Laureus USA, Gatorade & NBC Sports Select Active Plus As Grant Recipient [February 27, 2023] Following the success of the inaugural Elevating Black Leaders in Sport initiative, Laureus Sport for Good USA is proud to announce a second round of grants and capacity-building support to nine Black-led organizations across five cities- Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, and Stamford, CT. This new investment and ongoing commitment to equity and access in sport is made possible thanks to the continued support of Laureus USA partners Gatorade and NBC Sports.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Active Plus and Citi Bike Team Up to Provide New Yorkers Free Community Bike Rides

Citi Bike Community Grant Program Award Will Address Common Barriers to Active Transportation Including Among Underrepresented Population Groups

NEW YORK CITY (June 16, 2022) – Active Plus, the leading provider of free health and fitness education and programming in New York City, today announced its selection as a Citi Bike Community Grantee. Active Plus will be supported by Citi Bike to present free bike rides in 2022, with the first ride taking place Saturday, June 18. As part of the grant, Active Plus is conducting outreach in city neighborhoods to better understand, and address, barriers to active transportation, including insights into underrepresented population groups, and New Yorkers at-large, who stand to benefit from the health outcomes of biking to work, school, errands, or for play.

“Promoting an active lifestyle is a priority and passion for the entire Active Plus organization. We are thrilled to find a fantastic partner in Citi Bike and embark together on community engagement in active transportation – an area that is critical to improving wellness for all,” said Tarik Kitson, MPH, Executive Director, Active Plus. “We share their vision that active transportation must be equitable – in other words, New Yorkers should have access to, and knowledge of, healthy modes of transportation, across all income levels, genders, races, and generations. We cannot thank Citi Bike enough for their support of Active Plus and health promotion in our beloved city.”

Beginning June 2022, Active Plus is conducting outreach to New York City communities with a focus on Harlem and Washington Heights residents, inviting them to the community rides taking place Saturday, June 18, Saturday, August 20, and Saturday, October 15. The uptown rides are free and open to all, with residents having access to the easy-to-learn Citi Bike to ride together to iconic landmarks such as the George Washington Bridge and West Harlem Piers. As part of the bike tours, instructors will teach riders bike use and safety, where they can access bikes in their community, and what type of reduced fare membership programs they may qualify for, to use Citi Bike in the future.

“We designed the Citi Bike Community Grant Program to work with trusted non-profits that are deeply embedded in their community. We are thrilled to bring on Active Plus as a grantee, which since its founding has ensured that cost, lack of exposure to, knowledge, or experience in physical activity, are no longer barriers to wellness,” said Jayne Chen, Community & Equity Program Specialist for Citi Bike at Lyft. “We’re confident that residents will love these community rides with Active Plus, and we look forward to introducing more New Yorkers to Citi Bike’s fantastic active transportation network.”

Bike riding, a fun form of physical activity and an efficient, cost-effective way to get around the city, contributes to positive health outcomes, such as improved mental health and wellness, as well as prevention or reduction of obesity and obesity-related conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, which are experienced disproportionately in people of color. In New York City at-large, particularly the Harlem and Washington Heights communities, Active Plus and Citi Bike are committed to improving access to, and awareness of, healthy modes of transportation.

To learn more about Active Plus and its partners, or to sign up for a community bike ride, please visit activeplus-nyc.org. To learn more about the Citi Bike Community Grant Program, sponsored by Healthfirst please visit ride.citibikenyc.com/community-programs/grants.

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About Active Plus:

Active Plus was founded in Harlem, New York to prepare individuals and families for a lifetime of health by disseminating information and skills relating to exercise, healthy food preparation, and obesity prevention. Fitness and nutrition instructors develop engaging routines in the classroom, online, and in the community, to encourage and nurture healthy lifestyles. Our vision is that every New Yorker, regardless of socio-economic status, should have access to high quality fitness and nutrition education.

About Citi Bike:

Citi Bike is New York City’s bike share system, and the largest in the nation. Citi Bike, part of Lyft, launched in May 2013 and has become an essential part of our transportation network. It's fun, efficient and affordable – not to mention healthy and good for the environment. Citi Bike consists of a fleet of specially designed, sturdy and durable bikes that are locked into a network of docking stations throughout the city. The bikes can be unlocked from one station and returned to any other station in the system, making them ideal for one-way trips. People use bike share to commute to work or school, run errands, get to appointments or social engagements, and more. Citi Bike is available for use 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year, and riders have access to thousands of bikes at hundreds of stations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey City

About Citi Bike Community Grant Program:

Citi Bike launched the Community Grant Program through its partnership with Healthfirst in 2019. The overarching goal of the Community Grant Program is to address health and transportation inequities by investing in increasing access to bikeshare in low-income neighborhoods and underrepresented communities where Citi Bike currently exists and future expansion communities throughout New York City. The community engagement will help Citi Bike better understand the communities they serve and help to grow enrollment in the Reduced Fare Bike Share Program, presented by Healthfirst. Through these grants, each recipient organization will be able to provide Citi Bike rides to workers, volunteers, and more so they can continue to help those in need.

Media Contact:

Tarik Kitson, Active Plus

tkitson@activeplus-nyc.org

Colin Wright, Communications Manager

colinwright@lyft.com

Lyft Bikes and Scooters