If there’s one thing 2020 has taught us, it’s that the world is widely connected – and so are its challenges. BIG challenges; the kind we might think a bicycle has nothing to do with. Challenges like racial injustice, climate change, and public health (just to name a few).
Then everything happened, and as so many of The Bike Cooperative’s independent members have experienced – the world rekindled its love for the potential on two wheels: for recreation, transportation, health, community, mobility – and more.
With more people cycling worldwide, the intersection of challenge and potential is clear. As the bike industry experiences unprecedented demand, it’s also clear that bikes and bike retailers can make a real difference.
Jenn Dice, PeopleForBikes’ new President and CEO put it best in her recent op-ed:
Children are the future, that’s a fact – and the role our communities play in amplifying their potential has never been more clear. That’s why The Bike Cooperative is excited to support PeopleForBikes and the Youth Bike Summit with nearly $13,000 in donations from member retailers across the U.S. (listed below), as well as matched donations from The Bike Cooperative itself.
The donated funds will help support youth cycling groups nationwide as they complete their Youth Bike Summit Justice Journey, where they will ride bikes in their communities to raise awareness and funds for accommodation and transportation to 2021’s Youth Bike Summit in Atlanta.
Local retailers know: when nearly 70 cents of every locally spent dollar stays local – the result is better funding for community programs like trails, classes, and more. This dynamic is central to everything we are as a cooperative: to empower local bike shops to stay local and sustain the cultural, social, and economic advantages they bring to their communities every day.
This year we’ve learned that powerful change starts small, and we firmly believe that passionate kids riding bikes have the potential to be that change for cycling and their communities.
