Coalition's $75,000 grant boosts Portland Biketown outreach

The Community Cycling Center will use a $75,000 grant from the Better Bike Share Partnership to boost Biketown, the citys bike sharing program.

The Better Bike Share Partnership includes the city of Philadelphia, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, PeopleForBikes Foundation and the National Association of City Transportation Officials. The coalition awarded $532,000 in grants May 11 to bike sharing programs across the country.

Portlands Biketown is operated by Motivate, a national bike-sharing company that is working with the citys Bureau of Transportation and Nike Inc., which in January provided $10 million to aid the bike sharing program.

The Community Cycling Center will use the partnership grant to provide outreach and low-cost memberships to people living in local affordable housing.

Motivate's Biketown will put about 1,000 orange bicycles in rental stations around the city. It is expected roll out this summer.