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Erie MPO approves WalkWorks grant application for countywide bike‑share study
Summary
The Erie County MPO voted to submit a WalkWorks grant application to fund a countywide study of bike‑share and active‑transportation models; the grant would be up to $50,000 and requires no local match.
The Erie County Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to submit an application for a WalkWorks grant to study countywide bike‑share and active‑transportation options.
The study application, run through the MPO and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center under the WalkWorks program, would fund planning work—up to $50,000—with no local match required, MPO members were told.
The study would evaluate how bike‑share systems might fit across Erie County, including differences between traditional bikes and e‑bikes, docked versus dockless systems, integration with public transit and potential ownership and funding structures. "Bike share are shared bicycle systems where you borrow them for limited periods of time," Emerson Bannon, parks and recreation coordinator with Erie County Planning, said. "The study itself would figure out those contours…who might be able whether how much we wanna integrate it with public transit, whether it would be a fully private system."
City of Erie planning director Jackie Stry introduced the request and said stakeholders, especially downtown interests, have emphasized better connections between downtown, surrounding neighborhoods and the Bayfront. "There's also been a lot of focus around not only accessibility but also equity," Stry said. The presentation cited higher rates of households without access to a vehicle in some neighborhoods as a reason to study options countywide.
MPO members asked about potential problems seen in larger cities—such as abandoned dockless devices and charging logistics for electric systems—and were told the study is intended to surface those issues and identify workable models for Erie County. Bannon said scooters are not part of the proposal because Pennsylvania law currently bans e‑scooters on public roads outside Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; the study would focus on bicycle programs that conform to state rules.
MPO members voted to allow staff to submit the WalkWorks application through the MPO. No local funding would be required to apply; the WalkWorks program allows up to $50,000 without a local match.
Next steps: MPO staff will file the WalkWorks application on behalf of Erie County and notify members of award decisions if the grant is approved.
