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Yavapai County Community Health Services (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Bike Audits
└ Bike Audits
Older adults who rely on bikes faced unsafe conditions in Cottonwood and Clarkdale due to missing bike lanes and poor signage. To address this, volunteers conducted 12 audits over three months, counting 270 cyclists and identifying critical safety gaps, including the need for specialty markings and education on helmet use. The findings now guide city planning and advocacy for bike lanes and multi-use paths, prompting collaboration with local councils.
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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Wake Forest, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: The Town of Wake Forest examined why older adults and other residents interested in biking often avoid local streets due to disconnected and unsafe infrastructure. Through a series of bike audits involving volunteers from the Senior Center, participants documented where bike lanes end abruptly, crossings felt unsafe and routes failed to connect neighborhoods to greenways. The audits produced clear, location-specific findings and recommendations prepared for planning staff and elected officials. Volunteers noted that riders often gather downtown and then leave town to stay safe, highlighting missed opportunities for local travel. The results are positioned to inform age-friendly planning and support future investments such as safer crossings, clearer signage and expanded bike facilities.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Raleigh, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Older adults in Raleigh faced unsafe biking conditions and missing sidewalks, limiting mobility and access to transit. Oaks and Spokes launched bike audits on key corridors, engaging older residents and students to document hazards. Findings prompted City Council to adopt protected bike lanes on Brookside Drive and plan sidewalk improvements. A second audit on Garner Road highlighted urgent safety gaps and drew council attention during a live stream. These efforts accelerated infrastructure changes and built advocacy momentum for safer, age-friendly streets.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Rancho Cordova, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Rancho Cordova's first roundabout raised safety concerns for cyclists and pedestrians along Lincoln Village Drive, a one-mile stretch with 15 intersections where cars often speed. Volunteers conducted a bike audit, reviewing proposed traffic calming measures and sharing feedback with city staff. Their input will guide quick-build improvements within six months and shape long-term plans, including an upcoming repaving project. One participant noted, "Talking through the proposed traffic calming has changed how I think...about the bike trails and intersections in my own neighborhood."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Cottonwood, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Residents in transitional housing faced food insecurity and limited access to fresh produce, a concern for older adults who rarely had the chance to grow their own food. After construction setbacks, the coalition shifted plans and installed container gardens on a back deck. Despite pests and record heat, participants harvested tomatoes and peppers and learned basic gardening skills. The project sparked interest in self-reliance and created moments of connection. One volunteer said that quiet mornings in the garden helped him open up about personal struggles, leading to mental health support and steps toward employment.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Yavapai County, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: Older adults in Cottonwood and Clarkdale lacked safe bike routes, limiting mobility and access to parks and services. The project created the 17-mile Verde Connection Bike Route linking schools, retail areas and parks, added three bike repair stations and installed 161 wayfinding signs. The route offers a secure, scenic path for errands and recreation, fostering independence and social connection while strengthening local cycling clubs. It also sets the stage for future expansions. One participant said, "This project is more than just a route, its a meaningful investment in connectivity and active living."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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