Six nonprofit organizations that advocate for increased cyclist safety were awarded a combined $30,000 for their work Wednesday morning.

The organizations — Bicycle Colorado, The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s, Bike Jeffco, Front Rangers Bicycle Club, Grand Valley Streets Alliance and The White Line — split the money collected from ticket sales and donations from two sold out showings of the movie American Flyers in September.

The twin events, which took place at the Grand Junction Convention Center Theatre on Sept. 12 and The Historic Elitch Theatre on Sept. 19, celebrated the 40th anniversary of the movie written by a long-time Denver resident and contained scenes filmed entirely in Colorado, according to information provided by Bob Shaver, the event’s organizer and a longtime cyclist. The events were underwritten by several sponsors to ensure all the collected revenue went to the nonprofit organizations.

“I know so many people who drive stoned, drunk, not paying attention, who suffer no consequences,” Shaver said Wednesday.

Fifteen cyclists have died in traffic fatalities so far in 2025, up from 14 in 2024, according to data from the Colorado Department of Transportation. None of the 2024 crashes involved a suspected impaired driver; two have so far this year.

For Teri Vogel, whose husband died in a crash while he was cycling in 2019, the funding is indicative of a call to action.

“I appreciate the condolences, I appreciate the sympathy, but those only somewhere,” Vogel said. “It’s time for action to take place, not only the action to prevent it from happening but when it does happen to hold people accountable.”

After her husband’s death, Vogel and her son, both also avid cyclists, became advocates for increased road safety. During the event, she noted how a lack of consistency in the police response to crashes involving cyclists, including intermittent DUI and chemical testing, has led to some drivers receiving less severe punishments for the drivers.

For Michael White — the father of late U.S. Olympic cyclist Magnus White, who was struck and killed by a car in Boulder in 2023 — Wednesday’s event was just another indicator of the work that remains to improve road safety for non-drivers.

“Every cyclist knows that every time you go out there, it could be your last ride,” White said. “A lot of cyclists honor Magnus in every ride … everyone takes it individually but we know it’s always part of this.”