The City of Atlanta announced the launch of the Bike Share Champion program which plans to hire 10 Bike Share Champions to serve as advocates for biking and the Relay bike share program in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods. Bike Share Champions will conduct direct outreach and education at community events in an effort to raise awareness of the bike share program and generate interest in its use. The project will serve community members from neighborhoods on the Westside of Atlanta, including the Atlanta University Center, the West End, Vine City and English Avenue, where additional Relay bike share stations will be installed over the next year.

“In conversations with Westside residents, we hear that the community wants workforce development and greater access to job opportunities and career training. The Bike Share Champions program will provide a job as well as an opportunity to promote Atlanta’s bike share as a useful, affordable and meaningful transportation tool,” said Becky Katz, Chief Bicycle Officer for the City of Atlanta.

The Bike Share Champion program is a partnership between the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, WeCycle, Urban Perform, Red, Bike & Green Atlanta and Relay Bike Share, and will support Atlanta’s efforts to achieve national recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community and to become a top ten city in the U.S. for cycling.

The program is funded by the Better Bike Share Partnership through the JPB Foundation, a national initiative administering $900,000 of grant funds over three years to recipients across the country that are working to make bike share programs more equitable. Additionally, matching funds will be provided by the Atlanta Regional Commission through the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness Partnerships to Improve Community Health.

To apply to be a Bike Share Champion, visit atlantabike.org/bikechampionsapply. The deadline to apply for the program is September 19, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.