Tools: Physical Resources

Biking

BikesFree Bikes 4 Kidz partners with non-profits in the Twin Cities area to distribute new or gently used bikes to kids most in need. Individuals cannot sign up, only partner organizations serving youth. The season for bike distribution begins in September. Register for their services on their website.

BikesMr. Michaels Recycles Bicycles, LLC fixes up bikes in order to give them to people who are in need. To finance this, they fix and sell used bikes and bike parts. In order to get on the wait list for a bicycle, call or send an email. They often close the list when it gets too long so that they can catch up with the work. Youth with mechanic skills who want to get experience are welcome to volunteer with their organization on open shop days. Contact Mike or Benita Warns at (651)-641-1037 or warns@pclink.com for more information.

Bike RacksSaint Paul Smart Trips offers a cost sharing program to add new bike racks at your organization. The cost per rack is less than $100. Saint Paul Smart Trips can also help assess your site for the best spot to place a bike rack. Contact info@smart-trips.org or 651-224-8555 ext. 24. Brochure with detailed information can be found here.

Bike Racks: Apply to the City of Saint Paul Neighborhood Bike Rack Program get free bike racks in front of your site on a public right of way. Guidelines and applications released in the spring. Check the City of Saint Paul website for more information about the program and guidelines for eligibility. Contact Mike Klobucar at (651) 266-6208 or mike.klobucar@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

Bike Fleet GrantSafe Routes to School (SRTS) Minnesota grants schools in four Minnesota communities a bike fleet and bike trailer to implement the Walk! Bike! Fun! Curriculum. Consider partnering with your neighboring schools to share bikes as you implement the curriculum! Safe Routes to School is going through a strategic planning process, but plans to offer these grants on a yearly or biannual basis. Check their website for grant solicitations and updates.

Helmets: The City of Saint Paul has a collection of youth helmets that is available to borrow. Contact Elizabeth Stiffler at (651) 266-6210 or elizabeth.stiffler@ci.stpaul.mn.us for more information.

Helmets: Bulk rate helmets for youth available from ProRider and HelmetsRUs for around $4-8 per helmet. Available only in bulk.

Walking

Stop Signs: For more information about how to get a stop sign in place or a sidewalk fixed near your site, see the City of Saint Paul, Public Works department. Contact Elizabeth Stiffler at (651) 266-6210 or elizabeth.stiffler@ci.stpaul.mn.us for more information.

Crossing Flags: For more information about how to get crossing flags temporarily at a crosswalk near your site, contact Elizabeth Stiffler at (651) 266-6210 or elizabeth.stiffler@ci.stpaul.mn.us in the City of Saint Paul Public Works Department.

Mini-grants: Grants are available from Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Minnesota for improving safe routes to school. Consider partnering with neighboring schools to submit grants for resources to support safe youth transportation. Safe Routes to School is going through a strategic planning process, but plans to offer these grants on a yearly or biannual basis. Check their website for grant solicitations and updates.

Metro Transit

PassesSprockets offers Metro Transit passes to partner organizations that are planning field trips with youth via Metro Transit during the summertime. Passes are available for up to 18 youth with 2 adult chaperones. For each youth and adult, the group will receive two one-way passes (total of 40 passes). Applications due in late spring. Contact Jocelyn Wiedow at jwiedow@ywcaofstpaul.org.

10-ride youth passes: Metro Transit offers Go-To lite cards for K-12 students. The card, which is valid for 10 rides (up to $3.00 fare) costs $13.50, or $1.35/ride. These cards are available for schools, organizations, and parents to order by mail using this form. This can be a great way to get youth home from afterschool activities.

Tokens: Metro Transit tokens are valid for bus and train fares. More than one token is required for rides on express buses during rush hours and for Northstar service. Tokens are available to those with a wholesale account and must be distributed to transit riders at no cost. One ride costs one token when used during off-peak hours. During rush hours (6 a.m. - 9 a.m., 3 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.), one ride costs two tokens. Email salesoperations@metc.state.mn.us to set up an account and order tokens in bulk.

Adopt-a-Shelter: Clean up and make improvements around your Metro Transit stops in order to get kids to care about the spaces around them and provide a safer environment for them to ride the bus to and from your location. Adopt the stop yourself or by working with local businesses or other groups near the stop or shelter. The adopting organization is responsible for helping keep the stop clean and is a community connection for any issues that occur. Contact Bill Hultberg​ at 612-349-7468 for more information.

Click to download the Physical Resources section of the toolkit.