Community Spark Bicycle Safety Grants

Community Spark Bicycle Safety Grants is sponsored by League of American Wheelman Inc., General Motors (GM). These grants are offered to government agencies and nonprofit organizations for programs and activities to create safe bicycling environments. Projects can include giveaways, assessment surveys, educational opportunities, events, placemaking, and end-of-trip facilities.

League of American Bicyclists - League of American Bicyclists' Community Spark Grant Login to Complete a Form or to Access Judging Panel If you last applied to the Bicycle Friendly America program before April 2016, you will need to create a new account to submit a renewal application. ​ Click here to Create a New BFA Application Account . Looking for the League of American Bicyclists Member Portal?

To become a new League member, join here! With generous support from General Motors (GM), the League of American Bicyclists is delighted to announce its fifth year of Community Spark Grants to support the growing number of local grassroots changemakers and organizations across the country working to improve their communities through bicycling.

In 2026, the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program will award Community Spark Grants of $2,000 each to 10 organizations for projects and programs that spark change and catalyze a community’s ability to create places where bicycling is a safe, easy, and more accessible option.

Our desire is for organizations to propose projects that help create Bicycle Friendly Communities and build capacity for local leaders and influencers by uplifting the community and creating inclusive coalitions that can shed new light on current issues. Eligible organizations are nonprofits and public or government organizations/agencies.

Of the 10 organizations to receive awards, five must be in GM Facility communities , and the other five can be anywhere in the US but must meet the League’s Equity & Accessibility Criteria . Projects are required to be completed by the end of the calendar year (December 31, 2026); preference will be given to projects that can be completed by October 2026.

Funds may support a wide range of bicycling-related projects, including but not limited to short-term pop-up events, tactical urbanism demonstrations, educational events or resources, accessibility audits, or street safety improvements.

Priority will be given to projects that have the broadest impact and have an equity lens to the work, such as, but not limited to, working with underserved or under-resourced populations, or projects led by or primarily serving people from ethnic or racial minority groups, low-income populations, older populations, youth, and/or people with disabilities.

For projects that are combining this funding with other sources, we want to see that this funding will make up a significant portion of the project’s overall budget or will provide “seed” funds that are necessary for the project to get off the ground. The Community Spark Grant application will open on Monday, November 24, 2025. The deadline to apply for a 2026 Community Spark Grant is January 27, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET .

Applicants will be notified of award decisions in March.

Application Opens: November 24, 2025 Application Closes: January 27, 2026, at 5pm ET Applications Reviewed: January-February 2026 Applicants Selected and Notified: March 2026 Project Execution: March-December 2026* * Preference will be given to projects that can be completed by October 2026 Final Reports Due: December 2026 Public or Government Agencies/Organizations (e.g. Library, Parks and Rec Department) Non-Profits - 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4), and 501(c)(6) Other types of organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis Equity & Accessibility Criteria The League is proud to be able to offer Equity & Accessibility criteria as a determining factor for at least five of the 10 Community Spark Grants this year.

The questions in the application pertaining to the equity criteria are meant to help applying organizations showcase their need, project scope, and community characteristics as applicable. Those applying to be considered for the Equity & Accessibility grants should take the League's definition of equity and accessibility into consideration and use it as the framework for guidance in this section.

The League firmly believes that Equity & Accessibility are the essential lenses through which all other Bicycle Friendly America work must be viewed to achieve a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. The League defines “Equity” as the just and fair inclusion into a society in which everyone can participate and prosper.

The goals of equity must be to create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential by erasing disparities in race, income, ability, geography, age, gender, and sexual orientation.

The principle of equity acknowledges that there are historically underserved and underrepresented populations and that fairness regarding these unbalanced conditions is needed to assist equality in the provision of effective opportunities to all groups. “Accessibility” refers to improving and increasing access and mobility options for everyone, including, and in particular, for people with disabilities.

The League recognizes that not every disability is visible to others and that not every person with a permanent or temporary mobility or accessibility need identifies as ‘disabled’.

Whether from a cognitive, sensory, or physical disability, age, temporary illness, or injury, there are people in every community who face a range of mobility challenges for whom a bike or cycle may open a world of possibilities to increase accessibility. We will review each Community Spark Grant application holistically and use the Equity & Accessibility questions to help us narrow down the finalists.

Selection will be based on those who demonstrate the greatest impact of their project for the community with the greatest demonstrated need. Eligible GM Facility Communities Thanks to the support of General Motors, five of the 10 Community Spark Grant awards in 2026 will be available to GM communities or surrounding regions. See the complete list of GM Facility communities here .

If you have questions, please contact anna@bikeleague. org .

Fundable projects should be in one of the following categories: Classes/Educational Opportunity Pop-up Infrastructure/Traffic Calming* Placemaking/Tactical Urbanism* End-of-Trip Facilities (bike parking/fix-it stations, etc.) Giveaways or subsidies for bicycle equipment and/or accessories (e.g., lights, helmets, bells, locks, etc.) Bike audit, count, survey, or other evaluation/assessment effort (must have follow-up/community involvement to be eligible) *Given the dollar amount and relatively short timeline of Community Spark Grant awards, we recommend using temporary/non-permanent structures and materials such as paint, vertical delineators, bollards, and signage, as permanent structures often run into permitting, shipment, and cost issues that can delay a project.

See here for example projects and links to resources to help you brainstorm project ideas . What is not eligible for funding: Most permit-required infrastructure, such as sidewalks or concrete for road widening. Bike racks or bike fix-it stations would be allowable, but need to show broader community context and impact.

Temporary structures or demonstration/quick builds, including paint, vertical delineators, bollards, and signage, would also be allowable. Funding for personal use. Funds used solely towards covering a staffer’s salary.

Petitions or signature gathering. Funds only used for advertising or promotional materials. This online application system allows multiple users to collaborate on an application.

There is a “manage collaborators” button at the top of the online application, where applicants can manage who has access to the form and allow for more than one person to fill out answers. We encourage communities and organizations that are applying for a grant to work with others in their local community to submit one joint application.

See our application portal FAQs page for more information about collaborating on the application. If you have questions, please email Anna Tang at anna@bikeleague. org We look forward to receiving your application!

Applications for 2026 are closed.