By Ron Corio
Sportable and Rag and Bones Bicycle Cooperative, two local organizations that promote bicycling and support bicyclists, recently received grants from RABA.
Sportable provides adaptive sports and recreational activities in the Richmond region to people with physical and visual disabilities. The Sportable mission is stated on their website
We don’t just provide adaptive sports and recreation opportunities in RVA –The reason Sportable exists is to transform the lives of people with physical and visual disabilities through sport! We know that is a bold claim and some might question whether we can really achieve that mission. Our response – come meet our athletes, hear their stories, watch them when they are in their “zone”. We can guarantee they would agree that in some way a transformation has occurred. This visionary approach to our mission allows us to keep pushing forward and aiming high—just as we ask of each of our athletes!
This July, RABA awarded a grant of $1,500 to purchase cycling equipment, tools, parts, and supplies. Sportable also received a RABA last year to support their weekly organized and assisted bicycle rides from Dorey Park and along the Capital Trail.
Rag and Bones Bicycle Cooperative is a non-profit community organization run by volunteers. Rag and Bones mission includes
- Providing equitable access to cycling for leisure, recreation, and transportation
- Providing affordable bicycle transportation
- Providing access to knowledge on bicycle maintenance, repair, and safety in an inclusive, safe, and casual setting
Rag and Bones maintains a cooperatively-run workspace at 3110 W. Leigh Street, that is open to the public. The workspace contains workbenches, tools, and educational material that focuses on bicycle repair and safety. The cooperative operates on a sliding scale, and donations are suggested for hourly tool use and used parts. The Co-op is run by volunteers who manage and staff each open hour.
The Cooperative provides affordable bikes and used parts to the community. It also offers an “Earn a Bike” program for people who cannot afford a bicycle. In exchange for hours worked in the shop, credit is earned toward the purchase of a bicycle.
In August of this year, RABA awarded Rag and Bones a grant in the amount of $804 for the purchase of a desktop computer and a printer. Rag and Bones also received a grant of $1,000 in 2016 for the purchase of bike shop equipment and tools.
RABA established the grant program in 2013 and has awarded over $21,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations for projects that support bicycling.