The Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) is offering a $1000 micro grant available to Pima County residents and organizations with “the intent of bettering the local biking community”.

If you are interested, please download the More Info Request for Proposal online. All submissions due by June 30, 2012. All applications received will be reviewed by committee and the winner notified by the end of the following month (July 31, 2012).

Application online here: http://www.sdmb.org/wp-content/themes/sdmb/images/SDMB-MicroGrant-Program.pdf

So if you or your group has some great, creative idea or plan about improving bike routes, trails, signage, etc. through education, art, PSAs, etc. please consider this RFP — note that the grant’s goal is “the intent of bettering the local biking community.”

I wish someone could figure out a way to educate bicyclists to actually STOP at stop signs and traffic lights, and not bike through them without stopping or even slowing down. The fine for running a stop sign is $105 to $212, a stop light is $270 to $322. I see this all the time on the City of Tucson’s bike route on E. 3rd Street. Perhaps bicyclists going east-west should be given priority over cars on these designated bike paths.

Applications for this grant by snail mail only to: SDMB, PO Box 65075, Tucson Arizona 85718, must be postmarked by 6/30/12.

More information about bicycling can be found in the Tucson Pedaler (Southern Arizona’s bicycling community newspaper), now published once every 2 months by Tucson West Publishing.

The Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists is an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization devoted to the promotion of the sport of mountain bicycling, and view the sport as a vehicle to promote low impact outdoor recreation, conservation, and mountain bicycling opportunities that are environmentally and socially responsible. SDMB is dedicated to protecting and enhancing mountain bicycling opportunities through:

–providing fun, safe bicycling experiences and social events for the bicycling community, and at the same time using these events as an opportunity to educate and encourage riders.
–promoting responsible riding and ethical behavior among the mountain bicycling community .
–working in concert with land managers and owners to improve trails and facilities.
–working with other user groups to ensure a quality trail experience for all users.
–efforts to increase the diversity of the mountain bicycling community.

Enjoy biking and please ride safely.