Grant Application: Question #5

I'm a bit stuck on this one, since some desired results from the rides will be hard to measure: the results may take a while, people may not report results back to us (i.e., someone starts commuting to work after being on a Wellness Ride, but doesn't tell us about it), or people who are enjoying the impacts and benefits may not connect them to having been on a Wellness Ride.

What impact will the project have and how will the impact be measured?*

The immediate impact of the ride will be that ride participants enjoy the ride and feel it was worth their time. This will be measured by a post-ride survey asking participants for feedback. Subsequent impact to participants enjoying the ride is that they will tell their colleagues about the ride and participation will grow by word of mouth. This will be measured by tracking the number of total participants and new participants on each subsequent ride for the same agency.

This growth will also be measured by agencies' willingness to recommend that other state agencies also join the program, perhaps by writing letters of support or other ways they can recommend Wellness Rides to their fellow state agencies.

A possible impact is that state employees consider cycling for short trips or for the commute to work after participating in Wellness Rides. While we can measure this with a follow-up survey to the agencies, it can only truly be measured if the employees' and agencies' self-reporting is accurate. BikeTexas can track how many employees reach out to us after a ride for resources about making the transition to biking for some trips.

If state employees do turn to cycling as an activity, for short trips, or for commuting, they will benefit from improved cardiovascular health, which has benefits in reduced health care costs for the employee and the employer. These impacts may not be measurable, again, unless the employee makes the connection to the Wellness Ride and reports the impact back to BikeTexas.

Grant Application: Question #3

Please describe the project strategy:*

In the past, BikeTexas Wellness Rides have only been available to TxDOT employees. Now we would like to expand the Wellness Rides to include other state agencies, like the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Comptroller, and Capitol employees. Expanding to more agencies will allow BikeTexas to reach more state employees with the benefits of cycling, potentially improving the overall well-being of state employees, expanding the numbers of Texas cyclists, and convincing state employees of the need for improved conditions for cyclists around Texas.

BikeTexas will approach state agencies in Austin early in the year with the plan for Wellness Rides and the potential benefits, and ask them to participate. After securing their participation, BikeTexas will discuss potential timing for the rides with each agency's representative so that each agency can have two to three rides during the year, divided between the spring and autumn (the summer heat in Austin prevents us from doing Wellness Rides from mid-May until about mid-September).

BikeTexas will provide the agency with promotional materials to encourage signups for the rides. BikeTexas will also ask for each rider's experience level with signup so we can have extra staff on hand to assist any new or timid riders personally, and so we can be aware of the group's experience level when planning the route (usually three to six miles). For groups that have varying skill levels, BikeTexas may prepare two routes, one shorter and one longer, to accommodate all riders.

On the day of each ride, BikeTexas staff will bring bicycles and helmets to the agency. Riders will be fitted with a bike and helmet and then given a safety briefing, including a review of hand signals for turning and stopping and a review of vocal signals riders should use to alert one another of road hazards during the ride. During this time, any inexperienced riders will have the opportunity for a one-on-one riding session with a BikeTexas staff member in a quiet area to give them a chance to practice their skills before heading out.

Once all ride participants are comfortable with their bikes and have heard the safety briefing, the group will head out on the route. At least one BikeTexas staff member will lead the ride in front, and at least one will be in the very back. The staff member in the back also carries the first aid and tool kits in case either are needed during the ride. Other staff members ride along with ride participants, giving special attention to new riders.

Ride participants will have the option of keeping their water bottles, branded with a new Wellness Ride logo, at the end. BikeTexas would like to develop materials and resources that can be made available to ride participants, such as a brochure with tips for riding safely, printed cards with Texas bicycle laws printed on them, or resources for planning a ride to work.

If there is sufficient interest from participants and the agency, BikeTexas plans to host longer rides that include a stop for breakfast or lunch, depending on the time of day, thus showing participants firsthand how easy it is to ride for short, enjoyable trips that are also utilitarian in nature.

Grant Application: Question #2

This week, I'm working on writing the project proposal for the BikeTexas Wellness Rides for State Employees, the project for which BikeTexas intends to see funding from New Belgium Brewing Company. This and subsequent blog posts are in response to questions from New Belgium's grant application form (bolded). Thus, these blog posts are a draft of what will go into my grant packet and later into the application itself. (Question #1 was the organization description.)
------
Please state the project name, purpose and who/what will benefit from this project:*

The project is BikeTexas Wellness Rides for State Employees. These rides allow employees at participating state agencies to get out of their offices for a short time to enjoy Austin by bicycle. The project has several beneficiaries.

The employee: Has a longer than usual break in the day, enjoys fresh air and exercise, and has a chance to spend time with colleagues outside the work environment. Many participants on the Wellness Rides have not ridden a bike since childhood and have a chance to re-learn a rusty skill and perhaps start a new activity. BikeTexas provides bikes for the rides that are a higher quality than the department store bikes that participants may have used before, so they also get a chance to experience how comfortable and durable this type of bike is, again possibly sparking their interest to try cycling as an activity or means of transportation. BikeTexas staff members are on hand during the ride to provide riding pointers, guidance, and give information about how to purchase a bike or start using a bike for short trips.

The agency: Studies have shown that active employees are happier and more productive employees (HC Online), have lower absenteeism rates (Davis and Jones), and are more creative after exercising (Blanchette et al). Because BikeTexas produces the Wellness Rides at no cost to the participating agency, the agency can reap these same benefits without having to spend state money. Employees are also likely to feel greater job satisfaction when their employer makes time in the work day for the employee to exercise (Peterson). Over time, if employees choose to add cycling to their day-to-day activities after experiencing a Wellness Ride, their increased activity could result in lower health care costs for the agency (Adler).

BikeTexas: As the statewide advocacy organization for bicycling, BikeTexas must work with ad lobby state leaders and state agencies to be sure that bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly laws and policies are enacted at the state level, while working against any unfavorable laws or policies. By providing Wellness Rides to state employees, not only do BikeTexas staff members get to share their love for cycling, but they also build relationships and bridges that may prove critical later on. Additionally, once state employees are acquainted with the realities of cycling on city streets in Texas, they become more open to hearing BikeTexas' ideas for improved conditions across the state. Therefore, cyclists across Texas become an indirect beneficiary of the Wellness Rides when doors are opened for BikeTexas to convince state leaders of the need for bicycle-friendly policies.

Works Cited

Adler, Jane. "Workplace Wellness Helps Curb Health Care Costs." Chicago Business. Crain Communications, 2012. Web. 16 Nov 13.

Blanchette, David M., et. al. "Aerobic Exercise and Creative Potential: Immediate and Residual Effects." Creativity Research Journal, 17.2&3 (2005): 257-264. Web. 16 Nov 13.

Davis, Adrian, and Marcus Jones. "Physical activity, absenteeism and productivity: an
Evidence Review." Transport for London. London. Web. 16 Nov 13.

HC Online. "Exercise and productivity link confirmed." Human Resources Director Online. Key Media, 4 Oct 2011. Web. 16 Nov 13.

Peterson, Jessica McKenzie. "Exercising at Work Boosts Productivity." APA Center for Organizational Excellence. American Psychological Association, 7 Mar 2012. Web. 16 Nov 13.

Week 9: Brainstorming

These are notes from my first round of meetings with coworkers this week. My next step (which will be another blog post in a day or two) is to develop questions for my meetings with our Executive Director and Office Manager, based on these ideas and the questions from the grant.

Just as a reminder: I'm going to submit to New Belgium Brewing Company for BikeTexas Wellness Rides (and I'm looking for similar RFPs to complete my packet for class and also to submit to later on). Currently, we have 2-3 of these rides every year for TxDOT employees. We'd like to expand to 10 per year and invite more state agencies (Education, Comptroller, Legislative Staff, etc) to participate.

Wellness Rides

Benefits to participants:

• Fresh air
• Blood flowing
• Metabolism up
• We provide snack+water
• Learning how to ride in a group, in traffic
• Staff help by giving pointers throughout ride
• Learning how to shift gears, etc.
• They get an idea of what a bike-shop quality bike (vs. dept store bike) feels like

What we do:

• 3-6 mile rides, based in part on skill level of the group
• Teaching how to ride, how to ride in the group
• Provide promotional materials to the agency to promote the ride internally
• One-on-one time w/ BikeTexas staff for super-new people

Potential improvements:

• Energy drink/sports drink sponsor to provide more than just water
• [Note: I am skeptical about this-- I think that teaching people they can do short sessions of physical activity with just water, instead of Gatorade, Red Bull, etc, is actually a greater benefit.]
• Help them plan a route to work to try commuting once or twice a week
• Open lines of communication with BikeTexas for future questions/issues
• Pointers for commuting, choosing a bike, etc
• Develop brochure re: riding, nutrition
• Make it clear that inexperienced people are welcome
• Stickers, water bottle, travel mug—with a wellness ride logo
• Ride to lunch/breakfast
• Weekend rides

Similar reminder: I'm going to submit to Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield for BikeTexas KidsKup, but since those RFPs are currently closed and I can't access them, I'm writing the packet for class using the same format as the New Belgium Brewing grant, with the intent to adapt the data so gathered to the other RFPs as they open later in 2014. We have about 10 KidsKup rides in the spring and 3-4 in the fall-- this program is tied to the Texas Mountain Biking Racing Association series and they provide the venues, so our schedule varies with their schedule.

KidsKup 

(Everything here are things we'd like to add/change-- since I know this program better, I didn't have to ask as many questions as I did for the Wellness Rides and my notes reflect that.)

Rider packets thing to give away-- current ones have been the same for about 14 years:

• stickers
• safety books (will we still get those from TxDOT?)
• temporary tattoos
• different things so we can change it up
• coupon from a statewide business (HEB, Whataburger, Dairy Queen)
• Smaller kids seem to like bells; the fancy type would be great 
• Glow in the dark sticker
• KidsKup branded water bottles

Equipment:

• A twelve foot trailer (12x6x6 1/2) and/or small vehicle wrapped for KidsKup 
• Eight new tables, ice chest
• Online registration system - separate KidsKup Updates option for emails

More people to handle extra events while we are doing boothing events.

• Volunteers
• Staff

KidsKup-specific merchandise:

• Kids jersey
• t-shirts that they could wear to school
• Maybe a full kit for an end-of-year or season drawing among all participants
• Staff KidsKup t-shirts for us to wear during the event with the dates of the event printed on back

New medals or ribbons  

Some way to advertise at local schools before the event:

• Connect to SafeCyclist teachers?
• Provide materials, incl waiver/link
• Boys & Girls Clubs
• Parks & Rec dept

Some kind of a incentive for the kids to invite a new friend to come and ride. 

• How would we handle waivers?

Jersey (adult) giveaway as an incentive for parents to give us an email address 

• Register at each race they bring a kid to
• The more races they bring their kids to, the more chances at the giveaway

Other possible funding sources:

• Get sponsors for inner-city, low-income races in cities that don't have a TMBRA or similar race. 
• Also look for in-kind donations, esp. helmets
• Primal offered to make a KidsKup jersey-- can we see if it can be donated/discounted?
• What are we using that 15% from Primal for? Can it go to KidsKup?
• Increase our publicity for Dave Boyd Memorial Fund
• Look into funding from children's hospitals, Academy Sports, box stores, AMA (helmets)

Week 8: Meetings and Draft

I have meetings set up with many of my coworkers this week to talk about the two programs we're seeking funding for: KidsKup and Wellness Rides. When I mentioned it to different people in the office last week, they were all very excited to talk brainstorm and "dream big" about these projects. As a result of our meetings and looking over the grant application, I'll put together a list of questions for our ED and office manager for when we meet next week.

I'm also going to read over some of our previous grants in the next couple of days, just to get the feel for our tone and possibly come up with more questions for the ED.

In the meantime, I can write the "Description of the organization, including Mission and most recent accomplishments" section of the New Belgium grant pretty much on my own, so here's a draft of that.

***
BikeTexas is the statewide bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization in Texas, based in Austin. Our mission is to advance bicycle and pedestrian access, safety, and education in Texas. We envision a future in which bicycling and walking are accepted as everyday, mainstream activities in Texas.

In its 22 years, BikeTexas has built relationships with other advocacy groups across Texas, with local leaders in major Texas cities, and with many of our state legislators and members of Congress. BikeTexas was instrumental in the Matthew Brown act becoming law in 2001, which launched a statewide Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program and was a model for the nationwide STRS, which Congress established in 2005. Through the SRTS education arm, BikeTexas has trained nearly 4000 Texas teachers and other youth workers to teach the SafeCyclist curriculum in their PE classes, community centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, and wherever children and bicycles gather. Since 1999, over two million Texas schoolchildren have learned bike and pedestrian safety from the SafeCyclist curriculum.

BikeTexas has lobbied for a statewide Safe Passing law for several legislative sessions, and while that law has yet to be enacted, fourteen Texas cities have instituted Safe Passing Ordinances using the language developed by BikeTexas. Four Texas cities have been recognized as Bike Friendly Communities by the League of American Bicycles, and in 2012, the League honored BikeTexas as the Advocacy Organization of the Year. Also in 2012, the NAACP recognized BikeTexas for its work to increase diversity in bicycling.
***

Gantt Charts

This exercise was unexpectedly helpful in doing some brainstorming. I'm probably missing some crucial steps still, but having it written down will also help with telling my boss, "I need to work on X for the grant this week."

Gantt chart for New Belgium: Wellness Rides program 

Gantt chart for Blue Cross Blue Shield: KidsKup program

My first steps for both of these next week will be meetings with my coworkers and our ED, plus writing the "mission and accomplishments" section of the grant, which I can easily do without much, if any, assistance from others.