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Over 500 bike riders participated in the Marion 2 Selma and Selma to Montgomery bike rides to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Proceeds from those bike rides are coming back to the Black Belt. The Montgomery Bike Club, which sponsored both rides, donated $22,617.54 to the Blackbelt Benefit Group.

Robert Traphan with the Montgomery Bike Club presented the check to the group on Saturday during the 1st Saturday Selma event on Water Avenue. BBG is working in Selma and Marion to improve bicycle trails along with pedestrian and walking trails to promote those activities in the Black Belt.

“So these funds are hopefully a catalyst for that effort,” Traphan said. “Hopefully these funds can be magnified with other grant opportunities and other donations to really help grow biking in the Black Belt.”

Clay Carmichael with the Blackbelt Benefit Group said he is hoping that the funds will help them get other grants that will help provide additional safe spaces for biking around Selma and Marion.

“Well, what we want to do is to create some additional trails that will help connect some parks with our historical district here in Selma,” Carmichael said. “We hope to be able to create new trails or add bike lanes to provide ways to connect and promote bike riding in our area.”

Carmichael said that while the money donated is not enough to complete a project, it could be paired with other sources of funds to help do these projects.

“What this could do is provide a local match,” Carmichael said. “Most of the time, you have to match grant money with some of your own locally to be able to complete a project. So this will help with that.”

Carmichael said Jeff Feet will Capitol City Bicycle Repairs & Services is also planning to start a once-a-month bicycle shop that will allow local residents the chance to get their bikes repaired or worked on.

“Right now, we don’t have a bike shop here in Selma,” Carmichael said. “We’re going to be doing a bike ride on the fourth Saturday of each month. So Jeff has planned to come over here and provide that service for us.”