Common Ground with Pedal Power

The Vista Outdoor Foundation is supporting 12 nonprofit organizations in Fiscal Year 2023. These organizations represent a cross section of outdoor and recreational causes.

Common Ground is a deep dive into each of these organizations to tell the story of our partners, what is behind their mission and how each partner is using the grant.

This Common Ground feature highlights Pedal Power MN

Why Pedal Power MN?

Pedal Power MN was created to help solve the inequity of access to bikes in high poverty and high minority communities and to create opportunities for kids to learn to ride. Co-founders Mark Trumper and Susan Tuck, along with volunteers, teachers, community members, bike shops, advocacy groups, and some generous donors have been working to integrate biking into the school day for fourth and fifth graders in Minneapolis, and helping to create a culture of biking within schools.

As part of a growing universal bike education movement, the organization provides school-based bike education, free of charge, that is cooperative, inclusive and sensitive to the needs of a school, class, or individual student. A driving force of this work is the fact that one third of fourth and fifth grade kids in a very bike friendly city have never learned how to bicycle.

In addition to improving biking and safety skills, students explore science, history, art and more as they navigate the abundant bike lanes, paths and trails in their school neighborhood. Kids develop a strong connection with their community, and build confidence, persistence and grit along the way.

Mission & Vision

To create opportunities for adventure, teamwork, problem solving, and hands-on learning for students through school-based bicycle education programs in underserved communities. Students learn to bike, then bike to learn-about themselves, their neighborhood and community, and about developing a love of outdoor activity.

"Our hope is that biking becomes a lifelong activity, a vehicle for outdoor adventure, a form of exercise, a mode of transportation, a skill to continuously improve upon and an ongoing source of joy and camaraderie," said Susan Tuck, Co-Founder of Pedal Power MN.

Grant Power

The Vista Outdoor Foundation grant is helping Pedal Power MN expand and grow their bicycle education program into additional Minneapolis schools and support the growth of universal bike education across the city by removing barriers that hinder participation.

"This fall, students at five schools will take weekly rides with the Pedal Power team, including one Dual Language Immersion school, who will be in their first year of the program. This addition means that every public school in NE Minneapolis will now have their own bike fleet and supportive instruction," said Susan.

Pedal Power MN also provides opportunities to develop social-emotional learning, to work together as a supportive team and to strengthen classroom relationships as students pedal alongside their teachers and classmates.