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Santa Fe, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Santa Fe's lack of protected bike lanes left older adults and residents without cars navigating unsafe routes, including a highway between apartments and a shopping center. To address this, Bike Santa Fe completed six audits and shared findings with city leaders, influencing a bond-funded redesign and prompting supplemental funding for bike and pedestrian upgrades. Three audited sites are now slated for improvements within two years, and presentations helped officials and residents visualize safer connections for biking and walking.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Alamosa, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Alamosa lacked safe, connected routes for biking and walking, leaving older adults without infrastructure that supports active transportation. The project trained 10 volunteers-40% age 50-plus-to lead bike and walk audits and explored several neighborhoods to identify gaps. These audits informed a bicycle recommendation plan and strengthened advocacy for improvements. The effort prompted city discussions on adopting the plan and installing temporary and permanent infrastructure, laying the groundwork for safer, more walkable streets.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Kettering, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: In several busy parts of Kettering, older adults and people with disabilities faced barriers when biking to everyday destinations such as community centers and parks. Without direct input from residents, these issues were easy to overlook in planning. Cycle Kettering addressed this by organizing four community bike audits that brought together residents, elected officials and city staff to examine routes on the ground. Participants used a city-developed app to document conditions with notes, photos and mapped locations, creating a detailed record of problem areas. Input from older adults and riders with disabilities shaped the findings. One participant living with a neuromuscular disorder highlighted access issues others might miss. The audits produced practical data that planners and engineers can reference as they consider future biking and walking improvements.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Maywood, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: Many Maywood residents lacked affordable bike maintenance, limiting mobility for commuters, older adults and unhoused individuals who depend on bicycles. To address this, the library installed a public repair station with eight tethered tools and a manual air pump near its entrance, creating free access for routine and complex fixes. Within days, residents were using the station, helping older adults stay active and connected to local trails. The project also complements the Healthy Maywood initiative, promoting safe, low-cost transportation options for the community.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance repair and services
Description: Many older adults living in their own homes faced safety hazards that increased fall risk and made daily routines harder to manage, with limited options for affordable repairs. Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago addressed this need through its Second Saturdays initiative, completing targeted home safety and accessibility improvements that helped residents move more confidently through their homes. Skilled volunteers carried out hands-on repairs while spending time with homeowners, pairing practical fixes with human connection. One resident said the work was an answer to their prayers and eased worries about falling or being forced to move. The changes reduced everyday safety concerns and supported older adults who wanted to remain where they live while demonstrating a repeatable model for addressing small but critical home safety needs over time.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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