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Cycle Kettering Chapter of Bike Miami Valley (2025) Print
2025 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Bike Audits
└ Bike Audits
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.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Ottawa, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Ottawa lacked safe biking routes, leaving older adults and families without secure options for active travel. Volunteers rode key corridors to flag hazards and propose quick fixes, shaping a grant application for a new bike path and plans for downtown bike racks. The effort sparked lasting engagement: a task force formed to push improvements, and residents who once had no outlet for their passion for biking are now driving change. One volunteer said that she is excited to see more bike parks in the community as well as other necessary amenities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Big Rapids, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Volunteer bike audits will study intersections and routes commonly used by cyclists in the city. Results will guide recommendations that improve bike access to services.
Brunswick, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Brunswick lacked safe bike routes linking downtown to schools and jobs, leaving residents, many reliant on walking or biking, facing hazards along a key corridor. The group led a two-part audit of 1.3 miles on MLK Jr. Blvd./Altama Ave., documenting obstacles and safety concerns to guide future trail planning. The effort raised visibility and prompted local officials to begin early planning for a multi-use path. One auditor said the process revealed "how the little things add up" for cyclists and pedestrians navigating the area.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Dayton, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: CityWide transformed a vacant lot into a new, more inviting entrance to Welcome Park in Dayton's Carillon neighborhood. The organization cleared overgrowth and dead trees from the site, replaced fencing and installed new informational signs. To give visitors a spot to rest, they placed benches along the park's walking path. CityWide also widened the entrance to conform to Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. Throughout the project, CityWide gathered feedback and ideas from residents. A community-led branding effort informed the design of the park's new sign, as well as a dedication plaque honoring a local advocate. Project organizers say they hope this project serves as a model for meaningful community engagement as the community plans for future park improvements.
Dayton, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: This project will transform four vacant lots into a recreational space for older adults. Amenities will include a walking path, tables, benches and a shelter house.
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