded $45,000 in grants from the New Mexico Governor’s Quality of Life Grant and the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund. Additionally, we have raised over $7,000 through our Pay it Forward with Grace GoFundMe campaign. To date, EBWRG has provided 25 cycles to New Mexicans with a broad range of disabilities. EBWRG aims to provide applicants with adaptive cycles, weather covers, locks and helmets. Additionally, the program aims to teach families and cyclists basic cycling safety skills and provide opportunities for awardees to participate in group rides and community events. Recipients and their families are invited back to participate in fun, inclusive community events such as: EBRWG Annual Adaptive Cycle Parade Family Fun Fiesta Bike Safety Rodeo Monumental Loop Danger Bird Send Off Reduce the Carbon Foot Print Ride People with disabilities can succeed and participate in their communities in meaningful ways when they have support and access to the appropriate resources. Simple modifications, adaptive equipment, guidance, and compassion can make all the difference for a person with disabilities as well as for the people who love and care for them. EBWRG is proud to be a program of Velo Cruces, Inc. Established in 2015, Velo works to transform Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley into a great bicycle and pedestrian community. Velo serves as a hub for bicycling information and is the voice of the cycling community, insisting that our city counsel supports and advocates for cycling, propelling the complete streets initiative, participating in the discussion of the Rio Grande Trail, promoting the installation of bike racks, and any other opportunities that arise to promote the improvement and safety of bicycling in Las Cruces. When an issue develops that calls for group action, Velo reaches out to cycling clubs and organizations to mobilize the cycling community to action. Velo collaborates with Las Cruces Safe Routes to School, Vulnerable Road Users NM, and the Optimists Club to promote safety, access and education. Velo sponsors The Hub Community Bike Shop. Volunteers offer free and low cost bike repair, promote the rules of the road and safety, sponsor the Ride Right Ride Bright Program, and offer a Used Bicycle Distribution Program to provide cycles for individuals who are homeless or near homeless.