The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition builds and enhances trails on public lands, advocates for safer walking and biking, and connects communities across the Shenandoah Valley.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
EIN: 34-2016415
A summary of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition’s 2024 Impact Report. For the full interactive report, see the presentation above.
At the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC), we believe bicycles are tools of connection, empowerment, and transformation. Through trails, programs, and advocacy, we’re building neighborhoods where human connection is abundant, movement is joyful, and the outdoors is accessible to all. In 2024, our work focused on creating physical and social infrastructure that strengthens communities.
Our mission is to build better communities in the Shenandoah Valley, using the bicycle and trails as a tool for connection, transformation, and joy. We envision communities alive with human connection, where movement through place is authentic, joyful, and supported by both physical and social infrastructure.
The Coalition was formed in 2007 through the merger of two historic Shenandoah Valley bicycle clubs, building on a combined history of more than 40 years advancing safe biking and walking across the region.
2024 by the Numbers
- 1,474 volunteer hours logged in 2024
- 165 community-generated events
- 324 bikes given through Bikes for Neighbors since the program began
- 5 miles of new trail built in 2024
- 5 marquee community events
- 155 ice creams consumed at our Ice Cream Rides
Core Areas of Impact
1. Trails on Public Lands
SVBC continued making significant progress on developing and maintaining accessible trails in the George Washington National Forest, creating opportunities for shared access while protecting the natural landscape. The new Sunset Park trails in Waynesboro turned a former landfill into a welcoming hub for outdoor recreation, connecting people to nature just steps from their neighborhoods. We continued advocating for protected infrastructure — bike lanes, sidewalks, and greenways that make transportation safer and more accessible — including projects like the Friendly City Trail, the Northend Greenway, and the future Shenandoah Rail Trail.
2. Advocacy and Policy Initiatives
Connect Our Schools prioritizes creating safe routes for students to walk and bike to school, reducing barriers to active transportation and fostering independence. Since 2015, we’ve worked to ensure that children have safe, equitable routes to school through the Friendly City Trail and several neighborhood projects, and in November 2024 we welcomed a Safe Routes Coordinator in collaboration with the City of Harrisonburg. We also engage local governments to secure funding and support for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, from regional planning meetings to public workshops, and alongside the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, we bring together key stakeholders to advocate for infrastructure that makes the region more accessible and friendly for people of all abilities.
3. Community Engagement and Inclusivity
Trails and programs, many made possible by donors and volunteers, extend access to safe biking and walking infrastructure for community members who face the greatest barriers — including women, people of color, refugees, and those experiencing financial hardship. Through JOYRIDE, we create pathways for women and girls into mountain biking, and youth and family programs — including the Great Stokesville Campout, the ShenRock Mountain Bike Team, and partnerships with local Parks and Recreation departments — give kids of all ages a way into riding. Volunteers remain the backbone of this work: in 2024 alone, they logged over 1,400 hours across projects.
Western Slope Progress
The Western Slope Trails have seen a surge in visitors in recent years, thanks to decades of volunteer trail-building and a growing range of trail experiences, from beginner-friendly routes to advanced downhill trails. Located on Massanutten Resort property, the trails have offered unique opportunities for growth — but rising use has also brought new questions about how to maintain and expand access responsibly. To address this, 2023 and 2024 were dedicated to building a Western Slope Master Trail Plan, partnering with Applied Trails Research and Pine Knot Projects for terrain assessments and community outreach, and engaging visitors, landowners, volunteers, and community members through meetings, surveys, and conversations. The plan will be shared with the community in early 2025.
Thanks to Day and Year Pass donations, the Coalition hosted its first Spring and Fall Big Dig Days — adding a new trail and rock garden in the Skills Kitchen in spring, and completing brush, drainage, and clearing work in the fall. A Trail Maintenance Training course, subsidized by Rich Edwards, and a Sawyer Certification course gave volunteers new skills to be responsible caretakers of the land.
Over 1,000 Western Slope recreationists and community members offered feedback through a community survey, giving the Western Slope Trails Team and hired trail professionals clear evidence to build the Master Trail Plan. Locals told us they love their quick escapes — the trails are a vital part of routine fitness and fun — while many visitors travel two-plus hours for unique trail challenges and variety, and new riders and families are asking for easier access and more beginner-friendly days.
None of this is possible without the volunteer-driven Western Slope Trail team, led by chair Thomas Jenkins alongside a dedicated group of trail work leads and team members who coordinate trail development, community outreach, and communication. The next generation of riders is growing too: ShenRock, the Valley’s interscholastic youth mountain bike team, is made possible by 35 volunteer coaches who show up twice weekly to coach and support these young athletes.
Success and Wins
Community and Volunteer Growth: Volunteers logged over 1,400 hours in 2024, and participation grew across nearly 200 events — from a record-breaking Great Stokesville Campout to weekly community rides and the Ice Cream Rides that follow ShenRock practices. The Coalition also expanded events focused on serving communities not often represented in outdoor spaces, including the Minority Mountain Bikers Takeover, JOYRIDE, and a collaborative 5k with Rising Hearts supporting intersectional justice.
Increasing Capacity: The Coalition added two full-time staff members in 2024 — Amanda Presgraves, Director of Community Enchantment, and Ben Wyse, Program Coordinator for Bikes for Neighbors — growing our capacity to sustain and scale programs and deepen community engagement.
Partnerships and Collaborations: We worked with the U.S. Forest Service to improve trails like Narrowback and launch new initiatives in Seven Bends State Park, partnered with Harrisonburg City Schools on Connect Our Schools and greenway expansion projects, and joined forces with the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Resort, the Virginia Conservation Network, Livable Harrisonburg, the Virginia Bicycling Federation, Harrisonburg Public Works, Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation, and Waynesboro Parks and Recreation to advocate for sustainable infrastructure and community-centered policy.
Fundraising Impact: Campaigns like the Great Community Give and Giving Tuesday, including a Kids Bike-A-Thon, raised more than $50,000 from individuals and businesses. The Coalition secured over $500,000 in grants supporting projects like Sunset Park Trails, Connect Our Schools, and the Western Slope Master Trails Plan, and launched our first annual raffle with Last Cycles, raising over $15,000.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
2024 was a year of growth and progress, but it also presented challenges that shaped our work and guided our future focus.
Challenges: marginalized communities still face barriers accessing safe biking and walking infrastructure and outdoor spaces; many areas of the Valley still need better access to our programs; securing ongoing funding for large projects remains difficult even as short-term needs are met through campaigns like Giving Tuesday; and building trails while protecting nature requires continued collaboration with public agencies, as we’ve seen through our work with the George Washington National Forest.
Lessons learned: collaborations with schools and nonprofits — like Harrisonburg and Waynesboro Parks and Recreation — show that partnerships enhance results; engaging community members through surveys ensures our work meets their needs and priorities; small initiatives like our Ice Cream Rides can create lasting impact and build the trust that makes larger efforts possible; and this year we began improving our systems to better track who we serve, building ties with local leaders to help ensure fair, equitable access to biking and walking across the Shenandoah Valley.
What’s Next: 2025 Plans
As we look ahead to 2025, the Coalition is committed to advancing transformative projects that connect communities, expand outdoor access, and create vibrant, inclusive spaces:
- Massanutten Western Slope Trail Plan: presenting the community-shaped Master Trail Plan, built from over 1,000 survey responses, with a focus on sustainable trails that preserve natural beauty.
- Shenandoah Valley Rail Trail: continuing to work with partners on this transformative regional trail linking urban and rural areas across the Valley — the Virginia General Assembly has allocated $35 million toward its development.
- Trails on Public Lands – Seven Bends State Park: breaking ground on new trails connecting Seven Bends State Park to the George Washington National Forest, funded by the Coalition’s fifth Virginia Recreational Trails Program grant.
- Bikes for Neighbors: with support from the Just Pax Fund, expanding bike repairs, purchasing suitable bikes, and growing our volunteer team to reach 100 more participants in 2025.
- Sunset Park Phase Two: adding three more miles of trail to Sunset Park in Waynesboro, funded by a federal grant.
A Message from the Board
“On behalf of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, we extend our deepest gratitude for your volunteerism, advocacy, and generosity. Your belief in our mission has propelled transformative work across the Valley, from building trails to advocating for safe, connected communities. Together, you have empowered us to lead bold initiatives, expand opportunities, and create a Valley where everyone can enjoy the freedom, connection, and joy that biking and walking bring.”
— Kyle Lawrence, Executive Director, and Tilda Pendleton, Board Chair
This is an archived report. For our most recent Impact Report, visit our current Impact Report page.
