origin story
In 2019, leaders from several youth cycling programs united around a common goal: to strengthen youth cycling across the United States. They envisioned a bold experiment by bringing multiple programs into a single community to test how a unified and collaborative approach could inspire young people to ride more and build a lasting culture of cycling.
The YCC in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia, was selected as the pilot city. In partnership with the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University and a range of local stakeholders, the initiative launched a series of bike-focused programs designed to engage children of all ages and abilities. By leveraging the unique strengths of each participating organization, the project offered diverse and inclusive opportunities for kids to get on bikes and stay active.

The success of the Morgantown initiative showcased the power of partnership, demonstrating how shared resources and collective expertise can drive meaningful progress for youth cycling. This collaboration gave rise to the Youth Cycling Coalition, now a national think tank and network that supports and accelerates youth cycling initiatives worldwide.
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Contact
Reach out with your questions or ideas to Ryan Birkicht at ryan@peopleforbikes.org