North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Wells Fargo Championship and City of Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity team announced an Electric Bike Pilot Program launching at the McNeel apartments in the N. Graham/N. Tryon Corridor of Charlotte. Wells Fargo Championship’s $300,000 donation will provide hundreds of new E-Bikes to residents in the area, improving mobility throughout the corridor and increasing critical access to jobs and opportunities.

“Ensuring that corridor residents are able to travel easily throughout the City is a crucial part of the Corridors of Opportunity program,” said District 1 Council Member Danté Anderson. “The e-bikes will create reliable transportation and strengthen connections to the resources residents need to thrive. We are thankful for the Wells Fargo Championship's donation and their partnership with DreamKey to bring accessible transportation to this corridor.”

Through the partnership with DreamKey Partners, new homeowners in the area will receive an e-bike when they purchase a home, providing those residents with increased access to the community. Further, residents of the McNeel Apartments will have access to a dock of e-bikes for free use. DreamKey and the City of Charlotte will ensure residents and new homeowners are aware of the e-bikes and receive safety training. The bikes will be regularly maintained through the City’s Department of Transportation.

E-bikes are an affordable and sustainable mobility option that will provide low-income residents with an alternative option for accessing nearby transit services and major employment centers.

The three-year pilot program will study the impact of an e-bike subsidy for low- and moderate-income families to determine if the program should be scaled to additional Corridors.

“One of our top priorities each year is to touch the community and play a supportive role in the fabric of the community,” said Wells Fargo Championship Tournament Director Gary Sobba. “This year we are grateful to be able to support DreamKey Partners– a program that carries the same values we do as a tournament. Because of the tremendous support from our volunteers, our corporate partners and the fans, we are proud to be able to continue our tradition of assisting numerous programs that make this community better each day.”

“We are excited to support and partner on this initiative that aligns with our mission to revitalize neighborhoods and provide our homeowners with resources that support them and connect them to essential services throughout the City,” said Julie Porter, DreamKey Partners executive director.  

Corridors of Opportunity has supported the implementation of several projects that strive to spur economic mobility and opportunity, create housing access for all, build diverse and resilient communities, integrate the natural and built environment, develop safe and equitable mobility, retain culture and identity, and grow healthy, active, and safe communities.

Original source can be found here.