Statewide Youth Development

Thanks to the creation of the School-Based Bicycle Safety Education program administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation, youth in grades 6-12 are participating in after school youth development bike safety programs throughout Washington. Cascade was selected to design and implement the program by supporting community partners as they fine-tune the program to serve the needs of youth in their community.

In the pilot year of the program (2023-24), Cascade partnered with three organizations. In the program's second year (2024-25), six additional partners are being added to grow the reach and impact. The Youth Development program is currently being offered by 2nd Cycle, Auburn Parks and Recreation, Bike Works, Children of the Valley, Puyallup School District, the ReCyclery, Sharing Wheels, Walk N Roll, and Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition.

• In the 2024-25 program year, all Youth Development partners will be supported with the Teens Biking to Destinations (TBD) curriculum, developed by Cascade Bicycle Club. The curriculum covers safety, bike handling, maintenance, and fundamentals of active transportation.
• Equity is central to this expansion. We are prioritizing partners with the highest need first, advancing goals of health, safety, and equity.
• Youth participating in the program are eligible to receive a bike, helmet, lock, and lights. The program prepares youth for bike ownership and usage by engaging in rides through their community, practicing basic maintenance and repair skills, and learning cyclist laws and safety.
• The long-term goal is to serve 10,000 youth throughout Washington through rolling and cycling education over the next 15 years. Through this initiative, we will increase the number of youth engaging in cycling as active transportation throughout the state.
• The Youth Development Program is influenced by Cascade’s Major Taylor Project (MTP), which has served Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color throughout King and Pierce Counties through teaching cycling techniques, leadership skills, and bike safety, while building community, confidence, and self-awareness. 
   

2025-2026 Grant Process

Bicycling and adaptive cycling provide the opportunity for youth to reach new destinations, gain independence, build community, improve fitness, and learn leadership skills. Increasing knowledge of road safety and providing access to bikes can change the landscape of Washington. 

In the spring of 2025, we will release a Request for Proposal for interested organizations.