This month, the BC Cycling Coalition awarded $200,000 in government grant funding to 20 different community groups, event organizers and local governments, supporting attended bike parking at public venues and events across the province.
Since 2024, the BC Bike Valet Grant program has provided almost $700,000 to a total 45 grantee organizations, through a competitive application process funded by the provincial government. This year’s cohort was the largest yet, with grants ranging from $3,500 to over $20,000 going towards offsetting the costs of staffing, promoting and setting up attended bike parking operations in communities in seven B.C. regions.
“We’ve seen demand for secure bike parking continue to grow since the 2023 pilot program,” said Colin Stein, Executive Director of the BC Cycling Coalition, which administers the grants on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit. “Some of these are municipal governments running bike valets for the first time, some of these are very small, community-based on-profits, and some of these are experienced bike valets trying to expand their operations.”
“These funds are helping them all keep their bike valets as a free public service, and helps us reach more communities in B.C. that are asking for support.”
The year, the BC Bike Valet Grant program will be supporting the following community bike valets on the following dates – click the links for details:
• Victoria & Capital Region Now thru October 8
• Kamloops Now thru October 31
• Penticton Now thru September 5
• Squamish Now thru August 23
• Vancouver – Granville Island Now thru September 7
• Kelowna Now thru October 3
• Maple Ridge May 26 to December 5
• Vernon May 28 to September 19
• Prince George May 31 to September 30
• Nelson June 4 to September 30
• Coquitlam Canada Day & Summer of Soccer June 12 to July 19
• Merritt June 13 to September 7
• Invermere June 13 to September 12
• Kimberley June 18 to September 17
• Delta/Tsawwassen – Barns to Beaches Festival June 20 to September 13
• Whistler June 26 to September 7
• Langley Township July 1 to September 26
• Vancouver Folk Music Festival July 17 to 19
• Vancouver Art Gallery (BEST) July 25 to September 27
• Langley RibFest August 14 to 16
Of the 20 organizations receiving BC Bike Valet Grants this year, 8 were new applicants; six of the new grantees were local governments.
“We’re very encouraged that the provincial government continues to invest in this program, which is helping more communities than ever before provide this valuable public service, especially because we get to hear first-hand how much this funding is appreciated. This is especially true as more and more of cities and towns with growing urban areas are seeing upticks in biking for both transportation and recreation. Everyone needs a safe place to park their bike.”
The BC Bike Valet Grant program is also supported by GoByBike BC and their free trip tracker LogMyRide—create an account to log your rides year-round and track your bike rides, build healthy habits, and support cycling in your community.
